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August 30, 2004

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GM Technology

There has been plenty of fussing over the benefits and costs of genetically modified agriculture. There are moral and ethical considerations with such powerful technology. Unless, of course, you're in the drugs industry. From the Sunday SCMP:

Colombian police have discovered a new, genetically modified variety of the coca plant that not only yields more cocaine but also produces a drug of higher purity. The authorities claim the drug cartels paid scientists more than US$150 million to develop the new plant strain...

Growing to a heigh of 2.5 metres and resistant to toxins used by the officials to readicate coca plants, the new breed was developed by cross-breeding strains from Peru with potent Colombian varieties and enhancing them unsing genetic engineering techniques.

And people think drug cartels are bad when in fact they are at the very forefront of science. Could a Nobel Prize be heading to Mendelin sometime soon?

 posted by Simon on 08.30.04 at 10:47 AM in the




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