Grant Jacobs • Nov 14, 2019 •
Recently more than 150 post-graduate students and young scientists presented an open letter to the Green Party via The Spinoff, encouraging them to reconsider their position on genetic modification. Their target is tackling climate change issues.[1] Can any party continue to be dismissive about genetic modification (GM) contributing to better agriculture? We all want safe food, and … Read More
Jamie Steer • Jun 19, 2019 •
The Minister of Conservation’s recent direction to put the brakes on research into gene editing for predator eradication has proven a bone of contention with some. That’s regrettable because her decision is well justified. See here for Part 1 of this two-part series. 4. We should progress with the research anyway A fourth objection is that the Minister has … Read More
Jamie Steer • Jun 18, 2019 •
The Minister of Conservation’s recent direction to put the brakes on research into gene editing for predator eradication has proven a bone of contention with some. That’s regrettable because her decision is well justified. In a recent Letter of Expectation to Predator Free 2050 Limited, Minister Sage instructed that no resources shall be directed towards the development of gene editing … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Jan 10, 2016 •
In NZ, media such as the TV3 News website are reporting Federated Farmers as encouraging the New Zealand Green Party to also review their policy on genetic modification (GM), following the lead of the Australian Greens leader, Richard Di Natale. This is likely to cause public comment, as there already is on-line. I’m sure I’m … Read More
Grant Jacobs • May 30, 2014 •
(Scientists will want to skip straight to part two, which looks at the court ruling. Part three adds further thoughts and introduces a perspective article on GMOs) Last week a legal decision in New Zealand overturned a previous opinion that using gene editing to create variants would not create genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).[1] At the centre … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Oct 12, 2011 •
This is a different style than my usual material.* The setting and narrator is fictional - not me, but a character and scene invented for the story. The article is several years old now and the science is consequentially slightly dated. Sitting on my balcony this early Spring morning, my elderly neighbour … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Jun 10, 2011 •
Jack Horner had two dreams, to be a palaeontologist and to have a pet dinosaur. He’s been the first for his lifetime. He’s still working on the second: Other articles on Code for life: Doggie ERVs Should children be sent home from school if they are not vaccinated? Keeping … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Dec 15, 2009 •
[caption id="attachment_818" align="alignright" width="341" caption="(Source: wikipedia.)"][/caption] Some say that genetically modified plants are a concern because they're genetically modified organisms (GMOs), that "natural" plants are safer. Yet what most people call "natural" foods are rare mutants that have been selected or have been artificially bred (or often both). They have much more dramatic … Read More