Technology

So you're one of the rich ones.

I mean I guess one of the biggest arguments for gene editing is that humans have been modifying the genetics of plants and animals for thousands of years, to the great benefit of humankind. While this was through selective breeding, gene editing is fundamentally a very similar ethical question.

Without genetic modification, it would have been beyond impossible to feed everyone, or even get somewhat past subsistence farming.

Modifying humans, however, is a totally different question to mosifying trees.

I think it’s dumb because such power (CRISPR) should be treated with great care. Curing a disease? Go for it. But be careful. Now, to make a better product? I dunno, it just rubs me the wrong way.

Why? Is this a religious statement? If it betters the world then that's it, it should be used. CRISPR is just a technology for editing genes, it's not some sacred tool that should have arbitrary restrictions, or a nuclear weapon. If the utility of using it is positive why not?

Most of our crops, that we rely to feed the world today would be barely usable for consumption before we domesticated them. Same with fruits and plenty of other food sources, like cattle.

You mentioned little dogs in another comment, and while some will have more issues, others have rather long lifespans for dogs (chihuahuas). Important thing is, this is what happened when we had no idea or precise control of what we were doing, which we have now with gene editing. Can't get more precise than that. I also think this objection is moot since trees don't think and therefore don't experience suffering in the way animals do, unless you think your flowers scream in terror whenever you forget to water them, this isn't even a moral conundrum.

Edit: leaving this in to clarify what I'm responding to.

without caring about what happens to the thing modified?

Mate, I don't know or care about the other guy's insults, but don't you think unspecifically attributing the word to the US's terribly managed economy is getting cringe and worse muddying the water. I've seen a super posh actress who's famous for being posh (nobility on both sides of the family) complain (in character) about it on a trailer for a major movie coming out soon.

Not to say criticism is cringe, but while I might be wrong, something seems to be missing.

I see your concerns. I think we can't avoid using our land. The alternative would be not existing. Also we have to agree that most people demand a degree of consumerism that puts a strain on the resources we have. That's the reality we face. Paper is a very necessary good and probably will be forever. The production of paper is resource intensive. Removing lignin would reduce our demand of resources.
I don't see big poplar forests with the whole purpose of harvesting cellulose as that problematic if we keep in mind that this also gives more space for habitats we have to protect.What this research promises is that we can make the best of what we have because that is all we have left after we ravaged the planet and are not willing to stop that.

What's not clear to me is whether these edits will be passed on to future generations of trees. I think that's usually not the case with CRISPR, but this article is talking about "breeding", so maybe it is the case here. The phrase "building a better forest" is particularly disturbing as well.

My concern here is basically that we don't want to be replacing wild forests with genetically engineered monoculture. Replacing millions of years of evolution and biodiversity with 1 or 2 "optimal" genetic lines leaves the population vulnerable to things like disease and environmental changes. A diverse population is much more resilient against these dangers, since the differences in individuals may allow some to survive where others couldn't.

So as long as the usage is limited to specific tree farms, it's probably no worse than other modern agricultural practices. I just hope they don't want to replace wild forests with CRISPR trees.