study of inheritance from ‘outside the genes’, ie, from other than the DNA of the genome.
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The Issue
Further Reading
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Open Letter to Teagasc 26.3.2012
Dr Gerry Boyle Director Teagasc Teagasc HQ Oakpark Carlow 26 March 2012 Open letter to Teagasc Director Dear Dr Boyle … Continue reading →
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Teagasc GM Spuds & the C-Word: Short Version
GM, Genetically Modified Potatoes & the C-Word The capacity of newly-minted language to confuse comes into sharp focus when one … Continue reading →
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Teagasc GM Spuds & the C-word: Long Version
GM: Genetically Modified Potatoes & the C-Word To expand language, according to the psychologist David Myers, is to expand the … Continue reading →
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OMG: Experimental GM crops can cause contamination
You know how it is: you hear something new has been invented that has great possibilities and they’re doing tests … Continue reading →
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Critique of Pat Kenny radio show on GM spuds
On Wednesday last, 14 March, Suzanne Campbell, food blogger, journalist and co-author of Basket Case: What’s happening to Ireland’s Food, … Continue reading →
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Transcript of Suzanne Campbell GM spuds report on Today with Pat Kenny
Today with Pat Kenny: The Pros and Cons of Experimenting with GM Potatoes to combat blight with Suzanne Campbell. Broadcast … Continue reading →
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If these GM spuds are allowed this island will lose its GM-virginity
Do you care about good and wholesome food being available in the future on this island? Do you care about … Continue reading →
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Terrible News
I’m gutted that Teagasc has applied for a licence to grow GM potatoes at Oakpark. It’s now more important than … Continue reading →
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Take a smile and share it
My bad habit of late Christmas Eve nights came from all those years of Santa work. This year, having now … Continue reading →
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Dr Huber Exposes
Research scientist and university professor, Dr Don Huber, describes his understanding of the effects of GM crops in the current … Continue reading →
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Open Letter to Teagasc 26.3.2012
Acronyms
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CoC
Council on Competitiveness (US)
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EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
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EPA
Environment Protection Agency in US. All references to EPA on this site refer to the US except when otherwise stated.
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FAO
Food and Agricultural Organisation (UN)
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FDA
Food and Drug Administration (US)
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FSAI
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
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NAS
National Academy of Science (US)
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NRC
National Research Council (US)
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USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
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WHO
World Health Organisation (UN)
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CoC
Glossary
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Biotechnology
describes intentional human manipulation of biological factors for particular purposes.
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Codex Alimentarius
a collection of standards and guidelines about food and food safety relevant to international trade run by an offshoot of FAO and WHO and involved in food issues at WTO (World Trade Organisation) level.
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Empirical
information based on experiment rather than on theory
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Epigenetics
study of inheritance from ‘outside the genes’, ie, from other than the DNA of the genome.
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Expert
An ‘ex’ is a has-been and a ‘spurt’ is a drip under pressure. This definition is bound to raise a giggle among any group of them. Personally I prefer the perspective that no-one has perfect knowledge but if we all share what we know we are likely to gain a deeper understanding of the matter being scrutinised.
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Genetic Engineering (GE)
GE (genetic engineering) is the particular form of genetic modification (GM) and agricultural biotechnology that involves the inter-generic transfer (transgenic) of genetic materials across life forms and is the primary focus of public controversy.
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Genome
the total set of genetic information in one set of chromosomes of an organism.
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GM
genetically modified, ie, involves use of recombinant DNA (r-DNA) technology to introduce genetic material from unrelated species. Early definitions of GM have equated it with all human input to breeding since man started to selectively breed plants, an interpretation I consider to be utterly disingenuous.
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gmo
genetically modified organisms: a blanket term for all organisms which have been subjected to r-DNA techology. Includes plants, crops, microorganisms, animals. Often used as synonym for GM plants.
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GRAS
a technical term from FDA food regulation system regarding additives to food, derived from ‘Generally Recognized As Safe’. According to FDA rules all approved food additives must be listed on the ingredient section of the food label. Some added substances can be exempted from the food additive petition process under the GRAS clause if they have a long history of safe uses, eg, spices, vinegar,natural flavours, or have been determined to be GRAS on the basis of publicly available evidence and in the judgement of qualified experts.
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Biotechnology
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