Genetically modified cannabis?

[paulg]

Just wondering if this has been attempted. ( I’m not suggesting this is a good idea). I have a friend who planted some GM almond trees. He was shocked at how quickly and robust they grew.

 

[DCLXVI]

Are you meaning lab modified gene manipulation? I think most are heavily modified though breeding selection already.

I could be wrong but the Dinafem bust a couple years ago revealed some high tech lab equipment for genetic testing and modification. It's very possible that type of seed is already out there. I doubt any company would advertise it as I'm certain people would have strong feelings against lab genetics vs breeding selection. Despite the common and close similarities of both methods.

 

[MotaZona]

Colin at Ethos claims it’s been done already.

 

[BII]

Commercial development of genetically modified cannabis plants (vs. cell culture) in major market (highly regulated/Western) countries would presumably require gov't approvals. env. impact assessments, etc. at least some publicly announced field testing. Not going to happen soon - public is far from ready (knowledgeable enough).

If anything, I'd presume the industrial hemp growers would first get genetic modified plants. That's a much more concentrated (fewer, larger customers) and easier legal market vs. cannabis growers.

Otherwise, "genetic modification" is a broad, vague, relative term. For ex. does GMO status require controlled insertion of a foreign (other species) gene? What if CRISPR is used to remove a specific gene or portion of DNA and rejoin the DNA (just something removed)? What if someone controllably combines pollen with the female flowers of different strains or even 'species,' e.g., crosses a C. indica with C. sativa strain? If done right (controlled/lab.-like conditions), is such conventional plant breeding "genetic modification?"

 

[Olderfart]

Are you meaning lab modified gene manipulation? I think most are heavily modified though breeding selection already.

I could be wrong but the Dinafem bust a couple years ago revealed some high tech lab equipment for genetic testing and modification. It's very possible that type of seed is already out there. I doubt any company would advertise it as I'm certain people would have strong feelings against lab genetics vs breeding selection. Despite the common and close similarities of both methods.

Beat me to the draw. Pretty much all the cannabis we are likely to get our mitts on is modified, the only question is how it was done.

Having said that, it is pretty hard to introduce, say, fish genes, by selecting cannabis plants, so extra mischief is possible in the lab, as are potential unexpected complications. Kinda hard to put the genie back in the bottle sometimes...

Happy growing of relatively unmodified weed peeps.

 

[Bill.de.Cat]

OOHHHH...cannabis with sequoia genes.........imagine the size of those buds

 

[Bob's Auto's]

Genetically modifying Cannabis has ben done for the last 40 years. I know that in the late 70's, early 80's loads of breeders in Holland experimented with the juice of a tulip bulb. They soaked the seeds in them and that did something with their genetic makeup. Most of the seedlings that came out where freaks, but once in a while something special grew out of them...
That's nothing compared with what they can do these days, but manipulation it was indeed...

 

[BII]

Cannabis with higher

Genetically modifying Cannabis has ben done for the last 40 years. I know that in the late 70's, early 80's loads of breeders in Holland experimented with the juice of a tulip bulb. They soaked the seeds in them and that did something with their genetic makeup. Most of the seedlings that came out where freaks, but once in a while something special grew out of them...
That's nothing compared with what they can do these days, but manipulation it was indeed...

In many respects, just normal breeding, putting pollen from one plant to another, is similarly genetic recombination/modification. But like the chemical-induced mutations cited, the gene/DNA changes are rather random, uncontrolled, etc. vs. precise cut/paste genetic engineering of genes/DNA.

 

[Bob's Auto's]

Cannabis with higher

In many respects, just normal breeding, putting pollen from one plant to another, is similarly genetic recombination/modification. But like the chemical-induced mutations cited, the gene/DNA changes are rather random, uncontrolled, etc. vs. precise cut/paste genetic engineering of genes/DNA.

That's true, but in the day that was all that the breeders had access to. Even now, I don't think many breeders have access to specialized lab equipment and DNA resynchronizers, but rather as you noted use crossing strains with other strains.
Funny thing tho... As all those strains which are used now can be traced back to only 10 or so landraces until you arrive at breeders like Sensi Seeds who actually used the before mentioned techniques to create 'new' strains which are genetically further away from their parentage then if they where just cross bred.

 

[Peacefulgarden]

From google search quick...

"Genetic engineering is a process that alters the genetic structure of an organism by either removing or introducing DNA. Unlike traditional animal and plant breeding , which involves doing multiple crosses and then selecting for the organism with the desired phenotype , genetic engineering takes the gene directly from one organism and delivers it to the other. "

and

"A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. The exact definition of a genetically modified organism and what constitutes genetic engineering varies, with the most common being an organism altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination"

Looking up 'gmo and tumor' is enough to turn me off from it for cannabis and their food, though, I was never really interested. And we all know they are being push on us from the worst of the worst 'corporations' (whatever that's supposed to be), you couldn't even imagine. From what I have seen, gmo plants can't even achieve good enough health to allow them to fend off pest on their own, so, they get doused on round up or similar, for sure not interested in that, for my weed or food.

So far, nothing I have ever grown organically outside has gotten a spider mite infestation, every time I grow with salts/non-organic bottle nutes, spider mites, even if the salt plant/s appear more healthy and/or the organic plant seems to be in very poor health and all my plants are close enough it's no problem for mites to transfer from one to another. See 'brix for plants' in general and 'gmo plants brix' (if you can find anything on it).

For cannabis I would prefer the wildest possible seeds, not messed with by anyone (including/especially 'breeders'), and the same goes for food. Using gmo seeds seems like the worst form of messing with a plant you could do before it even sprouts, unless messing up the 'environment' it would live in was an option.

I could never imagine anyone doing plants better than nature, they have all been here, thriving, for who knows how long, the only thing that stops them from doing so is people getting in their way/messing with them.

Tl;dr, I have never seen anyone that makes me think, "I'd take a seed from this person over a seed from nature because they probably have better seeds".