AlterNet: Environment: Frankenforests: GE Trees Threaten Ecosystem Collapse

AlterNet: Environment: Frankenforests: GE Trees Threaten Ecosystem Collapse: "GE trees are planted in monoculture forests, which look more like plantations, and pose serious risks to the ecosystem. Trees live decades or centuries longer than plants, and their seeds can travel hundreds of miles, increasing the likelihood of gene contamination to wild species. The technology was created to optimize the manufacturing process, but environmentalists worry that it will open an ecological Pandora's Box and threaten the health of the forests we depend on for survival."

Welcome to the new world of genetic engineering, where even the trees are branded with corporate logos. Have we not learned to leave the environment alone yet? We have no idea what will happen 50 years down the road from this little experiment. Perhaps these GE trees will begin taking over, killing off natural species. Look at the colony collapse nightmare that is killing bee populations. One of the theorized causes of the bee deaths is transgenic corn, which is designed to kill pest insects. It may well be killing the bees that try to pollinate it. Without bees, it would be nearly impossible to feed the world, yet we march ahead with genetically modified plants. If we had known 100 years ago what industrialization would do to the environment, perhaps we could have slowed the effects. We are creating the same type of situation here. "Let's worry about it later."