GM

[Joel]

Would you help us with a few questions, please?

1.  Are these plants genetically modified for
proprietary reasons to the extent that they
do not produce seeds?

2.  In the genetic modification of plants ...
not unlike hybridization of flowering plants
... are certain positive characteristics of the
plant lost in the process ... for example:
many hybridized flowering plants sacrifice
fragrance and nectar production for the
sake of longer blooming periods and
larger blooms.

If the answer to one or both of those is
yes, what are the implications regarding
the inherent species and the species that
survive based on a symbiotic relationship?

For instance, petunias are so hybridized
that they no longer have scent or nectar.

In other words a regular garden petunia
is now useless in the entomology sense.

Next, we're wondering about the implications
for diversity.  Within a general population of a
species there is usually a fair amount of diversity,
that diversity has evolutionary impact.  What
about the issue of diversity regarding GM?

What are the evolutionary biologists and botanists
saying about the implication of diversity regarding
survival of species?

Thank you from two layperson butterfly gardeners
in New Orleans.

Joel/Melanie