This is a proposal to consider the creation and support of a United States Digital Library of plant genome maps and storing of publicly available data.
Currently, we have protected non-GMO strains and varieties of heirloom seeds still available to the public; however, due to the seasonal cross-contamination of new corporate-patented GMO plants, our original non-GMO seed stocks are quickly dwindling – impossible to resurrect once ‘genomic pollution’ occurs.
In order to ensure future viability of our current heirloom and non-GMO strains, a public central repository might be developed which stores the digital genetic map of all known non-GMO fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, and medicinal herbs. This would serve similarly as a ‘Noah’s Ark’ for saving, storing, and providing the uncontaminated digital ‘blueprint’ of the original strains.
Having this information available to the public may provide future standards and comparative data regarding scientific and legal aspects of unregulated and harmful GMO creation, patenting, and subsequent damage control. GMO research facilities can be restricted from performing minor molecular changes to plant varieties expressly for patent claims, even at the expense of damaging the biological and ecological diversity upon which we currently rely.
As was performed in the 1990s, with the creation of the “Human Genome Project” (HGP), this newly proposed institution might borrow from the same public resources to create the digital mapping of diverse plant genomes. During the HGP, since computing power was a large part of the successful mapping of the human genome, many thousands of computers nationwide were assembled into remote processing arrays, where bits of data were downloaded, processed and then the processed information was uploaded again. Americans from all over the country, downloaded an application from the HGP site which installed the necessary algorithms for remote communications and data processing. During idle computer time use, processing would fill that void, and a slice of human DNA information was generated and uploaded back to HGP. This happened over and over again on thousands of personal computers across the country, until the entire human DNA was mapped out - an historical milestone for Science.
As plant material DNA is far more simplistic and easier to map, it is being proposed that this new institution provide a website portal with a list of plants and their heirloom varieties might be selected. An online volunteer might select which plants he/she would donate personal computer processing resources to assist with its mapping (ie: “Tomato – Black Krim” & “Pea – Mississippi Purple Hull”). The volunteer would them downloaded the install app, and run it, establishing a remote link and processing setup area of the computer hard drive, where the mapping of these two plant genomes might occur). Then, together with thousands of other computers who selected the same plant genome for which to donate their resources, this would provide the necessary processing power (via the remote server array configuration provided), to create the entire digital map of each.
Since the biggest resource/cost required of this policy effort would be the availability of necessary processing power, and electrical consumption – and both of these would be donated by the American People, on their own times and schedules, the effort would be well within the realm of possibility. And as each non-GMO/heirloom plant genome is mapped and stored in this national digital library, standards and regulations can be more easily applied to GMO companies and research firms who roll out massive GMO-altered materials and plant organizations, without any regard to public safety or future plant strain viability.
Link to original post below, that led to this new policy proposal…