Comments on: Julian Sheather on genetically modified organisms http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/12/03/julian-sheather-on-genetically-modified-organisms/ Just another blogs.bmj.com weblog Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:11:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Richard Sear http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/12/03/julian-sheather-on-genetically-modified-organisms/#comment-3281 Richard Sear Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:46:40 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/?p=519#comment-3281 I agree very much with this article. The argument of avoiding GM crops because they are deemed 'un-natural' seems particularly blinkered when facing the facts of ever increasing populations and changing diets (more meat eaters). However, although I agree with the advancement of GM technology, and i don't think one could deny that there is great potential. I'm still undecided about the ethics of many companies driving these scientific advances. As these few private companies begin to dominate the entire field of GM technology, the advances in GM technology seem to be more directed towards Western society, rather than for those who need most help. Only China seems to have made serious steps to push publicly funded research on GM crops. Hopefully this will change when/if public opinion in Europe changes. It currently seems unethical to deny the advancement of GM technology, yet at the same time unethical to support it. I agree very much with this article. The argument of avoiding GM crops because they are deemed ‘un-natural’ seems particularly blinkered when facing the facts of ever increasing populations and changing diets (more meat eaters).

However, although I agree with the advancement of GM technology, and i don’t think one could deny that there is great potential. I’m still undecided about the ethics of many companies driving these scientific advances. As these few private companies begin to dominate the entire field of GM technology, the advances in GM technology seem to be more directed towards Western society, rather than for those who need most help. Only China seems to have made serious steps to push publicly funded research on GM crops. Hopefully this will change when/if public opinion in Europe changes.

It currently seems unethical to deny the advancement of GM technology, yet at the same time unethical to support it.

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