[asa] genetic engineering question

Is there any 'demarcable' difference between the genetic engineering
that has been happening since antiquity (i.e. controlled breeding or
cross pollinating, etc.) and the modern genetic engineering that most of
us think of if we are speaking of it in a critical sense? -- i.e. what
is usually meant when somebody says 'that isn't natural' (whatever
'natural' means).

Or is the entire enterprise just one long indistinguishable gradation of
increasing sophistication that remains qualitatively the same at its core?

My less than lofty motivation for asking: I want to know if I'm
basically nuts for turning my nose up at artificial sweetners, etc.
because of some misguided notion that those originated in a corporate
laboratory rather than a farm kitchen. (actually I have other reasons
for rejecting them anyway.)

--Merv

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Received on Thu Sep 13 08:03:09 2007