> Subject: Re: Veggie nutrient levels > > -----. In other words, > >the "superior" strains will have 10% (or 5% or 7% > or > >whatever) more of whatever nutrients it naturally > >possessed. That part is pretty easy - basic > selective > >breeding for highest nutient content. > > !0 % of what? In other words, if a plant currently has 100 mg of vit A, 100 mg. of vit B, 100 mg. of vit C, and so on; the "new" version will have 110 mg. of vit A, 110 mg. of vit B, and so on. The food does not have to be more "dense" or bigger to have these higher values. Look at it this way. Let's say the average vit C content for an orange is 60 mg. If you randomly test 100 oranges you may find the *actual* range may be 50 mg. to 70 mg. Now, if you "breed" the 70 mg. oranges together you may be able to create a new generation of orange plants that average 65 mg. (an increase of nearly 10%). That's what they are doing now in the seed labs with genetic manipulation. > what you are saying suggest that it is possible to > improve upon nature . In No, I am merely replying to the initial question which was, "are domestic plants higher in nutrients than wild plants?". To which replied, "Yes, they are". Are they an improvement on nature? I DON'T KNOW. Are they better than they were? I DON'T KNOW. Are they better for you? I DON'T KNOW. I am merely reporting the facts that have been revealed to me. > nature 's balance everything is always at its > fullest potential I have to disagree with this. If everything was at its fullest potential than nothing would change, evolution would not function, and we would likely not be here. > I let scientists to their follies and go back to my > garden... Where, by definition, you are growing domesticated plants! Do you water the plants? Do you feed them? Do you keep the weeds out? Then you have already made them "unnatural". But, don't despair. You've very likely improved their nutrient levels over their "natural" counterparts. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com