 StSusieB
Female, 18-29, Southern US
 15 Posts
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Monday, May 14, 2012 2:27:35 PM
I don't really see the "scary" part of this presentation. Probably because this is the field of my future career.
Yes, there is the potential to abuse this power, and there are certain legal ramifications that need to be looked into (I'll leave that to someone else who enjoy circuitous ethical arguments) but look at all of the positives! All of the people who could be helped and even saved by these products! There was an excellent Penn and Teller video (I know, counter-intuitive) that talked about the works of the genius Norman Borlaug and how his innovation and research was able to fed thousands of impoverished humans with his genetically-modified crops.
Personally, this video only makes me realize what an amazing time we live in right now, and the amazing things humans can accomplish through sheer imagination alone. So long as the Human Ego is kept in check, I really do not see a problem with using this sort of technology. Keep your apocalyptic vision |
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 OnlineAgain
Female, 40-49, Southern US
98 Posts
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Sunday, May 13, 2012 11:55:11 PM
@CrakrJak: I never said I knew anything about the science of corn hybrids. I said that the Monsanto genetic strain was found growing in the farmers' fields.
GM corn can cross-pollinate with other crops via the wind, contaminating them, by the way.
When Monsanto investigators find corn with their GM traits in a farmer's crop -and the farmer cannot produce documents showing they purchased the seeds- Monsanto searches the rest of their fields, sues them.. and many farmers settle even though they're innocent because they don't have the means to keep up the fight with such a large corporation.
As patent owners, Monsanto has already sued hundreds of farmers and many were driven to bankruptcy and loss of their farms.
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 Tacos4Brkfst
Male, 18-29, Western US
564 Posts
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Sunday, May 13, 2012 3:22:57 PM
wild vs 'organic' vs synthetic |
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 CrakrJak
Male, 40-49, Midwest US
14459 Posts
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Sunday, May 13, 2012 6:33:57 AM
OnlineAgain: Evidently you know nothing about corn hybrids. Hybrid corn can't produce viable seeds, that's just the way it is. It's not blown on the wind to other farms. What most likely happened is that one or more farmers had some left over seed and gave it to one of their struggling neighbors.
There is nothing illegal about planting corn seed that you didn't buy, Monsanto's case is crap and is going to be thrown out of court. The resulting hybrid corn isn't viable and can't be resold as seed for next year, it simply won't grow. So, any patent infringement claim is a load of crap.
Think about it, if a neighbor gave you two tires for your vehicle and you used them, BF Goodrich couldn't come out and sue you for patent infringement just because you didn't buy the tires. They couldn't couldn't even successfully sue you if you sold or gave the used tires to another person. |
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 Forplay2k
Male, 50-59, Midwest US
174 Posts
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Sunday, May 13, 2012 5:05:48 AM
This poo has Umbrella Corporation written all over it.
 |
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OnlineAgain
Female, 40-49, Southern US
98 Posts
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Sunday, May 13, 2012 4:59:21 AM
The LEGAL PATENTING of life forms IS scary.
Lifeforms propagate: they spread and reproduce and multiply naturally. Look at the case of Monsanto with their GMO (genetically modified organism) corn: They're taking over the entire U.S. corn growing market now through litigation, forcing farmers out of business and taking their life savings in the legal fight to boot- all because the strain of corn that they've patented was found amongst the independent farmers' crops. How did it get there? Some think it was planted by Monsanto. Some think it blew on the wind. Either way it doesn't matter because, guess what- they own the patent.
Scary yet?
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 8BitHero
Male, 18-29, Europe
5420 Posts
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Sunday, May 13, 2012 4:51:47 AM
I like the idea. |
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 xxsevynxx
Male, 18-29, Midwest US
72 Posts
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Sunday, May 13, 2012 3:25:18 AM
All this sounds really awesome. But i'm sure there is a dark side to all of this. But some people are so fearful of big companies they would rather stunt the growth of technology because of their fear |
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 Nooni
Male, 18-29, Western US
11 Posts
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Sunday, May 13, 2012 1:56:49 AM
I am hoping to use this to change the DNA of a Spider so when it bites people it gives them super spider powers! |
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 unmercyfuldu
Male, 18-29, Western US
733 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 9:38:31 PM
"I have a great big flyswatter...that Asian fag is first on my list.... "
Really?... Just kill yourself. |
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 robosnitz
Male, 40-49, Eastern US
2752 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 8:57:20 PM
spider milk. |
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Marksman
Male, 40-49, Canada
147 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 5:48:12 PM
I have a great big flyswatter...that Asian fag is first on my list....
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 nayrbarr
Male, 13-17, Europe
355 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 3:41:05 PM
What's scary about this?
@Pooptart19 Right now, just contract MRSA. :P (or be infected by any bacterium, but MRSA's a good example of conjugation. <-Should never have taken Biology) |
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 Pooptart19
Male, 18-29, Southern US
2110 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 2:12:10 PM
Sooooooo when can I get my hands on some plasmids? |
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CrakrJak
Male, 40-49, Midwest US
14459 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 1:35:37 PM
 |
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 birdz
Female, 18-29, Western US
77 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 12:33:12 PM
"Synthetic biology" has been used for years to produce human insulin for diabetics. It's not as scary as people tend to think it is. |
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 Mantistador
Male, 18-29, Western US
2205 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 11:30:16 AM
why do people always think geneticly modified is better. Go to a store and look at the strawberries... they are freakin huge and have a beautiful red color but they are absolutely tasteless. People still buy them tho because they look great. I would much rather have 1 tiny deformed strawberry from the wild which would be very sweet and full of flavor, rather then 1 giant hulking tasteless strawberry |
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 danagamer
Male, 30-39, Western US
456 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 11:22:14 AM
"inventions like these can inspire new investments..." oh I thought they were going to say "save lives" |
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 Squrlz4Sale
Male, 40-49, Eastern US
3563 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 11:20:46 AM
Greeeeeeat: Let's put the money changers in charge of life itself. I'll pass on that, thanks. (Sadly, I don't think I'm going to have any say in the matter.) |
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 DingDingDong
Male, 30-39, Western US
1428 Posts
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 11:13:58 AM
Not scary. Saves lives. |
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 canusuck
Male, 30-39, Canada
601 Posts
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Friday, May 11, 2012 8:47:05 AM
Link: Thinking Big - Synthetic Biology [Rate Link] - Future possibilities, as seen from a corporation's viewpoint...$$$ - scary stuff here. |
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