THE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS - IFEAT

terrible consequences are also easy to imagine. The fact that there has not been a catastrophe or adeadly escaped virus is not overly comforting since we all know of the fear of bio-weapons. Howeverit is very difficult to design and build pathogens. They are far more difficult to make syntheticallythan the benign organisms used to make medicines, fuels and chemicals. Nature is very resilient.Most modified organisms are much more fragile than their “wild” cousins. The changes that causethem to make the products we want render them unable to survive except in our protectedenvironment. They are similar to cows bred to produce milk that cannot readily survive without thefarmers to care for them. Secondly, the modified DNA present in the organism that produces ourdesired products is not included in the products they make. This is different from GeneticallyModified (GM) foods, where the modified DNA is contained in the product. However, even here, thebenefits are often thought to outweigh the risks and genetically modified plants are now present inmany parts of the world. My understanding is that nearly all the cotton grown in Pakistan comes fromGM plants and modified DNA is present inmuch of the rice grown in India. GM corn,soybeans and sugar beets are now widespreadin North America. It is not possible any longerto remove GM plants from use. Investigation,research and regulation may be appropriatewhen needed, but I believe it cannot be stopped.I think we can only encourage education andresponsible behaviour. The more people knowabout biotechnology and the proper uses for thistechnology, the better able we all are to policeand guide its proper application. Policies andrestrictions are in place to prevent thedistribution of harmful organisms. Harmfulorganisms are very difficult to obtain or tomake.80'6%$(45$&1/0.()$&$3(9&1%$.:((;:&':#"%3+:#9.%/#0%$#%=#(-,+$-%,456?%@"6"#0"%,456%=+2%A-%5-B-,-%http://www.vrp.com/detoxification/genetically-modified-foods-are-they-putting-your-health-at-risk200