Biodiversity vs. Genetically Modified Biotechnology

Posted in Tidbits on December 3, 2001

This story from CNN goes along with that speaker meeting on biotechnology that COM had a few months back. Apparently, some strains of genetically modified corn have crept into a native corn crop in Mexico. Scientists are concerned, claiming that the modified strains will replace the native strains — losing, in the process, valuable biodiversity that allows different plants to respond differently to pests, weather changes, etc. The biotech group seems to say it’s okay to replace the native strains, since the genetically modified strains are better anyway. Any thoughts?