the problem with science…

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  • October 5, 2018 at 10:12 am #91907
    wv
    Participant

    science:https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/04/us-plan-to-genetically-alter-crops-via-insects-feared-to-be-biological-war-plan

    “…Government-backed researchers in America are aiming to use virus-carrying insects to genetically engineer crops – raising fears the technology could be used for biological weapons.

    A new article in the journal Science explores the shadowy program funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa).

    The program aims to disperse infectious, genetically modified viruses that have been engineered to alter the chromosomes of crops – using insects to spread the viruses to the plants.

    Researchers have budgeted more than $45m to pursue the genetic engineering scheme, in a program dubbed Insect Allies….”

    The agency describes the research as a way to improve crop security: bugs like aphids, leafhoppers and whiteflies will be used to spread a virus to plants including corn and tomatoes, which will then impart beneficial genes making the plants resistant to disease or drought.

    But in the Science article, an international team of scientists and lawyers warn that the technology could be put to more nefarious purposes, including military applications.

    October 5, 2018 at 12:52 pm #91908
    nittany ram
    Moderator

    I don’t know why spraying would be ‘impractical’ as the DARPA rep claimed. On the contrary, it seems like the most practical way to deliver the virus.

    Anything beneficial that science creates can be corrupted. You sorta have to keep that ‘potential for corruption’ in mind when developing new technologies. It’s a ‘risk vs reward’ situation.

    October 5, 2018 at 1:44 pm #91911
    wv
    Participant
    nittany ram wrote:

    Anything beneficial that science creates can be corrupted. You sorta have to keep that ‘potential for corruption’ in mind when developing new technologies. It’s a ‘risk vs reward’ situation.

    =============

    Well, my question would be what are the ‘odds’ science will be corrupted when the science is sitting in a corporate-capitalist context.

    w
    v

    October 5, 2018 at 11:41 pm #91936
    nittany ram
    Moderator
    wv wrote:
    nittany ram wrote:

    Anything beneficial that science creates can be corrupted. You sorta have to keep that ‘potential for corruption’ in mind when developing new technologies. It’s a ‘risk vs reward’ situation.

    =============

    Well, my question would be what are the ‘odds’ science will be corrupted when the science is sitting in a corporate-capitalist context.

    w
    v

    Well, the odds are pretty good.

    Companies have been caught manipulating data and study results before.

    Fortunately there are regulatory bodies monitoring these studies and independent labs verifying the results.

    All that takes time and it isn’t foolproof but in most cases it would be hard to get away with the fraud for long.

    The bigger issue might be with the lack of government funds going to research, more and more companies are stepping in to fill the void. Companies want a return on their investment. Not saying this is leading to widespread fraud but it’s not an ideal situation.

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