H5N1 Virus, Atomic Weapons, Genetic Modification

I expect there will be genetically modified plants in space, at
least if plant-based agriculture turns out to be better than
something in a vat.

But you seem to assume that all genetically modified plants are
sterile hybrids or Terminator varieties, and that's just not so.

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "levi1_ca"
>
> would have to agree that genetically modified seeds have no real
> place in space - what is required is the open pollinated stock
that
> will replicate itself well and can be used wherever man goes -
not
> stuff that is hybrid and you have to go back to a source for more
> seeds every so often or even worse - seeds that are genetically
> programmed ( modified ) as to be non replicating - these will be a
> disaster on the planet and a death sentence in space.
>
> > That is still to be seen. Already there are deep questions about
> genetically
> > modified seeds in field trials and we will have to see how these
> bear up
> > when the insects they are designed to protect against gain
> immunity. Lot of
> > suicides amongst farmers in India have been attributed to
BtCotton
> seeds,
> > which are genetically modified and sold to farmers by American
seed
> > companies at very high cost. Normally a farmer will choose from
a
> basket of
> > seeds, depending on local conditions. Strong marketing tactics
is
> used by
> > companies to sell these seeds. Lets not confuse manipulating DNA
> at the
> > molecular level - which many people are against -
> > with normal breeding. This is a completely new phenomenon -
there