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One aspect of synthetic vs plant- (or animal-)derived chemicals that is
often overlooked is the isomers involved. I'm sure the chemists among us
can explain this better than a field biologist like myself, but most
chemicals can exist in mirror-image forms (isomers). Most natural
chemicals only exist in one of these forms, often the left-handed form.
For example you may buy the supplement L-lysine, an isomer of the amino
acid lysine.
In many cases the opposite isomer has different behaviors in the living
organism, sometimes toxic, sometimes inert. Breakdown products may be
very different for different isomers. Separating the isomers is often
difficult when testing for and/or synthesizing chemicals, and is a major
problem for drug-makers, tho I believe there is new technology to reduce
the costs. Dimerization (2 molecules linked) can also occur, as in the
batch of L-tryptophan that killed dozens of people some years ago.
This may also be a factor in the variable success in corn syrup
feedings. I haven't had time to follow all the discussions, so I don't
know whether isomers have been investigated or if we even know what
isomers are safe for bees.
Bottom line, there are all sorts of biologically active chemicals in
foods, both nutritive and toxic, but the supposedly same chemicals may
not be identical in function or safety.
Those of us who try to work with natural substances and methods are
avoiding a whole can of worms that has been poorly studied. I prefer my
worms au natural.....
Carolyn in SC
On 12/7/2010 12:08 PM, randy oliver wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I recently was sent the following link. As a long-term organic gardener, I
> now question whether I've been pulling the wool over my own eyes!
> Waldemar is gonna hate this; Paul's gonna love it! No telling where Bob is
> going to weigh in : )
>
> http://www.gaiaresearch.co.za/organics.html
> Excerpts follow:
>
> Organically grown plants may each produce a minimum of 50 such natural
> pesticides.
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