And it's spreading like wildfire!
| Submit your comments on this article |
| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Genetically engineered grass escapes to the wild |
| 2006-08-17 |
| Edited for brevity. Grass that was genetically engineered for golf courses is growing in the wild, posing one of the first threats of agricultural biotechnology escaping from the farm in the United States, a new study says. Creeping bentgrass was engineered to resist the popular herbicide Roundup to allow more efficient weed control on golf courses. But the modified grass could spread that resistance to the wild, becoming a nuisance itself, scientists say. "This is not a killer tomato, this is not the asparagus that ate Cleveland," said Norman Ellstrand, a geneticist and plant expert at the University of California, Riverside, referring to science fiction satire about mutant plants. But Ellstrand noted the engineered bentgrass has the potential to affect more than a dozen other plant species that could also acquire resistance to Roundup, or glyphosate, which he considers a relatively benign herbicide. Such resistance could force land managers and government agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, which relies heavily on Roundup, to switch to "nastier" herbicides to control grasses and weeds, Ellstrand said. On the plus side, soon we'll be able to golf anywhere! |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #4 "Calling all cars! BOLO for, ummmm...plants! They are presumed armed and dangerous! If you encounter any, establish a 200 foot perimeter and call for backup! That is all!" |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-08-17 23:16 |
| #3 IT'S SUPER WEED! And it's spreading like wildfire! |
| Posted by: Crealing Angort1971 2006-08-17 21:37 |
| #2 "This is not a killer tomato, this is not the asparagus that ate Cleveland," No, it's the crab grass that ate my lawn and my neighbors and his neighbor etc. Time for rock and a blow torch. |
| Posted by: Unumble Omoger6127 2006-08-17 20:19 |
| #1 Sea to sea putting greens by 2100... |
| Posted by: flyover 2006-08-17 19:05 |