Chatting about GMO 🎃

This Slogging thread by Arthur Tkachenko and Mónica Freitas occurred in slogging's official #random channel, and has been edited for readability.

Images from recent tests in Uganda
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/late-blight-disease/108180/

I think the main question is: how to change minds, that are scared of the idea of GMOs?
I mean - the man is the biggest selector, related to food. for eons, we selecting animals and plants for our needs.

Modern tomato vs one grown from 150yo seeds

Hey Arthur Tkachenko great topic.

I think the GMO discussion still revolves around the same pros and cons: is it safe? How does it affect the environment? Because it's cheaper, can it be used to irradicate food deficiencies around the globe?

The long-term effects of GMOs on general human health are still factors delaying their production, I think. Besides, there's still a stigma around consuming food with altered DNA, which can get some people cautious - some may think it's too "processed and unnatural" and, therefore, not good for you. Maybe through more in-depth studies, we can reduce suspicion around GMOs and their risks.

totally agree Mónica Freitas and great point to address!

I can also add: while GMO usually related to our food - similar mechanisms can with animals/mammals. even people can be "modified". and this is a huge topic that will raise even more concerns.

Is it safe: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/gm-plants/is-it-safe-to-eat-gm-crops/

How does it affect the environment?
https://massivesci.com/articles/gmo-excerpt-environmental-damage/

Important to mention how GM crops can work with local water recources: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/gmos-and-pesticides/

It's already tricky when we talk about crops, but adding DNA modification on animals adds a whole other component. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2017/12/11/gmo-animals/

Arthur Tkachenko This article focuses on the review of the existing trails at animal modification with commercial applications which you may find interesting: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224415001223

Opening it right now! thanks!

CRISPR is a huge breakthrough and can be used for so many things. And it's another huge topic. A lot of things to be discovered and will be related to research around this technology.

Maybe also combined with AI that can solve some issues around folding proteins and other stuff...

A lot of people can live better lives.

Yesterday find this article in my facebook feed: https://www.freethink.com/health/biopharmaceutical-drug-for-parkinsons

Arthur Tkachenko I didn't know about cancer treatment uses for GMOs. It can be a game-changer in public opinion. You inspired me to better look at that topic, and I found out about gene therapy based on the same engineered organisms. Here's the article if you're interested: https://medicine.missouri.edu/centers-institutes-labs/health-ethics/faq/gene-therapy

Just recently find some more cool news
https://www.freethink.com/science/gene-edited-fish

and this clip is amazing