GM dandelion one of 50 best inventions for 2009
Time magazine has picked a genetically modified dandelion that produces latex as one of its 50 best inventions for 2009.
Time magazine has picked a genetically modified dandelion that produces latex as one of its 50 best inventions for 2009.
Weed to wubber
Yeh, I know it is 2010, but I have just got back in the office and I am catching up. I am working on the theory I am not alone.
The weed has always produced latex but it goes gummy and useless when exposed to air. German scientists discovered an enzyme (called polyphenoloxidase) that is responsible for making its rubbery sap gummy. So they switched off the gene responsible for the production of this enzyme and they now have a dandelion that manufactures 500% more latex than the old version.
Even if the technology was commercially ready, it probably wouldn’t replace petroleum-based rubber or traditional sources of natural latex just yet, but as oil becomes harder to find and extract, this technology may become attractive, but I am no economist or venture capitalist.
How acceptable?
But if it was commercially viable and approved for use, I suspect there will be a lot of resistance from a noisy minority – playing with nature, upsetting the ecological balance…and so on. Most of the arguments will be unjustifiable on scientific grounds; possibly some on ethical grounds as well.
I suspect, however, that most people will judge this particular use of the technology as acceptable. I could be wrong. I would be interested to know people’s thoughts on the acceptability or otherwise of this technology. My experience suggests the acceptability of risk is lower when it involves genetically modified products that are not food.
Human health, it seems, takes priority over the environment or any other consideration.