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beastroll87 t1_jd36z81 wrote

Reply to comment by Joseluki in TIL that the Incans genetically modified and hybridized crops such as potatoes at sites like the Moray Terrace. by A_Generic_White_Guy

I'm a Biotechnologist too. Answer me this: how does normal food like for example wheat which has obviously been selectively bred is not labelled as GM, but other products that have been GM are labelled as such. Use common sense. Here is a site for you to understand cos clearly you need to go back to college: https://www.expii.com/t/gmo-genetically-modified-organisms-meaning-examples-10241

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Joseluki t1_jd3807g wrote

Because policy is made by politicians, not scientists.

Selective breeding is a means of genetical modification, it is genetic engineering.

Your aim is to obtain a progeny with certain genotype so you are directing their breeding towards it.

That is why the term GMO exits, to make a disctinction between organisms that have been obtained by selective breeding and hydridzation vs organisms that have been obtained by genomic techniques.

You could crossbreed to obtain genetically modified dwarf strains of cereals that would not bend by the weight of their seeds.

You could push a microorganisms to certain environments during multiple generations to obtain a more resistant to toxic subproduct or an antibiotic without ever having to use genomic technique. And that is considered metabolic engineering. You could obtain the same result using genomic techniques too and that would be a GMO organism.

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KypDurron t1_jd3n2jq wrote

> Answer me this: how does normal food like for example wheat which has obviously been selectively bred is not labelled as GM, but other products that have been GM are labelled as such.

You're seriously arguing that a scientific concept should be defined based on how politicians and bureaucrats use the term?

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