Monday, February 11, 2002

Simple error means big change. Scientists hail new research which claims to show how simple genetic changes could produce entirely new animals. [BBC News: sci/tech] Up until now a strong argument of creationists is that genetic changes that result in an entirely new animal with different body parts would likely lead to the death of the animal. Scienctists now report that simple changes in a class of genes called the genes results in a loss of a body part. 12:12:57 PM

GM pollen 'harmless to butterflies'. US and Canadian scientists say genetically-modified pollen has negligible effects on monarch butterflies. [BBC News: sci/tech] Once again carefully controlled research in the field thrwarts poor studies done previously. How many studies have to be done before people accept that GM foods are not a problem. You have to also take into account what these new crops replace. In this case bt corn lowers the need for insecticide against the corn borer. These chemicals can also be harmful, much more harmful that the GM crop. 12:05:25 PM