GM Cabbage with Scorpion Poison Coming Soon To A Grocer Near You

[TalkingDog]

http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2013-06-25/gm-cabbage-with-scorpion-poison-coming-soon/

Get ready for genetically engineered cabbages that come complete with their own scorpion poison, just for you to eat. It’s touted as requiring less pesticide use and being, of course, completely safe. Close investigation, though, indicates that neither claim is likely true.

A pesticide made with scorpion poison genetically engineered into a virus was first tested back in 1994. Interestingly, the scientists who sprayed the test field wore full body suits to protect them from this “harmless” poison. One must wonder at just how safe it could be when the developers themselves don’t trust it more than that! Of course, the head of the trial, Professor David Bishop, insisted that the trial was safe—though he himself opted to take a vacation, rather than be there for it.

In the newer incarnation of scorpion poison genetic engineering, genes from the scorpion, Androctonus australus hector, for production of poison are being genetically engineered into cabbages. The goal is to produce them for public consumption. With the FDA’s history of rubberstamp approvals for genetically modified crops, it seems unlikely that anything will interfere with their production and entry into a supermarket near you.

[Ian David]

1. Not a credible source. Do you have this from someplace else?

http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/gaia-health.com?utm_source=addon&utm_content=warn-viewsc

[TalkingDog]

2. Here:

They have these things called footnotes. They are very helpful when attempting to ascertain the validity of a story.


Scorpion pesticide test goes ahead: Scientists undeterred by fresh evidence about potency of virus

[Ian David]

6. I don't bother looking for footnotes on Prison Planet, either, but thanks.

Next time, you could save us all some trouble by just bypassing the loony-bins and going straight to the actual, legitimate sources like Nature.

Also notice the difference in headlines. One is hysterics, the other provides information.

[NickB79]

12. That link discusses it's potency against native butterflies

The statistics which came to light on Friday are the results of experiments carried out between 1989 and 1993 at the Oxford Institute of Virology where Professor Bishop is director. These showed that of about 100 species of butterfly and moth 75 are susceptible to the virus in its natural form. This is far more species than implied in the material submitted to the Advisory Committee on Release to the Environment (Acre) which approved the test last month after protests from scientists.

Opponents say the virus is not native to Britain. Even if it were not given extra genes, releasing it would therefore be more risky than in an environment where it occurs naturally. The virus is native to California. They say the physical arrangements for keeping the virus from escaping into the environment are 'laughable'.

That is a very good argument against releasing this pesticide, but again is not even close to what was discussed in the OP where it was implied as a threat to HUMAN health.

[TalkingDog]

3. Here:

Recombinant scorpion insectotoxin AaIT kills specifically insect cells but not human cells

[NickB79]

11. That paper DESTROYS the BS claim made in the OP

Cytotoxicity assay using cultured Sf9 insect cells and MCF-7 human cells demonstrated that the toxin AaIT had specific toxicity against insect cells but not human cells. Only 0.13 muM recombinant toxin was needed to kill 50% of cultured insect cells while as much as 1.3 muM toxin had absolutely no effect on human cells.

MCF-7 cells are a very aggressive form of cancer cell used in many biochem labs around the world, and this stuff did nothing to it. That doesn't prove that it's impossible for this toxin to harm people, but it certainly reduces the likelihood of it, especially when you factor in the fact it would be digested before entering the bloodstream.

[reformist2]

13. So you're OK with insecticide being put inside your food, as long as it's not very much???

[NickB79]

15. Depends on the insecticide, really

I would note that BT toxin, the insecticide used in some GMO crops, is also approved for spraying on organic crops, and a person can inadvertently ingest a significant dose with no harmful effects due to it's specificity.

And since I've studied plant biology for the better part of a decade, I'm aware that many plants have naturally occurring pesticides in their bodies that have no effect on humans, so it's not like we can even avoid that unless we greatly restricted our diets. Hell, we INTENTIONALLY ingest pesticides like nicotine in tobacco, and have for millenia.

What is a lethal toxin to an insect is in many cases nothing more than another easily digested protein strain to humans, simply because of our sometimes vastly different biology. The insecticide discussed in the OP appears to fall into this class.

[TalkingDog]

5. And Here:

All at the bottom of the article you evidently didn't bother to read.

Sustainability and innovation in staple crop production in the US Midwest (PDF)

[winter is coming]

4. Gives new meaning to the phrase "killer gas". n/t

[newfie11]

7. Time to grow my own organic cabbage

To hot now but will try this fall.

[Buzz Clik]

8. Is there any evidence in the entire universe...

...that suggests that this stuff is harmful to humans in the slightest?

[PD Turk]

9. Mmmmmmm...

Scorpion Poison....

[sibelian]

10. K+R

[MrScorpio]

14. I disapprove of this evil GM cabbage

Scorpion poison only belongs in the stings of scorpions and their prey, not produce.