tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3724811090479632440.post2921671910091113045..comments2013-08-02T05:13:16.494-07:00Comments on Blog of Bridge Environment, bridging economics and ecology for smarter policy: GM Oh No! Part 2 of 3: Environmental considerationsJoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12829326930072621097noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3724811090479632440.post-29572324139243585002013-07-16T10:41:59.692-07:002013-07-16T10:41:59.692-07:00In discussing ecological effects of GM crops, I fa...In discussing ecological effects of GM crops, I failed to point out a major consideration: pest resistance. Just as bacteria evolve to resist antibiotics, pests have a knack for evolving resistance to pesticides. As would be predicted, a recent study found this phenomenon occurring in GM crops.<br /><br />One of today’s most widely used genetic modifications in crops takes insect-repelling genes from a bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis, and inserts it into plants. In 2005, Bt crops did an excellent job of repelling insects. Only one of 13 common pests showed resistance. Today, five of these 13 have resistant populations.<br /><br />The lesson here is that nature is dynamic and capable of adaptation. The field of ecology is filled with stories of arms races between predators and prey. The ecological changes discussed in this particular blog entry are bound to select for insects and weeds that defy our efforts to control them, and which may do collateral damage to other farms and nearby ecosystems.<br />Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12829326930072621097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3724811090479632440.post-48343606498810627542013-07-04T06:53:03.279-07:002013-07-04T06:53:03.279-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Gavriel Rosenfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08741350896436813537noreply@blogger.com