A question for those who may know more than I: is there a potential for unintended consequences resulting exclusively from using biotech crops? That is to say, although the standard selective breeding methods are slower and less efficient, do they maintain a safeguard against unintended long-term side effects that bioengineering does not?
For example, if I add a gene to a tomato strain that improves vitamin content, does this have the potential to cause a negative reaction in the overall DNA makeup which could lower the mineral content in the fruits produced by that strain? Or could the makeup of the tomato change in such a way as to create potential allergic reactions not seen in selectively bred strains?
For example, if I add a gene to a tomato strain that improves vitamin content, does this have the potential to cause a negative reaction in the overall DNA makeup which could lower the mineral content in the fruits produced by that strain? Or could the makeup of the tomato change in such a way as to create potential allergic reactions not seen in selectively bred strains?