Need Safeguards for Gene-Tinkered Foods

[Carl J Lydick]

In article <C97B98.1HA at dartvax.dartmouth.edu>, James.F.X.Wellehan at dartmouth.edu (Jim Wellehan) writes:
=It would seem herbicide resistance would be good for only one purpose; 
=allowing higher levels of herbicides to be used.  That would definitely
=promote use of polluting chemicals.

That depends.  Consider the following scenario:

You've got a crop which is only slightly more resistant to herbicides than are
the weeds.  As a result, in trying to control the weeds, you apply herbicides
at levels low enough not to kill the crop, and also low enough that they fail
to kill a significant percentage of the weeds.  You therefore apply the
herbicides frequently.

Now introduce a more herbicide-resistant crop plant.  You can increase the
level of application of the herbicide in any one application, killing off a
larger percentage of the weeds.  Hence you need apply the herbicide less
frequently.

Depending on the details of the crop's (and the weeds') resistance to the
herbicide, the latter technique could well result in less herbicide being
applied overall.
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Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL at SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.