Letters: Seeds of discontent

Shekhar Gupta confuses the issue and terms in his piece, "Genetically ossified absurdity" (September 10). After describing professor Deepak Pental and his laboratory, Gupta dwells on how Pental sought to transfer genes between two varieties of mustard, Polish and Indian, for reasons not mentioned.

Then, Gupta says, Pental transferred genes into mustard seeds that were derived from a bacterium, leaving us to presume that these are Bt-type seeds to try reducing pesticide use. Why mustard needs to be handled this way unless it is to reduce erucic acid content is not mentioned.

To jump from one objective and achieve something else is not called genetic engineering but genetic tinkering. Then to glorify the trade in canola imports led by big Delhi businessmen in the face of resistance and by not labelling Bt products for consumers cannot by any circumstance be called willing and knowledgeable consumption.

Gupta is merely sneering at an unorganised opposition and blatantly sides with business, which is strange for a usually balanced writer who I regularly read.

R Vijaykumar via email

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