Skepticism, Science & Pseudoscience

HuckleB

(35,773 posts) Fri Sep 25, 2015, 11:22 PM Sep 2015

GMOs and Junk Science

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/gmos-junk-science-by-henry-i--miller-and-kavin-senapathy-2015-09

"In today’s media landscape, where unfounded opinions, hype, and rumors are rife, the scientific method – the means by which we determine, based on empirical and measurable evidence, what is true – should serve as a touchstone of reality. Science enables us to gauge what we think we know and to identify what we do not. Most important, it discredits false claims made for personal or political reasons – at least it should.
But scientists occasionally “go rogue,” forsaking the scientific method – often for notoriety or economic gain – to produce propaganda and to sow fear in a public that lacks expertise but is hungry for information. This abuse of scientific authority is especially widespread in the “organic” and “natural” food industries, which capitalize on people’s fear of synthetic or “unnatural” products.

A recent example is the Indian-American scientist V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai, who, with Prabhakar Deonikar, published the much-ridiculed paper “Do GMOs Accumulate Formaldehyde and Disrupt Molecular Systems Equilibria? Systems Biology May Provide Answers.” (“GMOs” are “genetically modified organisms,” itself a misleading and often unfairly stigmatized non-category, circumscribing a universe of organisms modified with the most modern and precise techniques of genetic engineering.)

...

But the problems with Ayyadurai’s paper are legion. Its title alone is enough to show that something is amiss. If you think that GMOs might “accumulate formaldehyde” – a chemical that is probably carcinogenic at high levels but is present in most living cells and found widely in our environment – the obvious response would be to measure its levels in the organisms. Ayyadurai, however, chose to make guesses based on modeling via “systems biology.”

..."

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Another false hero of the anti-GMO crowd.

12 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

GMOs and Junk Science (Original Post) HuckleB Sep 2015 OP

For shame! What a rascal! Large corporations respect science and truth, generally, Joe Chi Minh Sep 2015 #1

Corporations can, and do, abuse science, no one denies that. Archae Sep 2015 #2

You've shot yourself in the foot, allowing comments. Joe Chi Minh Sep 2015 #3

And you blew your foot off with a bazooka, using that link. Archae Sep 2015 #4

What a nerve you have! The only people who are tyrannising the pubic are you people, Joe Chi Minh Sep 2015 #7

1. They're not "frankenfoods." That's your despicable propaganda. HuckleB Sep 2015 #12

The author didn't bother to respond to the usual nonsense. HuckleB Sep 2015 #6

We'll see. Time is the great decider, pace Dubya. Joe Chi Minh Sep 2015 #8

Ah, the usual anti-science escape. HuckleB Sep 2015 #11

In other words, you have no actual discussion point. HuckleB Sep 2015 #5

You might be interested to read this: Joe Chi Minh Sep 2015 #9

Oh, a repeat of another ridiculous anti-science, anti-GMO nonsense piece. HuckleB Sep 2015 #10

Joe Chi Minh

(15,229 posts)

1. For shame! What a rascal! Large corporations respect science and truth, generally,

Reply to HuckleB (Original post)

Sat Sep 26, 2015, 05:40 AM

Sep 2015

like no other entity, no matter how saintly. Why they even fund top university research departments. Way to go, HuckleB!

Archae

(46,798 posts)

2. Corporations can, and do, abuse science, no one denies that.

Reply to Joe Chi Minh (Reply #1)

Sat Sep 26, 2015, 09:16 AM

Sep 2015

The tobacco companies are the worst example I can think of.

But the anti-GMO hysterics are nearly as bad.

Just look who their biggest spokesman is.

Jeffrey Smith.

http://americanloons.blogspot.com/2014/09/1157-jeffery-smith.html

Joe Chi Minh

(15,229 posts)

3. You've shot yourself in the foot, allowing comments.

Reply to Archae (Reply #2)

Sat Sep 26, 2015, 11:47 AM

Sep 2015

Note that at this link that you gave, the author, one Pamela Ronald, has not answered the questions put to her in the last comment date Feb 13 2013.

Look at this link, below,at Troy's comment on #4, in the Comments :
http://nwrage.org/content/14-myths-about-genetic-engineering

It links to another site giving 14 thoroughly damning Q and A's. Answers 12 and 13 literally sound like an arguments put forward by a redneck who'd never been to school.

#13: You can't stop progress?

and the classic: '#14: There are more important thing to worry about than GE foods.'

Archae

(46,798 posts)

4. And you blew your foot off with a bazooka, using that link.

Reply to Joe Chi Minh (Reply #3)

Sat Sep 26, 2015, 03:36 PM

Sep 2015

I mean, here are just two of the headlines there:

Eucalyptus Frankentrees Threaten Southern U.S.

CANADA CLOSE TO ALLOWING UNAPPROVED GM FOOD CONTAMINATION IN IMPORTS

You want to go "all natural" or "organic," fine.

Just quit trying to force all of us to hand over our paychecks to the organic carnival barkers.

Joe Chi Minh

(15,229 posts)

7. What a nerve you have! The only people who are tyrannising the pubic are you people,

Reply to Archae (Reply #4)

Sun Sep 27, 2015, 02:34 PM

Sep 2015

who refuse to allow your frankenfoods to be labeled, so that people can spot them and reject them. If that's not transparent, corporate tyranny, I don't know what could be. And something so pivotal to their health!

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)

12. 1. They're not "frankenfoods." That's your despicable propaganda.

Reply to Joe Chi Minh (Reply #7)

Sun Sep 27, 2015, 04:40 PM

Sep 2015

2. No form of seed development technology is labeled, because it gives you no actual information.

3. There is no conspiracy to hide anything. That is why the nonsense you offer is pure ludicrous conspiracy mongering.

4. Let us know when organic companies are ready to label MBOs. Until then, your nonsense is noted for what it is.