QWhere is the website that has non-industry people answering the questions? Like maybe one with independent scientists and/or health professionals who DON'T have a connection to the biotechnology industry. Because that's where I'd like to get my answers

Question submitted By: sonora wheat
Where is the website that has non-industry people answering the questions? Like maybe one with independent scientists and/or health professionals who DON'T have a connection to the biotechnology industry. Because that's where I'd like to get my answers from. Sorry if I seem a little skeptical, but really, any industry is going to spin...this looks like nothing more than a big old PR campaign for GMOs.

AExpert Answer
Response from Fran Castle, Global Senior Manager, Communications, BASF · Monday, 11/04/2013 12:06 pm

You found it! We’ve been working with about 50 independent experts who have volunteered to answer questions. None of the independent experts contributing to this site are compensated for their answers. It’s purely voluntarily.  Check out a few great independent expert responses:

 

Who can create a gmo for me? I'm wanting certain matching genes to be added to a strain of watermelon and a strain of coconut. Who can do this for me?
Posted on September 5, 2017
Response from: Kent Bradford, Director, Seed Biotechnology Center, UC Davis • on October 9, 2017
While there might be some institutions with the capability to make these transgenic watermelon and coconut plants for you, that does not mean that you would be able to actually plant them out. First, the institution would need to have a Biological Use Authorization to work with recombinant DNA to make the vectors to transfer the genes. Then they would need to be able to do the tissue culture required to transfer the genes and regenerate whole plants again, which can sometimes be difficult.... Read More
Answer:
How GMOs Are Made
So whats a genetic engineer always do?did they just sit inside the lab all day doing research everyday?
Posted on August 5, 2017
Response from: Dr. Larry Gilbertson, Ph.D, Genomics Strategy Lead, Monsanto Company • on August 31, 2017
I’m a genetic engineer. I’ve spent 30 years participating as a member of teams of genetic engineers, and I love your question. Most of us do indeed spend a lot of time inside the lab, but we’re not always sitting. Sometimes we dance!   Genetic engineering starts with an idea for a way to solve a problem, so I guess it starts with an understanding of the problems. In agriculture, for example, that means spending time to understand what’s happening on farms and... Read More
Answer:
Other
So whats a genetic engineer always do?did they just sit inside the lab all day doing research everyday?
Posted on August 5, 2017
Response from: Sivamani Elumalai, Senior Team Leader – Transgenic Technology Team, Syngenta • on August 25, 2017
Other than research, our work starts at the design of a plasmid vector that contains a gene cassette that we want to introduce in a plant genome. Once the plasmid vector design is completed, it is synthesized by bringing together several DNA components together thru a bio-chemical reaction. When the plasmid vector is made, the several components are verified by restriction endonuclease digestion reactions and/or thru DNA sequencing. After this verification is completed, the plasmid... Read More
Answer:
Other

About the Expert

Fran Castle

Global Senior Manager, Communications, BASF

19 Answers

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I have been with BASF for 12 years working in agriculture both here in the USA and worldwide. Prior to that, I worked for DuPont for 13 years in a variety of marketing and communication positions in several different businesses. I was an urban kid, not growing up on a farm, but have loved my time working with farmers and researchers in order to tell the story about agriculture and how it...
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