Worm Evolves to Eat Biotech Corn Engineered to Kill It - Polidicks

[url]http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2014/03/rootworm-resistance-bt-corn/[/url] [quote]One of agricultural biotechnology’s great success stories may become a cautionary tale of how short-sighted mismanagement can squander the benefits of genetic modification. After years of predicting it would happen — and after years of having their suggestions largely ignored by companies, farmers and regulators — scientists have documented the rapid evolution of corn rootworms that are resistant to Bt corn. Until Bt corn was genetically altered to be poisonous to the pests, rootworms used to cause billions of dollars in damage to U.S. crops. Named for the pesticidal toxin-producing Bacillus thuringiensis gene it contains, Bt corn now accounts for three-quarters of the U.S. corn crop. The vulnerability of this corn could be disastrous for farmers and the environment. “Unless management practices change, it’s only going to get worse,” said Aaron Gassmann, an Iowa State University entomologist and co-author of a March 17 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study describing rootworm resistance. “There needs to be a fundamental change in how the technology is used.”[/quote] This is yet another reason why the anti-GMO people should be fighting the companies, but not the technology. If these pests evolve faster than we can fix the problem, it will surely spell disaster for the US food market. More GMO = Better GMO. If we had better diversity they current companies would have to start doing things morally, or face expulsion from the market. Beyond that more companies involved would diversify the kinds of corn being grown, protecting our food interests. GMO is going to happen, whether or not you fight it decides how it's done. The big guys don't care if you boycott and smear GMO on social media, the only purpose that serves is to stave off new companies that might be good, and actually offer competition int he market.

For some reason I read Biotech Corn as Bitcoin and was confused

why is this rated winner? it's a bad thing.

[QUOTE=endorphinsam;44316591]why is this rated winner? it's a bad thing.[/QUOTE] it's a good thing that now they need to actually listen, as opposed to them not listening, which resulted in the current scenario

[QUOTE=Pelican;44316602]it's a good thing that now they need to actually listen, as opposed to them not listening, which resulted in the current scenario[/QUOTE] The only thing that happened was their solution stopped being effective.

Just like antibiotics, huh? Life finds a way.

Does this mean Monsanto is going to fine the worms for violating one of their patents?

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;44316658]Does this mean Monsanto is going to fine the worms for violating one of their patents?[/QUOTE] Nah they'll bio engineer some insect that only eats those specific worms. Nothing could go wrong.

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;44316658]Does this mean Monsanto is going to fine the worms for violating one of their patents?[/QUOTE] more like they'll let the worms eat all the corn and then when everyone's starving, lobby for massive widespread deregulation so they can make 'better, safer GM crops'

[QUOTE=Pelican;44316602]it's a good thing that now they need to actually listen, as opposed to them not listening, which resulted in the current scenario[/QUOTE] That, and despite the seriousness of this issue from a human standpoint, the worm is a winner for evolving so quickly to a very specific challenge.

The worms are not evolving, God created Monsanto worms we just never discovered them till now.

[QUOTE=Pelican;44316602]it's a good thing that now they need to actually listen, as opposed to them not listening, which resulted in the current scenario[/QUOTE] i don't know about you, but i rated winner cause i think its awesome seeing a worm one-upping genetic engineering, and basically giving the finger to humanity, its rather humbling. still what you said is cool too :v:

[QUOTE=endorphinsam;44316591]why is this rated winner? it's a bad thing.[/QUOTE] Scientific discoveries are like finding two completely different keys. One key opens a door that leads to the positive development of humanity. The latter key opens a door that goes down a very dark path.

[QUOTE=Pelican;44316602]it's a good thing that now they need to actually listen, as opposed to them not listening, which resulted in the current scenario[/QUOTE] But even if these worms eat half the crops in America they are not going to listen and will continue to condemn GMOs. Now not only do we have morons, but we have bad fucking worms too and nothing will be done. This is in no way a good situation.

Well, the appropriate response is clear; We need to introduce more genetically enhanced pesticides. The answer is more tampering!

[QUOTE=Zenreon117;44317442]Well, the appropriate response is clear; We need to introduce more genetically enhanced pesticides. The answer is more tampering![/QUOTE] you do realize that you would probably be one of the ones to starve to death, right? The answer isn't "tampering" The answer is ethical implementation of a world-changing life-saving technology that is currently dominated by people who don't give any fuck about you.

[QUOTE=frozensoda;44317524]you do realize that you would probably be one of the ones to starve to death, right? The answer isn't "tampering" The answer is ethical implementation of a world-changing life-saving technology that is currently dominated by people who don't give any fuck about you.[/QUOTE] And they don't give a fuck about you, or me, or anyone, as long as they get their money they will continue destroying anything in the way of money.

[QUOTE=endorphinsam;44316591]why is this rated winner? it's a bad thing.[/QUOTE] Because the worm is a winner.

[QUOTE=axelord157;44316924]Scientific discoveries are like finding two completely different keys. One key opens a door that leads to the positive development of humanity. The latter key opens a door that goes down a very dark path.[/QUOTE] Thanks for the quote Plato, now while you're positing ideas on the dark dark path the big people will be busy trying to solve the actual problem.

Doesn't this happen with most organisms? [QUOTE=kiloy;44316578]For some reason I read Biotech Corn as Bitcoin and was confused[/QUOTE] Bitcorn anyone?

Read worm as woman

Jeff Goldblum was right again. [video=youtube;SkWeMvrNiOM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkWeMvrNiOM[/video]

[QUOTE=SamPerson123;44316625]Just like antibiotics, huh? Life finds a way.[/QUOTE] life is fucking scary, it's like aliens and shit

I always found it strange that the toxins genetically used for situations like this weren't rotated on a multiyear basis. It won't take long for the organisms within a species which survive a toxin to replace those that did not, but one that can resist multiple, different toxins which appear at random (from the organisms' perspective, not ours) are far less likely to survive and, as a whole species within a region, take far, far longer to resist it all.

[QUOTE=The Duke;44326408]I always found it strange that the toxins genetically used for situations like this weren't rotated on a multiyear basis. It won't take long for the organisms within a species which survive a toxin to replace those that did not, but one that can resist multiple, different toxins which appear at random (from the organisms' perspective, not ours) are far less likely to survive and, as a whole species within a region, take far, far longer to resist it all.[/QUOTE] Toxins are expensive to produce. For most plants its cheaper to just make tons of excess leaves/roots/stems/whatever than to grow poisons.

[QUOTE=Pelican;44316602]it's a good thing that now they need to actually listen, as opposed to them not listening, which resulted in the current scenario[/QUOTE] I dont understand what you are referring to.. Monsanto and the GMO industry STILL spends billions developing new strains of plants to resist exactly this, they've known its an evolutionary arms race since the beginning... this has happened many times in recent history where resistant crops lost their resistance and they had to find new strains, the problem is partially with the approval process too, which requires time