Genetically engineered crops are nearly three decades olds at this point. What impacts have they had on agriculture over those nearly 30 years? Hint: they're mostly positive. Scientists may be able to derive stem cells from amniotic fluid during a pregnancy and use them to treat birth defects before a child is born. Right-wing parental rights activists are leading a campaign to restrict school vaccine requirements. How do we convince these hyper-skeptical moms and dads that their kids should be vaccinated against preventable (and often deadly) diseases?

Podcast:

Join hosts Dr. Liza Dunn and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 259 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Viewpoint: Despite a sea of environmental activist disinformation, GMO plants have more than lived up to the hype

The first generation of genetically engineered crops were commercialized roughly 30 years ago. Since then, critics of the technology have predicted it would lead to serious public health and environmental harms, but none of those ever came to fruition. Nobody suffered so much as a stomach ache from consuming food derived from GE crops; however, studies have documented significant yield increases and notable decreases in prices at the grocery store. Let's take a look back at the "frankenfood" controversy and examine why it came to an unceremonious end.

* With just a sample of fluid surrounding a baby in the womb, researchers can make mini organs to test out potential medical treatments

Doctors routinely collect amniotic stem cells during tests administered throughout pregnancy. Researchers have recently discovered that these cells can be used to monitor and maybe prevent potential health conditions that could materialize later in the pregnancy. They could also be grown into mini organs that regulators could use to improve the safety testing of drugs and other chemicals before they are commercialized. Importantly, these procedures are unlikely to provoke opposition from conservatives who oppose the use of embryonic stem cells, which has often been a major hurdle to advances in scientific research.

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* Parents’ Bill of Rights: Vaccine wars heat up in states allowing exemptions for schoolchildren

On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, several states have proposed or enacted laws that require birth parents to...