To identify if the gene has been successfully transferred to the host plant, a marker is used. That marker is bacteria, but not just any bacteria, antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bacteria are in our gut, in soil, plants and carried in the air. Their ability to mutate and multiply is why we are facing the very real threat of the present armoury of antibiotics that we use being rendered useless. Genetic engineering has the propensity to change the whole biodiversity of nature, to increase the incidence of cancer and create antibiotic resistance.
Cancer takes decades to appear.
It will be our children who will be the canaries in the coalmine. C.M. Woodley, Bondi. Carlton Light Growing up as a teenager in the 1980s, I remember waking up to the radio commentaries, witticisms and insightfulness of Mike Carlton. Back then I was easily impressed. A luxury Mr Carlton begrudges Paul Keating.