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A comment on Why I’m quitting GMO research. Parent comment

Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by JumpCrisscross on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @07:37PM (#16703123)
> producing a plant that is resistant to certain herbicides so that you can douse the heck out of the crop to kill everything else

I think you're referring to Round-up Ready? Wasn't the point of that program to reduce pesticide use?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by sebleon on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @07:49PM (#16703197)
Monsanto released Roundup-Ready Soybean in 1996 to INCREASE herbicide use, without affecting crop yield [1]

Programs like Bt-corn reduce pesticide use... by making the plant produce the herbicide in the fruit. So, instead of being able to peel or rinse fruit (with varying results), you're eating corn kernels that have pesticide on the inside.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_soybean

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Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by JumpCrisscross on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @07:53PM (#16703224)
> instead of being able to peel or rinse fruit (with varying results), you're eating corn kernels that have pesticide on the inside

We eat lots of pesticides. Capsaicin (in chilis) [1] and piperine (in peppers) [2] are two examples.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piperine

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by windexh8er on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @08:31PM (#16703492)
Those both being 100% natural, yes they are used as pesticides. However, they are not are engineered chemicals which can be a differentiator in the comparisons and conversation.
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Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by JumpCrisscross on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @08:53PM (#16703609)
> Those both being 100% natural

The endotoxin used in Bt corn is also 100% natural [1].

I'm not arguing for (or against) Bt corn. I'm trying to show that the language we used to describe GMOs is misleading. Something we think of as natural isn't inherently healthy or unhealthy compared with something we think of as artificial. The same applies to GMO.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_endotoxin

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Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by sampo on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @09:24PM (#16703781)
The Bt-toxin from Bt-bacteria is even a certified organic pesticide, because it's produced "naturally" by the bacteria. It's used in organic farming.

https://www.amazon.com/Bonide-Products-803-Thuricide-16-Ounc...

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Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by thaumaturgy on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @09:25PM (#16703793)
Arsenic is also 100% natural.

"Engineered chemicals" shouldn't be used when you mean "harmful". It sounds ignorant.

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Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by SlowBro on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @07:43PM (#16703159)
In theory, yes. In practice...

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bethhoffman/2013/07/02/gmo-crop...

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Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by sampo on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @07:58PM (#16703261)
This 2017 study says that herbicide use has been increasing overall, also on non-GMO crops such as wheat and rice. And that the increase rate in GMO crops (corn, soy, cotton) is no faster than in non-GMO crops.

http://weedcontrolfreaks.com/2017/04/gmos-and-herbicides-its...

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Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by SlowBro on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @08:06PM (#16703329)
Apparently the answer is not settled on that yet.

http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/8/e1600850

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/09/01/492091546/ho...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Why I’m quitting GMO research by kazinator on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @07:39PM (#16703133)
Not referring to any specific program; note that pesticide /= herbicide.
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