Quote:
Originally Posted by wdfifteen
This is a distinction Dr. Tyson seemed confused about. He doesn't get the distinction between "genetically selected" and "genetically modified."
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I would suggest to those who ask that "genetically selected" is the traditional method of genetic modification. A farmer might pick the plants that have the highest yield to the lowest input - let's say, a wheat plant that has a very large head and a short growth habit. Or a strain resistant to fungus - the seeds from the wheat that didn't get infected. Or, a hybrid of both - plants grown together so they could share genetic material. I would consider these techniques the "traditional" way of genetic modification. Which is why we have so many different kinds of wheat. And apples. And pears. et.c.
Stuff that's "genetically modified" might contain genes that are exogenous to the organism in question - like corn that has a bacterial gene in it. No way a bacterial gene gets into corn without some brute-force lab technique. Or plants that are glyphosate-proof. Round-Up resistance doesn't just happen.
