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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