The best and possibly worst thing to ever happen to humanity.
Genetic Engineering is amazing! It can increase crop yields, increase nutrition, and save billions of life. Without genetic engineering, food prices increase and nutrition around the world decreases dramatically.
While I do believe that genetic engineering is the best thing to ever happen to humanity, I believe there is the distinct possibility for it to be the worst thing to ever happen to humanity.
As I said in Griffin Wagner's answer to How will capitalism affect GMOs?, the commercialization of GMOs will allow companies to own entire crops and antitrust laws will no longer apply. Because mutations will soon occur quicker than GE patents expire, one company will own the exclusive rights to a whole crop.
This can have dangerous effects which can possibly even counteract the positive impact GMOs have in the first place. If a monopoly exists and farmers have become dependent on the seeds, companies can raise prices and, since there is no competition, big GMO companies will profit enormously.
I fully support genetic engineering of crops and humans. I fully support the applications of genetic engineering. However patent laws and FDA regulations are stuck in the 20th century.
Until the laws adapt to the times, I cannot fully support the best thing to ever happen to humanity.
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