[jyl]

There is a GMO food labeling measure on the Oregon November ballot.

I wonder if any of the scientist types here might have any comment on the clarity and workability of the definition used, which is:

"(4) “Genetically engineered” means produced from an organism or organisms in which the genetic material has been changed through the application of:

(a) In vitro nucleic acid techniques which include, but are not limited to, recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA), direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles, encapsulation, gene deletion, and doubling; or

(b) Methods of fusing cells beyond the taxonomic family that overcome natural physiological, reproductive, or recombinantion barriers, and that are not techniques used in traditional breeding and selection such as conjugation, transduction, and hybridization.

For purposes of this definition: “In vitro nucleic acid techniques” include, but are not limited to, recombinant DNA or RNA techniques that use vector systems; techniques involving the direct introduction into the organisms of hereditary materials prepared outside the organisms such as biolistics, microinjection, macro-injection, chemoporation, electroporation, microencapsulation, and liposome fusion."

By the way, I'm not asking for a debate on the merits of GMO foods: I'm simply trying to assess if the language above is a reasonably clear definition.

I'd also ask that if you don't understand the terms used, then don't give me your opinion.