China’s Ministry of Agriculture has decided not to renew biosafety certificates that allowed research groups to grow genetically modified (GM) rice and corn. The permits, to grow two varieties of GM rice and one transgenic corn strain, expired on 17 August. The reasoning behind the move is not clear, and it has raised questions about the future of related research in China. (1)

We seem to know where research should go.

We formulate our goals based on what we do not know.

And yet we feel so familiar with this course of action.

As if we know something…