Some of the research that caught our eye in 2007. Let us know anything good we missed, so we can add to the list.
+ GM CORN MAY AFFECT AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS - STUDY Extremely important new study showing genetically engineered Bt corn (maize) byproducts could be endangering aquatic life. It also raises big questions as to how U.S. and other regulators gave the go ahead to Bt corn without undertaking sufficient testing of their impact on aquatic ecosystems. The study by scientists at Indiana University was published online by the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences
+ BT TRANSGENE DETECTED IN AQUATIC SYSSTEMS The Canadian Department of the Environment (also known as Environment Canada) has determined that the pesticidal Bt gene cry1Ab, found in GM corn, persisted in aquatic areas near the site where the Bt crop was planted. Varying amounts of the cry1Ab gene were found in sediment, soil, and surface water samples. The sediments were found to contain about 100-fold more cry1Ab DNA than the surface water. The cry1Ab transgene was also detected as far away as the Richelieu and St. Lawrence rivers - 82 km downstream from the corn cultivation plot. Because of the concern that the cry1Ab gene could be transferred to microorganisms through horizontal gene transfer, the researchers recommend monitoring and sustained attention to the fate of transgenes in the environment. Abstract in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.
+ STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF TRANSGENE FLOW A paper commissioned by
the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) studies the
effects of transgene flow on human health, the environment, and
genetic resources. The study concludes transgene flow is highly
likely, with adverse implications for human health, the
environment, biodiversity, and farm economics.
+ GM AND NON-GM CROPS TOO CLOSE, STUDY SAYS Field trials could
be seriously underestimating the potential for cross-pollination
between GM and conventional crops and buffer zone distances may
be too small, according to new research from the University of
Exeter in the UK.
+ CONTAMINATING THE WILD Useful introductory article to the
report by Dr. Doug Gurian-Sherman on the danger of permanent
escape of transgenes, that have undergone little risk
assessment, into the natural environment.
+ NEW STUDY EXPLAINS HOW MONSANTO'S HYPE FOOLS FARMERS GM
promoters claim the number of farmers growing GM cotton in India
is a massive vote of confidence in the technology. But an
important new study of farmers' Bt cotton adoption in the
Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh explains why Monsanto's
campaign of hype has had such an impact. Glenn Davis Stone of
Washington University found a process of agricultural deskilling
whereby farmers abandoned the old practice of gradual assessment
and adoption of seeds and fell victim to "seed fads".
GM WATCH comment: There is clear evidence that this kind of herd
mentality can also affect the uptake of GM crops in developed
countries like the US.
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+ BT CORN SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROOTWORM Bt corn fails to protect
against rootworms despite farmers paying Monsanto hefty sums for
that protection, according to research carried out at the
University of Illinois. Rootworms were found to have done
significant early damage to GM varieties.
+ BT CORN SUSCEPTIBLE TO APHIDS Bt corn has been found to be
significantly more susceptible to aphids than non-GM
equivalents. Bizarrely, the study is being spun to claim that
the Bt corn is better for the environment, as the higher aphid
populations attract more parasitic wasps. Cold comfort for
farmers battling aphids!
+ ROUNDUP MAY AFFECT REPRODUCTION AND FOETAL DEVELOPMENT
Monsanto's Roundup has toxic effects on human embryonic cells, a
new study shows. The toxic effects of Roundup are noticed at
very weak doses (for the experiment, the product sold in stores
was diluted up to 10,000 times). Effects were observed at
dilutions less than the residues in discussion to be authorized
in GMO feed in the US. The authors comment that the research may
contribute to a better understanding of the problems of
miscarriages, premature births or sexual malformations of
babies.
+ AERIAL SPRAYING OF ROUNDUP DAMAGES DNA Aerial spraying of the
Roundup herbicide by the Colombian government on the border of
Colombia and Ecuador has caused a high degree of DNA damage in
local Ecuadorian people, according to a study. DNA damage may
activate genes associated to the development of cancer, and may
also lead to miscarriage or malformations in embryos.
+ REPORT REVEALS BT CROP RISKS TO INSECTS AND SOIL Plants
containing Bt toxins could severely damage soil and beneficial
insect populations, suggests a published review of international
scientific studies.
+ INDIA: BT COTTON AFFECTS SOIL MICROFAUNA - STUDY Bt cotton has
serious effects on the soil microfauna in the root zone of the
crop, according to as yet unpublished research
+ ESCAPED TRANSGENES PERSIST IN NATURE There have been repeated
claims that if transgenes do escape into the wild, they're
unlikely to persist. But new research on GM oilseed rape
(canola) conducted in Canada and published in Molecular Ecology
shows that this is just not true. The herbicide resistant GM
trait was found to persist over a 6-year period.
+ RESEARCH SHOWS HUGE VARIATION IN BT TOXIN IN GM MAIZE A study
has found massive variations in the amount of Bt toxin present
in GM maize plants.
+ ANOTHER MONSANTO MAIZE POTENTIALLY TOXIC New research into the
health impacts of GM food already approved in Europe casts
further doubt on the safety of the approvals system. The study,
carried out by French scientific research institute CRIIGEN on
the results of rat feeding trials using Monsanto's GM maize
NK603, highlights 60 significant differences between the rats
that were fed the GM maize and those fed normal maize (all for
90 days). The first group showed differences in their kidney,
brain, heart and liver measurements, as well as significant
weight differences.
+ ANIMAL FEEDING TRIALS GIVE REASONS TO FEAR GM FOODS
+ COMPANY RESEARCH ON GM FOODS IS RIGGED In a powerful overview,
science writer Jeffrey Smith laments the poor quality and rigged
status of company research on GM foods - all too often, the only
research that is ever done on them
+ DOES THE KNOWLEDGE-BASED BIO-ECONOMY ADD UP? What's the real
basis for the vision of biotech as a major engine of economic
growth etc.? An incisive, and at times funny, critique of the
gung-ho-for-GM BIO4EU report for the European Parliament points
the finger at technological utopianism. EXCERPT: Experts do not
have an entirely unblemished record of predicting the future of
agriculture. In the 1950s it was envisioned that agriculture
would be irrigated with water from icecaps that had been melted
by nuclear explosions, this water (naturally) would be stored in
ponds, also "dug" by nuclear explosions.
+ "JUNK" DNA HIGHLY ACTIVE Large swathes of the genome,
previously dismissed as "junk DNA" because it was thought to
serve no practical purpose, have been found to be highly active.
The findings highlight how scientists have become so blinded by
the importance of genes that the role of other parts of the
genome have gone unappreciated.
+ COMPANIES KNOW BEANS ABOUT MOVING GENES The transnational
seed, pesticide, and drug corporations have known for five or 10
years that the scientific foundation on which genetic
engineering is built is false, but with billions of dollars
riding on it they, with the support of governments, continue to
mislead us.
+ RETHINKING THE RISK OF VIRAL TRANSGENES IN PLANTS The use of
intact viral transgenes to generate virus-resistant plants is
controversial, and has been so almost ever since it was first
proposed. This new analysis published in Molecular Plant
Pathology makes a compelling case that active regulatory
protection is needed from transgenes which otherwise may worsen
disease problems, invite crop failures and enhance the evolution
and spread of new diseases.
+ SKIN ALLERGY AND PULMONARY PROBLEMS REPORTED FROM BT COTTON In
the Punjab, India, farmers and laborers are suffering with skin
allergy and pulmonary diseases after picking Bt cotton. Dr
Gurpiar Singh, who runs a private clinic, says that many cases
have come to his notice.
+ NON-GM RESEARCH CUTS COTTON PESTICIDES 50%, BOOST PROFITS 75%
A low-tech non-GM approach to managing pesticides promises to
help hundreds of thousands of cotton farmers across Asia raise
yields and reduce environmental contamination.