>Let's see, it seems to me that somehow a genetic modification occurred, that >would have naturally died out, but humans have maintained it. The >watermelons have been around for 40 or more years. Where was the anti-GM >crowd? Busy eating seedless watermelons? While you have a good point in that such things are the result of mutations, the GM issue goes beyond what one would normaly expect to find. It is not the case of a gene mutating and selection regulating the spread, but of the introduction of DNA from other species. For example bacterial DNA being introduced into plants. Too be sure any mutation could result in a situation that could be dangerous, but the fast distribution of GM is the primary concern. If a watermelon were to be found at the edge of field that had some property we wanted it could take generations before it found its way into widespread use. Today there are millions of Americans that have consumed a GM product without knowing it. A seedless watermelon is kind of self regulating. GM appears to be spreding so fast that it may be like Varroa. Once it is found in the wild it will be far to late to do anything about it. It may not be long before a good portion of our food is GM, no matter how we feel about it.