GM corn set to stop man spreading his seed

The Observer (U.K.) ^ | 09/09/2001 | Robin McKie

[Buffalo Bob]

I looked and looked to see if this article was a joke, because it's too horrifying to imagine it actually being real.

[cynicom]

Say what?

[white rose]

My words exactly.

[Tarakotchi]

Oh, gee, it's okay "The company...says it will not grow the maize near other crops" so there is absolutely no danger of the genes spreading, I feel so reassured.

[IVote2]

WELL! How nice of them to "produce" this for all of humanity. Do we have a choice in their scheme of things, or will they just put it out there for us to plant and enjoy.

Utterly irresponsible behavior is what I think about this company and their product.

[spokeshave]

Typical Brits...lost all drive....you would think they would develop a "Viagra" strain....

[spokeshave]

Sorry...make that Brits = Nerds

[metalurgist]

Maybe those French wacko's with their sickles last week aren't so wrong. These scientists are playing with stuff that I don't think they understand fully. Sooner or later there is going to be an oops. There are lots of examples where well meaning ideas go horribly wrong. Rabbits to Australia, Africanized honey bees, Kudzu, carp, etc.

[PoisedWoman]

"The company...says it will not grow the maize near other crops" so there is absolutely no danger of the genes spreading, I feel so reassured.

You bet. I had a long talk last night with a friend who's read everything on GM foods...birds transport seeds from field to field, pollen blows across on the winds, etc. etc. Sperm-delaying corn might actually solve the overpopulation problem BIGTIME, as in decimating the entire population of th planet within a generation. Terrifying!

[DainBramage]

Build it and they wont ........

[martian_22]

If this is what they're telling us now, imagine what's still under wraps.

[dogbyte12]

In industrialized countries, the male sperm count has been cut in half in the last 50 years. It's probably the chemicals, the estrogen based chemicals causing it. Since poor countries don't have our pollution levels, let's give them GM corn to do the trick. Sure, it won't go and spread anywhere. Birds won't nibble at the corn, pluck a kernel off and fly it off anywhere near other corn fields.

If anybody wants to make easy money, invest heavily in in vitro fertilization clinics. Within a few decades, the only way most people can conceive anymore will be in a test tube.

[independentmind]

You need to file this one.

[Mr. Bird]

Mr. Malthus, paging Mr. Malthus.....what fools....

[Enough is ENOUGH]

The company, which says it will not grow the maize near other crops, says it plans to launch clinical trials of the corn in a few months.

That is one of the most irresponsible statements I have ever read. Apparently, these bio-engineers have never heard of pollinization and how such irresponsible experiments can genetically affect our our existing crop populations.

[Telit Likitis]

This is not a well-meaning idea!

[tophat9000]

First there was Popcorn now we have... Anti-pop-corn!

[gcruse]

Why did I guess the tin hats would initiate swarming? I am so glad the Luddite, buggy-whip deprived, Jeremy Rifkens of the world lack sufficient clout to dictate their feudalism.