rape seed

January 10, 2003

OK, please everyone calm down. Canola oil is not the latest government

secret that has suddenly been unearthed on this list. And, I am

currently sending the latest long email to my boyfriend, a guy in

plantbreeding, to see if he knows anything about it. In the mean time,

let me tell you what I know.

Rape seed and canola are identical as far as species goes.

Technically, canola is a variety of rape seed, which just means that it

was breed to be somewhat different from the rest of the species. Think

the different color if iris flowers, different varieties, all same

species. The toxic form of rape seed (and original) is linseed oil,

long used to preserve wood and to make the original linoleum, which is

environmentally, the best flooring out there... Flax comes from

linseed, which makes lovely clothes like linnen. So, not such a bad

plant for something that botanically speaking lives in the family with

brussel sprouts.

Was this species genetically engineered into being? Originally, no.

But, like all else out there, the data I can find says that about half

of the oil produced is from engeneered sources. But, most of your corn

is, so we're pretty lucky on this one. Is it something to be concerned

about? That is a subject of great debate and I feel is best made after

doing much research on ones own.

Finally, I typed in " canola oil " into google and found the following

link:

The long email sent was all malarky (i.e., an Urban Legend), and the

above link has 2 pages to explain why.

Please you guys, if it smells a bit fishy, there just might be a fish

nearby...

If you have any other questions about this, like genetic engineering,

species stuff... whatever, I almost have my phd in science so could

intelligently answer any questions. I may not be able to spell really

well, but I do know what I am talking about, at least most of the

time...

Genie

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