Im concerned by the reports of transgenic DNA found in Mexican corn landraces. Isn this evidence that transgenic crops will cause environmental damage by reducing genetic diversity?
Genes engineered into crops can be transmitted to other plants of the same species or to sexually compatible wild relatives by pollination. Hybridization of transgenic crops with other plants raises environmental concerns on several fronts, including the possible introduction of traits that could increase the weediness of some species, the potential for affecting the genetic diversity or ecological status of natural, non-weedy plant populations, and the potential for affecting the genetic diversity found in crop landraces (traditional, locally adapted varieties). Of course, gene flow from conventional, non-genetically engineered crops also occurs, and has been implicated in causing undesirable changes in certain natural plant populations and in the evolution of more aggressive weeds for several crops. Many factors influence the potential consequences of gene flow from crops, and whether transgenic crops are more or less likely to cause undesirable effects is unknown.
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