Adam's Apples

Over objections from the apple industry, the U.S. government yesterday gave the green light to the first genetically engineered apples. The gene-altered Arctic-brand apples are Granny Smith and Golden Delicious varieties that have been modified to resist browning when cut or bruised. Limited quantities could be brought to market as early as 2016.

Frankenfruit The largest apple trade group in America is bracing for problems related to genetically modified fruit. Writing in opposition to the application of  Okanagan Specialty Fruits  to sell GM apples, the US Apple Association said: The genetically modified apples in the petition offer questionable commercial benefit yet raise serious marketing questions for virtually all segments of our industry. ...we believe that granting the request for deregulation could lead to significant and unnecessary costs to the industry in the form of labeling and marketing efforts that would be required to differentiate conventional apples from the GE apples.

Today, gentle reader, step into my laboratory for a tale of science run amok. As related a few years ago in The Fruit Blog, two years before the accident at Three Mile Island researchers in Ohio decided that a little radiation might create a better Melrose.