Need Safeguards for Gene-Tinkered Foods

Stephen C. Miller stcmille at
Thu Jun 24 17:06:43 EST 1993

In article <C94zzI.KLC at> aad at (Anthony A. Datri) writes:
>are good examples of completely artificial species.

Just about every important species of animal and plant that humans rely
upon for food has been genetically manipulated - often virtually beyond
recognition.  Corn is perhaps the best example of this. However any
plant that is selectively bred is at least somewhat "artificial."

It's hard for me to understand wht the fuss is about with genetically
engineered foods, since the genes being introduced are for the most part
known quantities, as opposed to, say, hybridizing with wild species,
whose properties may be completely unknown.  it seems to me that
genetically engineered foods would probably be safer because of this.

Obviously we can't know in advance what all the effects of genetic
manipulation will be, but considering the amount of chemical
transformation that occurs in simple acts of cooking, it seems to me
that much of the noise on this one is hysteria.

I'm not advocating "all science is good - modern living through
chemicals, etc." but I do think people cringe unnecessarily every time
they hear words like "genetically altered."

Steve Miller				stcmille at

		I am a famous rock star!

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