The genome project and possibility of resulting GM Bees  - a fine set of mails have originated from individuals
indicating essentially opposite positions. BUT

The level of discussion I suggest is prohibitive for the average Bee - L subscriber to join in.
This being due to the the need to back up positions with data, experience etc., which demands v. specific knowledge from
the start point.
Most individuals have a gut feeling for or against this type of investigation - but maybe influenced by sound advice.

But what the directions of investigation, and then end use will be are practically impossible to gauge
- and where does the average beekeeper start to get to a final personal but valid end point on the subject!

Seeing as the bee as an insect is not only interesting to beekeepers, we as a group (beekeepers in general that is) will
be carried by this wish for knowledge whether we like it or not.

Knowledge will then be out into the arena of potential use.

Then, I presume there will be individuals who will appraise the situation and market - with an eye on the positive net
result.
These people may well include beekeepers, breeders, researchers etc.

I suggest that it is at this level alone that we as an industry may have influence - for or against development. At the
moment we cannot even start to collect the information required - unless as suggested we have a specialist base from
which to come from. This type of individual is apparently in very short supply on Bee-L. (at least overtly )

Argument about the gathering of basic information such as the genome itself is beyond our control.

Continue the mails but I suggest the above is kept in mind.

Peter