The largest known Douglas-fir lives on Vancouver Island, is almost 1,000 years old and is 89 metres (291 feet) tall! The top of this tree is broken but it was believed to be 10 metres (33 feet) taller, which would have it 99 metres (320 feet) tall!
Running wild
Running wild Growing commercial varieties of genetically
engineered and transgenic crops is raising fears that the new
varieties could spread into the wild. There are concerns that the
new varieties would spread like weeds into the wild, where they
would compete with native plant species and harm the ecology.
Another fear is that the bioengineered plants will be able to
hybridize with nearby wild plants which are closely related to
them, and produce a new variety of plant which could be harmful to
the environment. Scientists have varying opinions on the matter.
Some say that recent research shows that these concerns are valid
and that the bioengineered varieties should not be grown
commercially. Other investigators claim that their research has
shown that there is no danger from the new varieties. Debate is
continuing on this issue. 31 OCTOBER 1998, P. 38-41
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