Do you want to clone your pet? There are companies that will do it for you—if you have a half-million dollars to spare. Drought-tolerant biotech crops have been developed and are grown around the globe. Why do anti-GMO groups continue to deny they exist? We need new antibiotics to control bacteria that have evolved resistance to the drugs we've used for decades. How do we spur the development of these desperately needed medicines?
Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 197 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:
* ‘He’s more than just his DNA’: Cloning a beloved pet costs up to $500,000 — but there’s no guarantees when it comes to personality
The death of a family pet is a brutal experience for most of us. If you've ever wished that you could hit the reset button and give your dog, cat or even your prized bull a second chance—and you have anywhere from $50,000 to $500,000 laying around—there are companies that will harvest your pet's cells and use them to produce a clone of your fury family member. The problem? With just a 20 percent success rate, the process is hardly foolproof. And even if it works, Lassie 2.0 may not behave as you expect. It's a stark reminder that genetics doesn't dictate personality—even in our pets.
* Viewpoint: GM drought-tolerant crops: Here is one biotech innovation that only anti-GMO science rejectionists can demonize
Drought-tolerant biotech crops exist. Varieties of corn, wheat and soy have been developed and farmers around the world grow them every year. Why, then, do anti-GMO groups persist in claiming that biotechnology can't produce plants with drought tolerance? They're either unaware of the evidence or they just deny it. Neither option paints a flattering picture of these activist groups.
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