In spite of the lack of scientific justification for skepticism about crops modified with molecular techniques of genetic engineering, they have been the most scrutinized agricultural products in human history. The assumption that "genetically engineered" or "genetically modified" is a meaningful - and dangerous - classification has led to excessive and dilatory regulation. The modern molecular techniques are an extension, or refinement, of older, less precise, less predictable methods of genetic modification, but as long as today's activists and regulators remain convinced that so called "GMOs" represent a distinct and dangerous category of research and products, genetic engineering will fall short of its potential.

中文翻译：

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应用于农业的基因工程工作很长。

尽管对用基因工程分子技术改造的农作物缺乏怀疑的科学依据，但它们一直是人类历史上受审查最严格的农产品。“经过遗传工程改造”或“经过遗传改造”的假设是有意义的（也是危险的）分类，导致过度和扩张的监管。现代分子技术是对较旧的，精确度较低，难以预测的遗传修饰方法的扩展或完善，但只要当今的活动家和监管机构仍然相信，所谓的“ GMO”代表着独特的危险类别的研究和产品，基因工程将无法发挥其潜力。