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Message Subject ++I AM A EXTRA TERRESTRIAL++ ASK ME A QUESTION AND I WILL RESPOND++
Poster Handle Taran
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Over a week ago, I emailed a plant pathologist who works for MA extension service regarding possibility of late blight being bioterrorist weapon. Here is his response, which i just noticed in my spam folder. ST could still be right....there are scientists looking into it to find out more about its genetic makeup.

Re: Question regarding 2009 late blight.... September 8, 2009

(my name):
There is no reason to genetically alter Phytophthora infestans; we could not make it a more destructive plant pathogen. What we have done is to breed tomatoes and potatoes that are better yielding, tasting, storing, and uniform and in the process have lost genes that help resist insect pests and plant pathogenic fungi. It is very interesting to note that the U.S. was researching biological warfare against their suspected enemies; now we are gearing up for possible biological warfare against us. Incidentally, there are scientists looking at the genetic makeup of the pathogen to get a better understanding of where it came from, etc. Thanks for a great question!
Rob Wick

(my name) wrote:
> Hello Robert,
>
> I am a small farmer living in (town name), MA, who like most others in this region has experienced almost complete loss of our tomato crop...in such challenging circumstances I know it's easy to jump to dark conclusions, but can't helping feeling a little suspicious after reading this paragraph at Wikipedia...
>
> **********
> Wiki entry on Phytophthora infestans:
> Potato blight was one of more than 17 agents that the United States researched as potential biological weapons before the nation suspended its biological weapons program.[13][dead link] France, Canada, USA and the Soviet Union all used P. infestans as a biological weapon in the 1940s and 50s.[14]
> [edit]
> **********
>
> Rather than ask questions like why and who?...i'm wondering if it is even possible to determine whether or not this case of late blight is any different from past cases of late blight...in other words, is it possible to determine whether or not the naturally occurring form of late blight was "tweaked" in a laboratory to make into a more destructive organism capable of more rapid distribution...or else does it show any characteristics that seem "odd" for the already existing form of late blight?
> Concerned grower,
> (my name)
>
 
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