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permaculture - RE: GE primer (was: easier to swallow?) (fwd)

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  • From: John Schinnerer <John-Schinnerer@data-dimensions.com>
  • To: "permaculture" <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: RE: GE primer (was: easier to swallow?) (fwd)
  • Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 13:45:23 -0700

Aloha,

Thanks for the contribution, Larry. The folks telling us how "safe" genetic
engineering is are either ignorant of or intentionally ignoring basic
systemic understandings of complex systems such as plants and critters. A
"database" of counter-examples such as those given in your post would be a
handy resource in educating folks about genetic engineering's pitfalls
(website hint... ;-).

An additional comment: a mistake is being made by those who tell the story
that genes *determine* specific traits, abilities, etc. in an organism.
Genes *constrain*, they do not determine. If genes determined traits,
abilities, etc. absolutely, there would be none of the somatic adaptability
that enables organisms to survive rapid environmental changes (that is,
those changes too rapid to be survived by random genetic mutations - which
are the vast majority of changes!). Genes in critters that do survive must
enable such somatic adaptability...so clearly they constrain rather than
determine.

John Schinnerer

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