‘Genetics has a part to play’
Speaking to the Fellows of the Royal Agricultural Societies in Edinburgh, Professor Geoff Simm from the Scottish Rural College said that genetic modification was not to be seen as a silver bullet curing all ills but it had to be seriously considered in the face of the world having to increase food production.
He accepted the whole GM issue was highly emotive but said that meantime there was other molecular research work which was helping accelerate selection of animals for producing food.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe use of gene markers which pick up on DNA sequences are already being used to determine which dairy bulls are used on the national herd while similar work was going on in both the pig and poultry sectors.
The use of gene markers could also lead to the elimination of unwanted characteristics, he said.