Re: Insulin was Re: The Spurious Foundation of Genetic Engineering
In a message dated 9/15/02 10:42:14 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The word around here is that the new G.M.O. insulin is causing unplesant side effects but there is no alternative as the old insulin has been discontinued. weel if the diabetes doesn't kill'em the insulin will...sstorch
Re: Insulin was Re: The Spurious Foundation of Genetic Engineering
Allan- Someone told me that INSULIN is or is derived from a GMO. Is that true? The insulin is made, I believe, like the GMO Bt that is stuck in corn. It allows the manufacturer to get a patent and make money off a natural product. Someone also told me that any plant bred by human selection, even if the normal plant organs are involved is technically a GMO. This is the argument university extension agents and high school ag teachers like to make when they aren't in the company of organic farmers, or so they think.They'll tell you spelt--or was it rye?--is GMO. I think it's unlikely that a bacterium would've mated with a grass or a fish with a tomato. People who say GMO's have been around forever are missing the point. Can someone fill me in, especially on the insulin thing? I think the insulin thing is arguably a practical matter. Large, identical quantities of insulin can be made in the lab using GE techniques, whereas the old method which I thought involved pig insulin would be much slower. Kind of a toss-up... Insulin from factory-farmed pigs or genetic engineering. Susan
Re: Insulin was Re: The Spurious Foundation of Genetic Engineering
- Original Message - From: Allan Balliett [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 7:44 PM Subject: Insulin was Re: The Spurious Foundation of Genetic Engineering Allan wrote Someone also told me that any plant bred by human selection, even if the normal plant organs are involved is technically a GMO. Thats garbage!! They will use any argument without respect of truth of meaning!! Theres a big difference between selections made WITHIN the normal genetic variation of a species compared to firing stray bits of crap into the DNA chain in a lab! I think we should extend the definition of GMO to include the mental attitude that accompanies this technology. Fr' instance some of the liberty link type canolas are not GMO - having been conventionally bred from field selections that were accidentally tolerant to herbicide - but the system of promoting these as a patented package complete with agronomy advice, seed, herbicide, all on a acreage contract - this is the GMO mentality to the back teeth!!! The word I need to look out for is TRANSGENETIC, which refers to flipping genes in the DNA, sometimes across the species barrier. You dont see the promoters using this one much - it sounds much less friendly! Cheers all Lloyd Charles
