Quotations about Genetically Modified Organisms, GMO [National Academy of Sciences, 'Introduction of Recombinant DNA-Engineered Organisms into the Environment: Key issues', National Acad. Press, Washington DC, 1987] ''The risk associated with the introduction of recombinant DNA-engineered organisms are the same in kind as those associated with unmodified organisms and organisms modified by other methods.''
''..Recombinant DNA methodology makes it possible to introduce pieces of DNA, consisting of either single or multiple genes, that can be defined in function and even in nucleotide sequence. With classical technique of gene transfer, a variable number of genes can be transferred, the number depending on the mechanism of transfer; but predicting the precise number or the traits that have been transferred is difficult, and we cannot always predict the behaviour that will result.
With organisms modified by molecular methods, we are in better,
if not perfect, position to predict the behaviour."
[National Research Council, 'Field Testing Genetically Modified Organisms: Framework for Decision ', Natl. Acad. Press, Washington DC, 1989]
"
Crops and foods produced using recombinant DNA techniques
...
are substantially equivalent to their conventional counterparts.
Genetic
engineering is capable of introducing allergens into recipient plants,
but
the overall risks of introducing an allergen into the food supply
are
believed to be similar to or less than
that
associated with conventional breeding methods.
...The
American Medical Association believes that as of December 2000,
there
is no scientific justification for special labeling of genetically modified
foods,
...and
that voluntary labeling is without value
unless
it is accompanied by focused consumer education."
[American
Medical Association, Council of Scientific Affairs,
Report
10 (I-00):
'Genetically Modified Foods']
'..Regulatory
agencies of Western Europe
are
increasingly dominated by politically motivated bureaucrats
who
capitulate to the pressure of protectionism-minded business
and
hysterical activists.'
[H.I.
Miller & G. Conko, 2000, 'The science of Biotechnology
Meets
the Politics of Global Regulation' Science
and Technology online ]