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1: Nature. 2007 Jan 11;445(7124):132-3. Related Articles, Links


Out of bounds.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 17215811 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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2: Ig Sanita Pubbl. 2005 Sep-Oct;61(5):475-96. Related Articles, Links


[Genetically modified organisms: European and Italian legislation to protect citizens' health]

[Article in Italian]

Sotgiu A, Tala M, Sardu G, Coroneo V, Dessi S, Contu P.

Dipartimento di Sanita Pubblica, Universita di Cagliari.

The development of GM foods and organisms has concentrated everyone's attention on the importance of food safety and on protecting citizens' health, and inevitably influenced healthcare policies regarding food safety. Personal ethical beliefs regarding food and in particular, the consumption of foods derived from biotechnology should be taken into account when deciding healthcare policy. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse whether European, Italian and Regional legislation meets basic human rights regarding health and the right to choose, based on the precautionary principle. METHODS: European and Italian laws regarding the production and marketing of GM foods were analysed and compared to food safety legislation, in order to evaluate how and to what degree existing legislation protects consumers' right to choose. Results show that existing legislation protects consumers from possible foodborne diseases, but the right to informed consent and to free choice is not warranted. Existing laws do not attach enough importance to consumers' right to information; arbitrary threshold levels set for labeling and clauses concerning technical causes allow food businesses to avoid labeling and do not give consumers the possibility of making an informed choice.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 17206218 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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3: Risk Anal. 2006 Dec;26(6):1707-19. Related Articles, Links


Exploring the structure of attitudes toward genetically modified food.

Poortinga W, Pidgeon NF.

Cardiff University, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff, Wales, UK. PoortingaW@Cardiff.ac.uk

Although it is often thought that the British public is opposed to genetically modified (GM) food, recent qualitative work suggests that most people are ambivalent about GM food and crops. In this article we explore the structure of attitudes in order to examine whether attitudinal ambivalence can be captured by more quantitative methods. Based on the finding that the perceived risks and benefits of GM food can be treated as independent dimensions, we propose a four-way typology of attitudes, consisting of a positive, negative, indifferent, and ambivalent group. This study showed that the differences between the four groups could best be described by three main dimensions: (1) a general evaluative dimension, (2) an involvement dimension, and (3) an attitudinal certainty dimension. While these different attitudinal dimensions have generally been studied in isolation, we argue that they should be studied collectively.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17184407 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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4: Plant Biotechnol J. 2006 Mar;4(2):263-73. Related Articles, Links


Characterization of a higher plant herbicide-resistant phytoene desaturase and its use as a selectable marker.

Arias RS, Dayan FE, Michel A, Howell J, Scheffler BE.

USDA-ARS, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, PO Box 8048, University, MS 38677, USA.

Three natural somatic mutations at codon 304 of the phytoene desaturase gene (pds) of Hydrilla verticillata (L. f. Royle) have been reported to provide resistance to the herbicide fluridone. We substituted the arginine 304 present in the wild-type H. verticillata phytoene desaturase (PDS) with all 19 other natural amino acids and tested PDS against fluridone. In in vitro assays, the threonine (Thr), cysteine (Cys), alanine (Ala) and glutamine (Gln) mutations imparted the highest resistance to fluridone. Thr, the three natural mutations [Cys, serine (Ser), histidine (His)] and the wild-type PDS protein were tested in vitro against seven inhibitors of PDS representing several classes of herbicides. These mutations conferred cross-resistance to norflurazon and overall negative cross-resistance to beflubutamid, picolinafen and diflufenican. The T3 generation of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants harbouring the four selected mutations and wild-type pds had similar patterns of cross-resistance to the herbicides as observed in the in vitro assays. The Thr304 Hydrilla pds mutant proved to be an excellent marker for the selection of transgenic plants. Seedlings harbouring Thr304 pds had a maximum resistance to sensitivity (R/S) ratio of 57 and 14 times higher than that of the wild-type for treatments with norflurazon and fluridone, respectively. These plants exhibited normal growth and development, even after long-term exposure to herbicide. As Thr304 pds is of plant origin, it could become more acceptable than other selectable markers for use in genetically modified food.

PMID: 17177802 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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5: Biotechnol J. 2006 Dec;1(12):1433-4. Related Articles, Links


Consumer acceptance of ingenic foods.

Lusk JL, Rozan A.

Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA. jayson.lusk@okstate.edu

Recent advances in plant molecular biology offer a means of reaping the benefits of biotechnology, while potentially assuaging consumer concerns by re-inserting native DNA back into plants. Results are presented from nationwide surveys in the U.S. and France, indicating that more consumers would accept ingenic plants than transgenic plants, with twice as many U.S. than French consumers considering food produced through biotechnology eatable.

PMID: 17124706 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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6: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 29;54(24):8984-94. Related Articles, Links


Applications of metabolomics in agriculture.

Dixon RA, Gang DR, Charlton AJ, Fiehn O, Kuiper HA, Reynolds TL, Tjeerdema RS, Jeffery EH, German JB, Ridley WP, Seiber JN.

Plant Biology Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA.

Biological systems are exceedingly complex. The unraveling of the genome in plants and humans revealed fewer than the anticipated number of genes. Therefore, other processes such as the regulation of gene expression, the action of gene products, and the metabolic networks resulting from catalytic proteins must make fundamental contributions to the remarkable diversity inherent in living systems. Metabolomics is a relatively new approach aimed at improved understanding of these metabolic networks and the subsequent biochemical composition of plants and other biological organisms. Analytical tools within metabolomics including mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can profile the impact of time, stress, nutritional status, and environmental perturbation on hundreds of metabolites simultaneously resulting in massive, complex data sets. This information, in combination with transcriptomics and proteomics, has the potential to generate a more complete picture of the composition of food and feed products, to optimize crop trait development, and to enhance diet and health. Selected presentations from an American Chemical Society symposium held in March 2005 have been assembled to highlight the emerging application of metabolomics in agriculture.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 17117782 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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7: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Nov;24(11):1329; author reply 1331-3. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):753.

'Cisgenic' as a product designation.

Giddings LV.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 17093471 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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8: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Nov;24(11):1329-31; author reply 1331-3. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):753.

'Cisgenic' as a product designation.

de Cock Buning T, Lammerts van Bueren ET, Haring MA, de Vriend HC, Struik PC.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 17093470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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9: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Nov;24(11):1327-9; author reply 1331-3. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):753.

'Cisgenic' as a product designation.

Schubert D, Williams D.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 17093469 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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10: Nature. 2006 Nov 9;444(7116):137. Related Articles, Links


A breed apart.

[No authors listed]

PMID: 17093424 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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11: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Nov;118(5):1176-83. Epub 2006 Sep 8. Related Articles, Links


Reduced allergenicity of tomato fruits harvested from Lyc e 1-silenced transgenic tomato plants.

Le LQ, Mahler V, Lorenz Y, Scheurer S, Biemelt S, Vieths S, Sonnewald U.

Department of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.

BACKGROUND: Profilin is a small actin-binding protein that contributes to the allergenic potency of many fruits and vegetables, including tomato. Two highly similar genes encoding tomato profilin have been isolated and designated as allergen Lyc e 1.01 and Lyc e 1.02. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to generate profilin-reduced hypoallergenic tomato fruits by silencing of both genes in transgenic tomato plants by means of RNA interference (RNAi). METHODS: The efficiency of gene silencing was documented by means of Northern blotting, immunoblotting, and skin prick testing. RESULTS: Quantification of the remaining protein revealed that profilin accumulation in transgenic fruits was decreased 10-fold compared with that seen in untransformed controls. This decrease was sufficient to cause a reduced allergenic reactivity in patients with tomato allergy, as determined with skin prick tests. Because most patients with tomato allergy are not monosensitized to profilin, the IgE reactivity to the profilin-silenced tomato fruits in vivo varied widely between individuals tested. CONCLUSION: We could demonstrate the efficient silencing of both profilin genes in transgenic tomato plants using RNAi. This resulted in Lyc e 1-diminished tomato fruits, providing proof of concept and demonstrating that RNAi can be used to design allergen-reduced food. However, simultaneous silencing of multiple allergens will be required to design hypoallergenic tomatoes. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of creating low-allergenic food by using RNAi. This concept constitutes a novel approach to allergen avoidance.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17088146 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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12: J Vet Med Sci. 2006 Oct;68(10):1113-5. Related Articles, Links


Effects of feeding calves genetically modified corn bt11: a clinico-biochemical study.

Shimada N, Murata H, Mikami O, Yoshioka M, Guruge KS, Yamanaka N, Nakajima Y, Miyazaki S.

Safety Research Team, National Institute of Animal Health, Ibaraki, Japan.

Genetically modified corn Bt11 is insect-resistant and expresses Cry1Ab toxin, an insecticidal protein, in kernels. Although Bt11 corn is considered safe based on animal performance, there are no reports available on the clinico-biochemical effects of feeding it to cattle. In this study, we evaluated the effects of feeding Bt11 to calves, using blood and ruminal clinico-biochemical parameters. Our three-month-long feeding experiment demonstrated that calves (n=6), fed with a ration containing 43.3% of Bt11 corn kernels as dry matter, did not develop any discernible clinical, hematological, biochemical, or ruminal abnormalities as compared with control calves (n=6) fed non-Bt11 corn. The results suggest that the transgenic Bt11 has no negative clinico-biochemical effects on calves.

Publication Types:
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17085894 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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13: Med Law. 2006 Sep;25(3):491-502. Related Articles, Links


Biotechnology entrepreneurship and ethics: principles, paradigms, and products.

Kuszler PC.

University of Washington School of Law, William H Gates Hall, Seattle, USA.

Biotechnology, whether in the context of new drugs derived from DNA and genetic technology, genetically modified food, or biologics making use of living cells, raises ethical concerns at a variety of different levels. At the research level, there is concern that the very nature of research is being subverted, rather than enhanced, by entrepreneurship. This area of ethical concern has intensified in the United States as a result of the conflicts of interests resulting from the growing alliance between University academia and private industry in the research enterprise. As we travel down the research path into development of a drug or technology, ethical questions arise with respect to protecting human subjects and society from danger and exploitation by researchers. As development gives way to marketing and dissemination of a new product, government regulators are pressed to get drugs and biologics through the regulatory pipeline into the market faster, walking an ethical tightrope between speed and safety. As new biotechnology products enter the market place, doctors and patients traverse yet another tightrope, that between unknown risk and the promise of benefit. And finally, patent protection is increasingly viewed as a unethical culprit in keeping prices high and depriving the global poor from lifesaving drugs and biologics. Bioethics has, to date, been largely a creation of Western research and medicine. As such it is wholly inadequate to respond to the cascade of ethical issues that flow from a vibrant biotechnology industry. And if biotechnology is in its infancy, as most believe, it is crucial that scientists, entrepreneurs and governments engage in dialogue about the ethical and societal questions raised on the road of scientific progress.

PMID: 17078522 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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14: Gig Sanit. 2006 Jul-Aug;(4):7-11. Related Articles, Links


[Hygienic characteristics of foodstuffs containing genetically modified components]

[Article in Russian]

Beliaev EN, Ivanov AA, Fokin MV.

The paper analyzes the results of the investigations of raw foods, foodstuffs for genetically modified components, conducted by the state sanitary and epidemiological service of the Russian Federation during its current sanitary inspection. The presented materials cover 2003-2004. The findings suggest that there is a great deal of foods containing genetically modified sources on the market and show the priority groups of foodstuffs and the distribution of these foods on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 17078283 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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15: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 1;54(22):8640-7. Related Articles, Links


Safety assessment of cre recombinase.

Hileman RE, Bonner HK, Kaempfe TA, Hammond BG, Glenn KC.

Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri 63167, USA. ronald.e.hileman@monsanto.com

Cre recombinase, when used as a tool in agricultural biotechnology, can precisely excise DNA sequences that may be useful in the introduction of a new trait but are not needed in the commercial product. Although the cre genetic material would not be present in the final product, the present studies were performed to assess the safety of Cre recombinase to provide confirmatory evidence of the safe use of Cre-lox technology in agricultural biotechnology. Cre recombinase shares no relevant sequence similarity to known allergens or toxins. When Cre recombinase was exposed to a pH 1.2 solution of simulated gastric fluid lacking pepsin, CD spectroscopy showed that there was a loss of secondary structure and that the protein was no longer active in a functional assay. Cre recombinase was degraded rapidly when exposed to pepsin in a standardized gastric digestion model; therefore, Cre recombinase would not survive the harsh gastric environment. When orally administered to mice as an acute dosage of 53 mg/kg of body weight, no treatment-related adverse findings were observed. These data support the conclusion that human and animal dietary exposure to Cre recombinase pose no known safety concerns; consistent with the fact that bacteriophage P1, the source of the cre gene and expressed protein, is commonly encountered in the environment and in normal enteric bacteria without reports of adverse consequences.

PMID: 17061845 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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16: J Agric Environ Ethics. 2006;19(3):253-67. Related Articles, Links


Including public perspectives in industrial biotechnology and the biobased economy.

Paula L, Birrer F.

Institute of Biology, Biology and Society, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. lepaula@rulsfb.leidenuniv.nl

Industrial ("white") biotechnology promises to contribute to a more sustainable future. Compared to current production processes, cases have been identified where industrial biotechnology can decrease the amount of energy and raw materials used to make products and also reduce the amount of emissions and waste produced during production. However, switching from products based on chemical production processes and fossil fuels towards "biobased" products is at present not necessarily economically viable. This is especially true for bulk products, for example ethanol production from biomass. Therefore, scientists are also turning to genetic modification as a means to develop organisms that can produce at lower costs. These include not only micro-organisms, but also organisms used in agriculture for food and feed. The use of genetic modification for "deliberate release" purposes, in particular, has met great opposition in Europe. Many industrial biotechnology applications may, due to their scale, entail deliberate releases of GM organisms. Thus, the biobased economy brings back a familiar question; is it ethically justifiable, and acceptable to citizens, to expose the environment and society to the risks associated with GM, in order to protect that same environment and to sustain our affluent way of life? For a successful innovation towards a biobased economy, its proponents, especially producers, need to take into account (take responsibility for) such issues when developing new products and processes. These issues, and how scientists can interact with citizens about them in a timely way, are further explored in projects at Delft University and Leiden University, also in collaboration with Utrecht University.

PMID: 17061382 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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17: J Agric Environ Ethics. 2006;19(3):225-38. Related Articles, Links


The moral difference between intragenic and transgenic modification of plants.

Myskja BK.

Department of Philosophy, NTNU Trondheim, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway. bjorn.myskja@hf.ntnu.no

Public policy on the development and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has mainly been concerned with defining proper strategies of risk management. However, surveys and focus group interviews show that although lay people are concerned with risks, they also emphasize that genetic modification is ethically questionable in itself. Many people feel that this technology "tampers with nature" in an unacceptable manner. This is often identified as an objection to the crossing of species borders in producing transgenic organisms. Most scientists reject these opinions as based on insufficient knowledge about biotechnology, the concept of species, and nature in general. Some recent projects of genetic modification aim to accommodate the above mentioned concerns by altering the expression of endogenous genes rather than introducing genes from other species. There can be good scientific reasons for this approach, in addition to strategic reasons related to greater public acceptability. But are there also moral reasons for choosing intragenic rather than transgenic modification? I suggest three interrelated moral reasons for giving priority to intragenic modification. First, we should respect the opinions of lay people even when their view is contrary to scientific consensus; they express an alternative world-view, not scientific ignorance. Second, staying within species borders by strengthening endogenous traits reduces the risks and scientific uncertainty. Third, we should show respect for nature as a complex system of laws and interconnections that we cannot fully control. The main moral reason for intragenic modification, in our view, is the need to respect the "otherness" of nature.

PMID: 17061380 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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18: Dev Biol (Basel). 2006;126:79-86; discussion 324-5. Related Articles, Links


In-house validation and quality control of real-time PCR methods for GMO detection: a practical approach.

Ciabatti I, Froiio A, Gatto F, Amaddeo D, Marchesi U.

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio e Toscana, National Reference Center for GMO Analysis, Rome, Italy. iciabatti@rm.izs.it

GMO detection and quantification methods in the EU are mainly based on real-time PCR. The analytical methods in use must be validated, first on an intra-laboratory scale and through a collaborative trial thereafter. Since a consensual protocol for intra-laboratory validation of real-time PCR methods is lacking, we provide a practical approach for the in-house validation of quantitative real-time PCR methods, establishing acceptability criteria and quality controls for PCR runs. Parameters such as limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, trueness, linear dynamic range, PCR efficiency, robustness and specificity are considered. The protocol is sufficiently detailed to be directly applicable, increases the reliability of results and their harmonization among different laboratories, and represents a necessary preliminary step before proceeding to a time-consuming and costly full validation study.

PMID: 17058483 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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19: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Oct;24(10):1178. Related Articles, Links


Parallel universes?

[No authors listed]

An EU Commissioner has a meeting of minds with an antibiotech agitator.

Publication Types:
Editorial

PMID: 17033639 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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20: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Oct;24(10):1177. Related Articles, Links


Why silence is not an option.

[No authors listed]

GM products will continue to be marginalized in Europe as long as industry remains silent.

Publication Types:
Editorial

PMID: 17033637 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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21: Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol. 2006 Jul-Aug;42(4):485-8. Related Articles, Links


[Accuracy of a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction assay for a quantitative estimation of genetically modified sources in food products]

[Article in Russian]

Abramov DD, Trofimov DIu, Rebrikov DV.

The accuracy of a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction assay for genetically modified sources in food products was determined using two official test systems (kits) of primers and samples. These kits were recommended by the Federal Center of State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance (Russian Ministry of Health) and the European Commission. We used the following three models of thermocyclers: iCycler iQ (BioRad, United States), Rotor-Gene 3000 (Corbett Research, Australia), and DT-322 (DNA-Technology, Russia). Studies of samples that contained 1% genetically modified sources showed that the error of a quantitative assay for genetically modified sources in food products corresponds to 20-30% and does not depend on the kit type and the thermocycler model used.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
English Abstract

PMID: 17022461 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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22: Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2004;21:325-67. Related Articles, Links


Design of safe and biologically contained transgenic plants: tools and technologies for controlled transgene flow and expression.

Gleba Y, Marillonnet S, Klimyuk V.

Icon Genetics AG, Biozentrum Halle, Weinbergweg 22, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany. gleba@icongenetics.de

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 17017039 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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23: Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2004;21:299-324. Related Articles, Links


Safety testing and regulation of genetically engineered foods.

Freese W, Schubert D.

Friends of the Earth U.S., 1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036, USA.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 17017038 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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24: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Aug;47(4):146-50. Related Articles, Links


Detection method for genetically modified papaya using duplex PCR.

Yamaguchi A, Shimizu K, Mishima T, Aoki N, Hattori H, Sato H, Ueda N, Watanabe T, Hino A, Akiyama H, Maitani T.

Japan Food Research Laboratories, Chitose: 2-3, Bunkyo, Chitose-shi, Hokkaido 066-0052, Japan.

A simple and rapid method for the identification of genetically modified (GM) papaya, derived from Line 55-1, was developed by modifying the Japanese official PCR method. Genomic DNA was directly extracted from the fresh fruit without the lyophilization step, using a commercial silica-based kit. To develop a duplex PCR method which simultaneously detects the GM papaya-specific gene and the intrinsic papain gene, the papain 2-5'/3' (amplicon size; 184 bp) primer pair for the detection of the papain gene was newly designed within the region of the products (211 bp) amplified using the papain 1-5'/-3' primer pair adopted in the Japanese official PCR method. To detect the GM papaya-specific gene, the primer pair Nos C-5'/CaM N-3' described in the Japanese official method was used. The DNA sequences of the GM papaya gene and the intrinsic papain gene were co-amplified using the PCR method in a single tube. The developed duplex PCR method allows the simultaneous detection of the products by means of agarose gel electrophoresis or microchip electrophoresis. The proposed method for GM papaya identification is simple and rapid.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16984033 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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25: Curr Biol. 2006 Aug 8;16(15):R563-4. Related Articles, Links


GMOs still rankle in Europe.

Williamson N.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 16953534 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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26: Public Health Nutr. 2006 Aug;9(5):662-3. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Public Health Nutr. 2005 Sep;8(6A):673-94.

How far should nutrition reach?

Kent G.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 16923303 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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27: J AOAC Int. 2006 Jul-Aug;89(4):913-28. Related Articles, Links


Immunoassay as an analytical tool in agricultural biotechnology.

Grothaus GD, Bandla M, Currier T, Giroux R, Jenkins GR, Lipp M, Shan G, Stave JW, Pantella V.

EnviroLogix Inc, 500 Riverside Industrial Pkwy, Portland, ME 04103, USA. davidgrothaus@envirologix.com

Immunoassays for biotechnology engineered proteins are used by AgBiotech companies at numerous points in product development and by feed and food suppliers for compliance and contractual purposes. Although AgBiotech companies use the technology during product development and seed production, other stakeholders from the food and feed supply chains, such as commodity, food, and feed companies, as well as third-party diagnostic testing companies, also rely on immunoassays for a number of purposes. The primary use of immunoassays is to verify the presence or absence of genetically modified (GM) material in a product or to quantify the amount of GM material present in a product. This article describes the fundamental elements of GM analysis using immunoassays and especially its application to the testing of grains. The 2 most commonly used formats are lateral flow devices (LFD) and plate-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The main applications of both formats are discussed in general, and the benefits and drawbacks are discussed in detail. The document highlights the many areas to which attention must be paid in order to produce reliable test results. These include sample preparation, method validation, choice of appropriate reference materials, and biological and instrumental sources of error. The article also discusses issues related to the analysis of different matrixes and the effects they may have on the accuracy of the immunoassays.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 16915826 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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28: Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2006 Jul-Aug;10(4):197-206. Related Articles, Links


Benefits and concerns associated with biotechnology-derived foods: can additional research reduce children health risks?

Cantani A.

Allergy and Clinical Immunology Division, Pediatric Department, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.

The development of techniques devised for the genetic manipulation of foods poses new risks for children with food allergy (FA). The introduction of foreign allergenic proteins from different foods into previously tolerated foods may trigger allergic reactions, often complicating with anaphylactic shock in a subset of allergic babies. Children with FA, even if subjected to preventative diets, always challenge the risk of developing allergic manifestations after unintentional intake of a non tolerated food in restaurant settings, with relatives or schoolmates, etc, where product labelling is necessarily lacking. The introduction of potentially allergenic proteins into foods generally considered safe for allergic children can be done deliberately, by either substantially altering the food ingredients, or by genetic manipulation which change the composition or transfer allergens, or unintentionally by quality-control failures, due to contaminations in the production process, or to genetic mismanipulation. There is a controversy between multinationals often favored by governments and consumer association resistance, thus an equidistant analysis poses some unprecedented impediments. The importance of FA and the potential of transgenic plants to bring food allergens into the food supply should not be disregarded. The expression in soybeans of a Brazil nut protein resulted in a food allergen expressed in widely used infant formulas, so paving the way to an often reported multinational debacle. Genetic engineering poses innovative ethical and social concerns, as well as serious challenges to the environment, human health, animal welfare, and the future of agriculture. In this paper will be emphasized practical concepts more crucial for pediatricians.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16910351 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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29: J Environ Health. 2006 Jul-Aug;69(1):33-4. Related Articles, Links


The ethical dilemma of genetically modified food.

Jefferson V.

National Capital Area Environmental Health Association, Clinton, MD 20735, USA. Val.Jefferson@verizon.net

PMID: 16910106 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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30: Food Drug Law J. 2006;61(2):197-235. Related Articles, Links


Health and food safety: the benefits of Bt-corn.

Kershen DL.

University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Okla., USA.

PMID: 16903029 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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31: Food Drug Law J. 2006;61(2):167-96. Related Articles, Links


The international regulation of genetically modified organisms: importing caution into the U.S. food supply.

Strauss DM.

Fairfield University, Charles F. Dolan School of Business, Fairfield, Conn., USA.

PMID: 16903028 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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32: Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Aug;114(8):1154-7. Related Articles, Links


Digestion assays in allergenicity assessment of transgenic proteins.

Herman RA, Storer NP, Gao Y.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, USA. raherman@dow.com

The food-allergy risk assessment for transgenic proteins expressed in crops is currently based on a weight-of-evidence approach that holistically considers multiple lines of evidence. This approach recognizes that no single test or property is known to distinguish allergens from nonallergens. The stability of a protein to digestion, as predicted by an in vitro simulated gastric fluid assay, currently is used as one element in the risk assessment process. A review of the literature on the use of the simulated gastric fluid assay to predict the allergenic status of proteins suggests that more extensive kinetic studies with well-characterized reference proteins are required before the predictive value of this assay can be adequately judged.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16882518 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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33: EMBO Rep. 2006 Aug;7(8):750-3. Related Articles, Links


Cisgenic plants are similar to traditionally bred plants: international regulations for genetically modified organisms should be altered to exempt cisgenesis.

Schouten HJ, Krens FA, Jacobsen E.

Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands. henk.schouten@wur.nl

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16880817 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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34: Postepy Biochem. 2006;52(1):7-9. Related Articles, Links


[Biochemistry as a background of modern biotechnology]

[Article in Polish]

Twardowski T.

Instytut Chemii Bioorganicznej PAN i Politechnika Lodzka, ul. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan. twardows@ibch.poznan.pl

PMID: 16869296 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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35: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Jun;47(3):111-4. Related Articles, Links


A detection method of CryIAc protein for identifying genetically modified rice using the lateral flow strip assay.

Akiyama H, Watanabe T, Kikuchi H, Sakata K, Tokishita S, Hayashi Y, Hino A, Teshima R, Sawada J, Maitani T.

National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan.

We examined the lateral flow strip assay for identifying unauthorized genetically modified (GM) rice. The GM rice expresses the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin, CryIAc protein, which confers tolerance to insects. The recombinant CryIAc protein was prepared from the inclusion bodies of an E. coli. strain into which the CryIAc gene had been inserted, using gel filtration chromatography. The lateral flow strip assay for the identification of GM cotton which also expresses CryIAc protein, was applied to unpolished rice and polished rice spiked with recombinant CryIAc protein. The spiked recombinant CryIAc protein was clearly detected at the level of 0.012 microg/g in both the unpolished and polished rice. After loading of the extract on the strip, a 60 -minute stand time is necessary to clearly detect CryIAc protein. The detection limit was approximately 12 ng CryIAc protein per gram of rice. These results suggest that the lateral flow strip assay for GM cotton can be used to detect CryIAc protein expressed in GM rice.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16862988 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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36: J Biotechnol. 2006 Dec 15;127(1):161-6. Epub 2006 Jun 12. Related Articles, Links


Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of genetically modified organisms.

Yoke-Kqueen C, Radu S.

Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. ykcheah@medic.upm.edu.my

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to analyzed 78 samples comprises of certified reference materials (soya and maize powder), raw seeds (soybean and maize), processed food and animal feed. Combination assay of two arbitrary primers in the RAPD analysis enable to distinguish genetically modified organism (GMO) reference materials from the samples tested. Dendrogram analysis revealed 13 clusters at 45% similarity from the RAPD. RAPD analysis showed that the maize and soybean samples were clustered differently besides the GMO and non-GMO products.

PMID: 16860900 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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37: Annu Rev Nutr. 2006;26:75-103. Related Articles, Links


Innovative dietary sources of n-3 fatty acids.

Whelan J, Rust C.

Department of Nutrition, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1920, USA. jwhelan@utk.edu

It is now established that dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are involved in health promotion and disease prevention, particularly those traditionally derived from marine sources (e.g., eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). A number of organizations have made specific recommendations for the general population to increase their intakes of these nutrients. In response to and along with these recommendations, n-3 PUFAs are being incorporated into nontraditional food sources because of advances in the technology to safely enrich/fortify our food supply. Fatty acid compositions of traditional oils (e.g., canola and soybean) are being genetically modified to deliver more highly concentrated sources of n-3 PUFA. The advent of algal sources of docosahexaenoic acid provides one of the few terrestrial sources of this fatty acid in a concentrated form. All of this is possible because of newer technologies (microencapsulation) and improved processing techniques that ensure stability and preserve the integrity of these unstable fatty acids.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16848701 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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38: S Afr Med J. 2006 Jun;96(6):509-10. Related Articles, Links


Genetically modified crops--playing a positive role in sustainable development in Africa.

Thomson JA.

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa. jat@science.uct.ac.za

PMID: 16841131 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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39: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):735. Related Articles, Links


Elliot Entis.

Powell K.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 16841044 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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40: Risk Anal. 2006 Jun;26(3):657-70. Related Articles, Links


Examining consumer behavior toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain.

Spence A, Townsend E.

RASPH, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. lpxas@psychology.nottingham.ac.uk

This study examined behavior toward genetically modified (GM) food in a British community-based sample. We used an equivalent gain task in which participants actually received the options they chose to encourage truthful responding. In conjunction with this, theory of planned behavior (TPB) components were evaluated so as to examine the relative importance of behavioral influences in this domain. Here, the TPB was extended to include additional components to measure self-identity, moral norms, and emotional involvement. Results indicated that the monetary amounts participants accepted in preference to GM food were significantly lower than those accepted in preference to non-GM food. However, the vast majority of participants were indifferent between GM and non-GM food options. All TPB components significantly predicted behavioral intentions to try GM food, with attitudes toward GM being the strongest predictor. Self-identity and emotional involvement were also found to be significant predictors of behavioral intentions but moral norms were not. In addition, behavioral intentions significantly predicted behavior; however, PBC did not. An additional measure of participants' propensity to respond in a socially desirable manner indicated that our results were not influenced by self-presentation issues, giving confidence to our findings. Overall, it appears that the majority of participants (74.5%) would purchase GM food at some price.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16834625 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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41: Sci Technol Human Values. 2006 Jan;31(1):8-28. Related Articles, Links


Genetic technologies meet the public: the discourses of concern.

Lassen J, Jamison A.

Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark. jlas@kvl.dk

To clarify concerns that the public has with genetic technologies, the article presents the results of focus group interviews conducted in Denmark in 2000. The concerns of the public are divided into three ideal-typical categories: social (dealing with environmental and health risks), economic (dealing with both the threats and opportunities of the new technologies), and cultural (taking up ethical and moral concerns). Following a general discussion of why it is important to take these discourses of concern seriously, each discursive category is discussed with examples taken from the focus group interviews.

PMID: 16832965 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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42: Public Aff Q. 2006 Apr;20(2):135-61. Related Articles, Links


Gene patents and Lockean constraints.

Shrader-Frechette K.

University of Notre Dame, USA.

PMID: 16832963 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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43: J AOAC Int. 2006 May-Jun;89(3):893-7. Related Articles, Links


Surface plasmon resonance for detection of genetically modified organisms in the food supply.

Gambari R, Feriotto G.

Ferrara University, Biotechnology Center, 44100, Ferrara, Italy. gam@dns.unife.it

A review is presented demonstrating that biospecific interaction analysis, using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and biosensor technologies is a simple, rapid, and automatable approach to detect genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Using SPR, we were able to monitor in real-time the hybridization between oligonucleotide or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-generated probes and target single-stranded PCR products obtained by using as substrates DNA isolated from normal or transgenic soybean and maize. This procedure allows a one-step, nonradioactive detection of GMOs. PCR-generated probes are far more efficient in detecting GMOs than are oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes. This is expected to be a very important parameter, because information on low percentage of GMOs is of great value. Determination of the ability of SPR-based analysis to quantify GMOs should be considered a major research field for future studies, especially for the analyses of food supplies.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 16792091 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

44: Food Nutr Bull. 2006 Jun;27(2):167-79. Related Articles, Links


Agricultural biodiversity, nutrition, and health: making a difference to hunger and nutrition in the developing world.

Frison EA, Smith IF, Johns T, Cherfas J, Eyzaguirre PB.

International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. e.frison@cgiar.org

BACKGROUND: In spite of the strides made globally in reducing hunger, the problems of micronutrient deficiencies and coexisting obesity and related cardiovascular and degenerative diseases constitute a formidable challenge for the future. Attempts to reverse this trend with single-nutrient intervention strategies have met with limited success, resulting in renewed calls for food-based approaches. The deployment of agricultural biodiversity is an approach that entails greater use of local biodiversity to ensure dietary diversity. OBJECTIVE: To outline a new strategy proposed by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) that employs agricultural biodiversity as the primary resource for food security and health. METHODS: The authors carried out a meta-analysis to review and assemble existing information on the nutritional and healthful properties of traditional foods based on a diverse set of case studies and food composition and nutritional analysis studies. The methods highlight particular examples of foods where analysis of nutrient and non-nutrient composition reveals important traits to address the growing problems of malnutrition associated with the rise of chronic diseases. Finally, the authors analyze social, economic, and cultural changes that undermine the healthful components of traditional diets. RESULTS: Based on this multidisciplinary and comparative approach, the authors suggest a holistic food-based approach that combines research to assess and document nutritional and healthful properties of traditional foods, investigating options in which nutritionally valuable traditional foods can contribute to better livelihoods, and ways that awareness and promotional campaigns can identify healthful components of traditional diets that fit the needs of urban and market-oriented consumers. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need for agricultural research centers, national agricultural research systems, universities, and community-based organizations to work together under a shared policy framework with the aim of developing a strong evidence base linking biodiversity, nutrition, and health. Although these initiatives are still ongoing, the gains realized in small-scale and local pilot efforts have encouraged IPGRI to work with local partners toward the implementation of scale-up efforts in various regions.

Publication Types:
Meta-Analysis
Review

PMID: 16786983 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

45: Plant Mol Biol. 2006 May;61(1-2):123-39. Related Articles, Links


A microarray-based detection system for genetically modified (GM) food ingredients.

Leimanis S, Hernandez M, Fernandez S, Boyer F, Burns M, Bruderer S, Glouden T, Harris N, Kaeppeli O, Philipp P, Pla M, Puigdomenech P, Vaitilingom M, Bertheau Y, Remacle J.

Unite de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire (URBC), Faculte Universitaire Notre Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium.

A multiplex DNA microarray chip was developed for simultaneous identification of nine genetically modified organisms (GMOs), five plant species and three GMO screening elements, i.e. the 35S promoter, the nos terminator and the nptII gene. The chips also include several controls, such as that for the possible presence of CaMV. The on-chip detection was performed directly with PCR amplified products. Particular emphasis was placed on the reduction of the number of PCR reactions required and on the number of primers present per amplification tube. The targets were biotin labelled and the arrays were detected using a colorimetric methodology. Specificity was provided by specific capture probes designed for each GMO and for the common screening elements. The sensitivity of the assay was tested by experiments carried out in five different laboratories. The limit of detection was lower than 0.3% GMO for all tests and in general around 0.1% for most GMOs. The chip detection system complies with the requirements of current EU regulations and other countries where thresholds are established for the labelling of GMO.

Publication Types:
Evaluation Studies
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16786296 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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46: Transgenic Res. 2006 Jun;15(3):277-89. Related Articles, Links


Mycotoxin reduction in Bt corn: potential economic, health, and regulatory impacts.

Wu F.

Environmental, Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. fwu@eoh.pitt.edu

Genetically modified (GM) Bt corn, through the pest protection that it confers, has lower levels of mycotoxins: toxic and carcinogenic chemicals produced as secondary metabolites of fungi that colonize crops. In some cases, the reduction of mycotoxins afforded by Bt corn is significant enough to have an economic impact, both in terms of domestic markets and international trade. In less developed countries where certain mycotoxins are significant contaminants of food, Bt corn adoption, by virtue of its mycotoxin reduction, may even improve human and animal health. This paper describes an integrated assessment model that analyzes the economic and health impacts of two mycotoxins in corn: fumonisin and aflatoxin. It was found that excessively strict standards of these two mycotoxins could result in global trade losses in the hundreds of millions US dollars annually, with the US, China, and Argentina suffering the greatest losses. The paper then discusses the evidence for Bt corn's lower levels of contamination of fumonisin and aflatoxin, and estimates economic impacts in the United States. A total benefit of Bt corn's reduction of fumonisin and aflatoxin in the US was estimated at 23 million dollars annually. Finally, the paper examines the potential policy impacts of Bt corn's mycotoxin reduction, on nations that are making a decision on whether to allow commercialization of this genetically modified crop.

PMID: 16779644 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

47: Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2006 Summer;3(2):157-62. Related Articles, Links


Food safety--who is responsible?

Rollin BE.

Department of Philosophy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1781, USA. Bernard.Rollin@colostate.edu

Though scientists believe that issues of risk can be handled without appeal to values in general or ethics in particular, this is demonstrably false. The very notion of risk is enmeshed in a complex of social ethics. This is clearly true with regard to food safety. With this in mind, it is plausible to affirm that responsibility for food safety at a given point in the chain from producer to consumer rests with the person or entity under whose control the management of that risk most plausibly lies. This principle is illustrated with various examples and with clear cases of industry shouldering and avoiding responsibility. An additional ethical concern relevant to food safety arises from genetically modified foods. Given that the situation here is uncertain and risk unknown, it is hard to see who is responsible for managing such risks. It is arguable that this situation militates in favor of labeling, since consumers are in effect research subjects. The reasonable moral approach to risk we have outlined is jeopardized by the societal tendency towards "victimology" and abrogation of personal responsibility. In such a world, it is incumbent on industry to educate the public with regard to consumer minimization of food safety risks, the impossibility of zero-risk situations, and the economic costs to freedom of protectionism.

PMID: 16761941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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48: Mol Nutr Food Res. 2006 Jul;50(7):604-9. Related Articles, Links


Review of the development of methodology for evaluating the human allergenic potential of novel proteins.

Taylor SL.

University of Nebraska, Food Allergy Research & Resource Program, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, USA. staylor2@unl.edu

Safety assessment of novel proteins in genetic-engineered foods is a key component of the overall safety evaluation for these products. Since allergens are typically proteins, assessment of the potential allergenicity of the novel proteins in genetically engineered foods is critical. This article reviews methods available to assess the potential allergenicity of novel proteins, as well as problems and deficiencies in the existing methods. The role of bioinformatics and knowledge of allergenic epitopes in developing new approaches to this problem is discussed.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Review

PMID: 16736463 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

49: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Apr;47(2):J185-8. Related Articles, Links


[Codex ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology]

[Article in Japanese]

Umeda T.

Department of Food Safety, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 16729673 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

50: Nature. 2006 May 11;441(7090):149. Related Articles, Links


Challengers in the field.

Macilwain C.

PMID: 16688145 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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51: Trends Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):305-11. Epub 2006 May 6. Related Articles, Links


Genetic engineering of wheat--current challenges and opportunities.

Bhalla PL.

Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. premlb@unimelb.edu.au

Wheat is one of the major staple food crops grown worldwide; however, productivity in cereal crops has not kept pace with the world population growth. A significant increase in wheat production (>40% by 2020) is needed simply to keep up with the growing demand. This increase is unlikely to be achieved by conventional plant breeding methods because of the limited gene pool available. The application of recombinant techniques to improve wheat quality and yield is not only desirable but also has potential to open up new opportunities. Although there has been significant progress in developing gene-transformation technologies for improving these traits, this remains an important challenge for plant biotechnology. Obstacles to translate the full potential of the genomic era to wheat breeding include the need to develop elite wheat varieties without selectable markers, introducing minimal or nil intergenic DNA and social and market issues concerning genetically engineered food products.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 16682090 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

52: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 May;24(5):498; author reply 499. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Nov;23(11):1348-9.

Transgenic plant science priorities.

Pelletier D.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 16680123 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

53: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 May;24(5):481. Related Articles, Links


US-Indian agbiotech deal under scrutiny.

Jayaraman KS.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 16680115 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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54: J Am Diet Assoc. 2006 May;106(5):719-27. Related Articles, Links


Use of a risk communication model to evaluate dietetics professionals' viewpoints on genetically engineered foods and crops.

Roberts KS, Struble MB, McCullum-Gomez C, Wilkins JL.

Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ, USA. KRoberts@cse.edu

The complex issues surrounding the application of genetic engineering to food and agriculture have generated a contentious debate among diverse interest groups. One pervasive dimension in the resultant discourse is the varying perceptions of the risks and benefits of genetically engineered foods and crops. In the risk communication model, technical information is evaluated within the context of an individual's values and perceptions. The purpose of this study was to explore how dietetics professionals respond to a complex set of interrelated issues associated with genetically engineered foods and crops and to identify what varying viewpoints may exist. Participants were asked to sort a total of 48 statements distributed across eight issue areas according to level of agreement and disagreement. Using Q methodology, a total of 256 sortings were analyzed using the centroid method and varimax rotation in factor analysis. Three distinct viewpoints emerged: Precautionary (R(2)=43%), Discerning Supporter (R(2)=11%), and Promoting (R(2)=5%). Across all viewpoints, respondents agreed that dietetics professionals should employ critical thinking skills to communicate the social, economic, environmental, ethical, and technical aspects of genetically engineered foods and crops. The findings have implications for how dietetics professionals can foster an open interchange of information among diverse groups.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16647331 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

55: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2006 Aug;71(5):598-607. Epub 2006 Apr 26. Related Articles, Links


Genetically modified crops: success, safety assessment, and public concern.

Singh OV, Ghai S, Paul D, Jain RK.

Department of Pediatrics, The John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. osingh1@jhmi.edu

With the emergence of transgenic technologies, new ways to improve the agronomic performance of crops for food, feed, and processing applications have been devised. In addition, ability to express foreign genes using transgenic technologies has opened up options for producing large quantities of commercially important industrial or pharmaceutical products in plants. Despite this high adoption rate and future promises, there is a multitude of concerns about the impact of genetically modified (GM) crops on the environment. Potential contamination of the environment and food chains has prompted detailed consideration of how such crops and the molecules that they produce can be effectively isolated and contained. One of the reasonable steps after creating a transgenic plant is to evaluate its potential benefits and risks to the environment and these should be compared to those generated by traditional agricultural practices. The precautionary approach in risk management of GM plants may make it necessary to monitor significant wild and weed populations that might be affected by transgene escape. Effective risk assessment and monitoring mechanisms are the basic prerequisites of any legal framework to adequately address the risks and watch out for new risks. Several agencies in different countries monitor the release of GM organisms or frame guidelines for the appropriate application of recombinant organisms in agro-industries so as to assure the safe use of recombinant organisms and to achieve sound overall development. We feel that it is important to establish an internationally harmonized framework for the safe handling of recombinant DNA organisms within a few years.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16639559 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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56: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 May 3;54(9):3173-80. Related Articles, Links


Need for an "integrated safety assessment" of GMOs, linking food safety and environmental considerations.

Haslberger AG.

Vienna Ecology Center, Department for Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 2, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. alexander.haslberger@univie.ac.at

Evidence for substantial environmental influences on health and food safety comes from work with environmental health indicators which show that agroenvironmental practices have direct and indirect effects on human health, concluding that "the quality of the environment influences the quality and safety of foods" [Fennema, O. Environ. Health Perspect. 1990, 86, 229-232). In the field of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Codex principles have been established for the assessment of GM food safety and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety outlines international principles for an environmental assessment of living modified organisms. Both concepts also contain starting points for an assessment of health/food safety effects of GMOs in cases when the environment is involved in the chain of events that could lead to hazards. The environment can act as a route of unintentional entry of GMOs into the food supply, such as in the case of gene flow via pollen or seeds from GM crops, but the environment can also be involved in changes of GMO-induced agricultural practices with relevance for health/food safety. Examples for this include potential regional changes of pesticide uses and reduction in pesticide poisonings resulting from the use of Bt crops or influences on immune responses via cross-reactivity. Clearly, modern methods of biotechnology in breeding are involved in the reasons behind the rapid reduction of local varieties in agrodiversity, which constitute an identified hazard for food safety and food security. The health/food safety assessment of GM foods in cases when the environment is involved needs to be informed by data from environmental assessment. Such data might be especially important for hazard identification and exposure assessment. International organizations working in these areas will very likely be needed to initiate and enable cooperation between those institutions responsible for the different assessments, as well as for exchange and analysis of information. An integrated assessment might help to focus and save capacities in highly technical areas such as molecular characterization or profiling, which are often necessary for both assessments. In the area of establishing international standards for traded foods, such as for the newly created Standards in Trade and Development Facility (STDF), an integrated assessment might help in the consideration of important environmental aspects involved in health and food safety. Furthermore, an established integrated view on GMOs may create greater consumer confidence in the technology.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16637668 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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57: Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2006 Apr;70(4):821-7. Related Articles, Links


Quantification of genetically modified soybeans using a combination of a capillary-type real-time PCR system and a plasmid reference standard.

Toyota A, Akiyama H, Sugimura M, Watanabe T, Kikuchi H, Kanamori H, Hino A, Esaka M, Maitani T.

Hiroshima Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environment, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan.

Because the labeling of grains and feed- and foodstuffs is mandatory if the genetically modified organism (GMO) content exceeds a certain level of approved genetically modified varieties in many countries, there is a need for a rapid and useful method of GMO quantification in food samples. In this study, a rapid detection system was developed for Roundup Ready Soybean (RRS) quantification using a combination of a capillary-type real-time PCR system, a LightCycler real-time PCR system, and plasmid DNA as the reference standard. In addition, we showed for the first time that the plasmid and genomic DNA should be similar in the established detection system because the PCR efficiencies of using plasmid DNA and using genomic DNA were not significantly different. The conversion factor (Cf) to calculate RRS content (%) was further determined from the average value analyzed in three laboratories. The accuracy and reproducibility of this system for RRS quantification at a level of 5.0% were within a range from 4.46 to 5.07% for RRS content and within a range from 2.0% to 7.0% for the relative standard deviation (RSD) value, respectively. This system rapidly monitored the labeling system and had allowable levels of accuracy and precision.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16636447 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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58: Environ Biosafety Res. 2005 Jul-Sep;4(3):179-88. Related Articles, Links


Potential adoption and management of insect-resistant potato in Peru, and implications for genetically engineered potato.

Buijs J, Martinet M, de Mendiburu F, Ghislain M.

International Potato Center, Apartado 1558, Lima 12, Peru. jasper_buijs25@yahoo.com

This paper analyzes some important issues surrounding possible deployment of genetically engineered (GE) insect-resistant potato in Peru, based on a large farmer survey held in Peru in 2003. We found that the formal seed system plays a limited role compared with the informal seed system, especially for smallholder farmers. Although 97% of smallholder farmers would buy seed of an insect-resistant variety, a majority would buy it only once every 2 to 4 years. Survey data show that farmers would be willing to pay a premium of 50% on seed cost for insect resistant varieties. Paying price premiums of 25% to 50%, farmers would still increase their net income, assuming insect resistance is high and pesticide use will be strongly reduced. Of all farmers, 55% indicated preference for insect-resistant potato in varieties other than their current varieties. The survey indicates that smallholder farmers are interested to experiment with new varieties and have a positive perception of improved varieties. Based on these findings, and considering the difficulties implementing existing biosafety regulatory systems such as those in place in the U.S. and E.U., we propose to develop a variety-based segregation system to separate GE from conventionally bred potatoes. In such a system, which would embrace the spread of GE potatoes through informal seed systems, only a limited number of sterile varieties would be introduced that are easily distinguishable from conventional varieties.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16634223 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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59: Sci Cult (Lond). 2005 Dec;14(4):393-410. Related Articles, Links


Asilomar's legacy in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Rogers-Hayden T.

Centre for Environmental Risk, Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglis, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. T.Rogers-Hayden@uea.ac.uk

Publication Types:
Historical Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16622954 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

60: Sci Cult (Lond). 2005 Dec;14(4):373-92. Related Articles, Links


Genetic engineering regulation in Australia: an 'archaeology' of expertise and power.

Hindmarsh R.

Australian School of Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, 4111, Australia. r.hindmarsh@griffith.edu.au

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16622953 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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61: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Feb;47(1):15-27. Related Articles, Links


[Laboratory-performance study of quantitative PCR methods to analyze an approved genetically modified maize (Mon810 Line)]

[Article in Japanese]

Watanabe T, Kasama K, Kikuchi H, Suzuki T, Tokishita S, Sakata K, Matsuki A, Hino A, Akiyama H, Maitani T.

National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan.

A laboratory-performance study was carried out to investigate factors affecting the reliability of the quantitative PCR method to analyze an approved genetically modified (GM) maize (Mon810 line). Test maize powdered samples were prepared as blind samples containing a high (assigned value; 5.45%) or low (assigned value; 0.35%) concentration of the Mon810 line. After confirmation of their homogeneity, they were provided to 27 laboratories participating in the collaborative study. The data were collected from all laboratories and statistically analyzed. Two laboratories, which used a Roche LightCycler (LC), reported significantly high test values. A further examination showed that the LC method is greatly affected by the equipment itself or PCR reagents, resulting in poor repeatability. On the other hand, some laboratories, which used ABI quantitative PCR equipment, reported erroneous test values. In these laboratories, the errors appeared to have been due to inadequate quality and/or yield of DNA. To identify factors affecting the test values, analysis of the measured values for the taxon-specific gene will be useful. Furthermore, the modified silica-gel membrane DNA extraction method made it possible to extract the required amounts of DNA more easily and in a shorter time than before.

Publication Types:
English Abstract
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16619852 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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62: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Feb;47(1):9-14. Related Articles, Links


Investigation of false-positive reactions for CBH351 maize in screening PCR analysis.

Monma K, Moriuchi R, Sagi N, Ichikawa H, Satoh K, Tobe T, Kamata K.

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1, Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan.

Examination for CBH351 maize was conducted by the qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in maize grain and maize processed foods obtained in the Tokyo area. The numbers of samples possibly positive in the screening test were 7 of 22 (31.8%) for maize grain samples, 4 of 14 (28.6%) for semi-processed foods, 11 of 30 (36.7%) for canned products, 3 of 30 (10.0%) for maize snacks, 3 of 4 (75%) for tacos and 1 of 3 (33.3%) for tortillas. However, CBH351 maize was not detected in the confirmation test. Therefore, the results of the screening test were false-positive. Since the reaction might have been caused by the base sequences of the 3'-end of primers CaM03-5' and CBH02-3' used in the screening test, a new primer pair was designed. The PCR products obtained with the new primer pair TMC2-5'--TMS2-3' were specific for CBH351 and were not obtained with barley, wheat, rice, RRS, Bt11, or Event176. Thus, the new primer pair shows high specificity. CBH351 maize was detected from samples containing at least 0.05% CBH 351 maize DNA by using this primer pair.

PMID: 16619851 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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63: Sci Cult (Lond). 2005 Dec;14(4):355-72. Related Articles, Links


Genetically modified survival: red and green biotechnology in Israel.

Prainsack B, Firestine O.

Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, Universitaetsstrasse 7, A-1010 Wein, Austria. barbara.prainsack@univie.ac.at

PMID: 16619470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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64: Sci Cult (Lond). 2005 Dec;14(4):339-53. Related Articles, Links


The long and winding road from Asilomar to Brussels: science, politics and the public in biotechnology and regulation.

Abels G.

Institute for Science and Technology Studies, Bielefeld University, P.O. Box 10 01 31, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany. abels@iwt.uni-bielefeld.de

Publication Types:
Historical Article

PMID: 16619469 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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65: Food Nutr Bull. 2005 Dec;26(4):403-52. Related Articles, Links


Proceedings of the Symposium and Workshop on Biotechnology Derived Nutritious Foods: Challenges and Opportunities in Asia. February 29-March 1, 2004, Bali, Indonesia.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types:
Congresses
Overall

PMID: 16619434 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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66: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Apr 19;54(8):2799-809. Related Articles, Links


Coherence between legal requirements and approaches for detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their derived products.

Holst-Jensen A, De Loose M, Van den Eede G.

National Veterinary Institute, Ullevaalsveien 68, P.O. Box 8156 Dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway. arne.holst-jensen@vetinst.no

Analytical methods for the qualitative and quantitative detection of genetically modified (GM) products may serve multiple purposes. Legal requirements differ among jurisdictions, ranging from no requirements to mandatory use of event-specific quantitation and implementation of production chain traceability. Although efforts have been taken to harmonize the analytical methodology at national, regional, and international levels, no normative international standards have yet been established. Lack of coherence between analytical methodologies and their applicabilities, on the one hand, and legislation, on the other hand, is a major problem. Here, key points where coherence is lacking are discussed. These include the definition of units of measurements, expression of GM material quantities, terminology, and inconsistent legal status of products derived from related but slightly different transformation routes. Finally, recommendations to improve the coherence are brought forward, including guidance to stakeholders for prediction of product-specific GM material quantities from gene ratios in the originating seed.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16608192 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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67: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006 Mar;96(3 Suppl 2):S1-68. Related Articles, Links


Food allergy: a practice parameter.

American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.

Publication Types:
Practice Guideline

PMID: 16597066 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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68: Risk Anal. 2006 Apr;26(2):455-70. Related Articles, Links


Loss of agro-biodiversity, uncertainty, and perceived control: a comparative risk perception study in Austria and China.

Schmidt MR, Wei W.

University of Vienna, Institute of Risk Research, Vienna, Austria. ms@irf.univie.ac.at

The biogeographical centers of origin of important food crops-called Vavilov centers-are considered to be crucial sources of genetic diversity for present and future crop-breeding programs and thus for human food safety worldwide. Global environmental change and more intensified modes of crop production may cause genetic erosion (loss of traditional crop varieties and loss of crop wild relatives), especially in Vavilov centers. The present study focused on how the risk of genetic erosion (or loss of agro-biodiversity) is perceived in comparison to 16 other risk topics by experts and lay people in Austria and China. The most striking result was that genetic erosion was perceived to be an exceptionally unknown and uncertain risk topic, given that only genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were perceived as being even more uncertain. As a consequence of the high uncertainty, the idea of applying the precautionary principle to further prevent genetic erosion is discussed. An unprecedented finding-one that differs from Austrian participants-is that the Chinese have a higher perceived control over all risk topics. The increased perception of controllability in China is discussed in light of the theory of reflexive modernization. This theory strives to explain the increased critical attitude in Western countries such as Austria toward scientific innovations and toward the idea that everything can be calculated and mastered at will. By revealing different notions of risk perception, this research also provides additional scientific input to risk communication efforts for public education.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16573633 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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69: Trends Biotechnol. 2006 May;24(5):206-11. Epub 2006 Mar 29. Related Articles, Links


Global trends in plant transgenic science and technology (1973-2003).

Vain P.

John Innes Centre, Crop Genetics Department, Norwich Research Park, UK, NR4 7UH. philippe.vain@bbsrc.ac.uk

Transgenic science and technology are fundamental to state-of-the-art plant molecular genetics and GM crop improvement. Monitoring the scale and growth of this area of science is important to scientists, national and international research organizations, funding bodies, policy makers and, because of the GM debate, to society as a whole. Literature statistics covering the past 30 years reveal a dramatic increase in plant transgenic science in Asia during the past decade, a sustained expansion in North America and, recently, a slow down in the rest of the world. With the exception of the output of China and India, publications focusing on the development of transgenic technology have been slowing down, worldwide, since the early mid-1990s, a trend that contrasts with the increase in GM crop-related studies.

PMID: 16569453 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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70: New Genet Soc. 2005;24(2):139-55. Related Articles, Links


In the democracies of DNA: ontological uncertainty and political order in three states.

Jasanoff S.

Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, 79 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. sheila_jasanoff@harvard.edu

This paper compares the regulation of biotechnology in Britain, Germany and the United States and shows that systematic differences have developed around four issues: abortion, assisted reproduction, stem cells, and genetically modified crops and foods. Policy choices with respect to these issues reflect the capacity of each nation's regulatory institutions to deal with the scientific, social and ethical uncertainties around biotechnology. National regulatory frameworks constitute an apparatus of collective sense-making through which governments and publics interpret biotechnology's risks and promises. Specifically, regulatory choices position the novel ontologies created by biotechnology either on the side of the familiar and manageable or on the side of the unknown and insupportably risky. The comparison shows that public responses to biotechnology are embedded within robust and coherent political cultures and are not ad hoc expressions of concern that very unpredictably from issue to issue.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study

PMID: 16552932 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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71: New Genet Soc. 2005 Apr;24(1):31-56. Related Articles, Links


Attitudes to biotechnology: estimating the opinions of a better-informed public.

Sturgis P, Cooper H, Fife-Schaw C.

Department of Sociology, School of Human Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK. p.sturgis@surrey.ac.uk

Public familiarity with basic scientific concepts and principles has been proposed as essential for effective democratic decision-making (Miller, 1998). Empirical research, however, finds that public 'scientific literacy' is generally low, falling well short of what normative criteria would consider 'acceptable.' This has prompted calls to better engage, educate and inform the public on scientific matters, with the additional, usually implicit assumption that a knowledgeable citizenry should express more supportive and favourable attitudes toward science. Research investigating the notion that 'to know science is to love it' has provided only weak empirical support and has itself been criticised for representing science and technology as a unified and homogenous entity. In practice, it is argued, how knowledge impacts on the favourability of attitudes will depend on a multiplicity of actors, not the least of which is the particular area of science in question and the technologies to which it gives rise (Evans & Durant, 1992). This article uses a new method for examining the knowledge-attitude nexus on a prominent area of 21st century science--biotechnology. The idea that greater scientific knowledge can engender change in the favourability of attitudes toward specific areas of science is investigated using data from the 2000 British Social Attitudes Survey and the 1999 Wellcome Consultative Panel on Gene Therapy. Together the surveys measure public opinion on particular applications of genetic technologies, including gene therapy and the use of genetic data, as well as more general attitudes towards genetic research. We focus our analysis on how two different measures of knowledge impact on these attitudes; one a more general measure of scientific knowledge, the other relating specifically to knowledge of modern genetic science. We investigate what impact these knowledge domains have on attitudes toward biotechnology using a regression-based modelling technique (Bartels, 1996; Althaus, 1998; Sturgis, 2003). Controlling for a range of socio-demographic characteristics, we provide estimates of what collective and individual opinion would look like if everyone were as knowledgeable as the currently best-informed members of the general public on the knowledge domains in question. Our findings demonstrate that scientific knowledge does appear to have an important role in determining individual and group attitudes to genetic science. However, we find no support for a simple 'deficit model' of public understanding, as the nature of the relationship itself depends on the application of biotechnology in question and the social location of the individual.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16552916 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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72: Appetite. 2006 May;46(3):324-31. Epub 2006 Mar 20. Related Articles, Links


Attitudes towards genetically modified and organic foods.

Saher M, Lindeman M, Hursti UK.

Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland. marieke.saher@helsinke.fi

Finnish students (N=3261) filled out a questionnaire on attitudes towards genetically modified and organic food, plus the rational-experiential inventory, the magical thinking about food and health scale, Schwartz's value survey and the behavioural inhibition scale. In addition, they reported their eating of meat. Structural equation modelling of these measures had greater explanatory power for attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) foods than for attitudes towards organic foods (OF). GM attitudes were best predicted by natural science education and magical food and health beliefs, which mediated the influence of thinking styles. Positive attitudes towards organic food, on the other hand, were more directly related to such individual differences as thinking styles and set of values. The results of the study indicate that OF attitudes are rooted in more fundamental personal attributes than GM attitudes, which are embedded in a more complex but also in a more modifiable network of characteristics.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16546293 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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73: Kokuritsu Iyakuhin Shokuhin Eisei Kenkyusho Hokoku. 2005;(123):1-11. Related Articles, Links


[Establishment of standards and specifications for chemical substances in foods and evaluation of exposure to maintain food safety]

[Article in Japanese]

Maitani T.

Division of Foods, National Institute of Health Sciences. maitani@nihs.go.jp

Currently, consumers are very anxious about many chemical substances contained in foods. To maintain food safety, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan establishes standards and specifications on toxic chemical substances in foods, establishes analytical methods for surveillance, and investigates the daily dietary intake of food contaminants every year. This paper describes what sorts of standards and specifications for toxic chemical substances in foods have been established and what kinds of research on daily dietary intake have been performed. As the subjects for description, pesticide residues, toxic metals, dioxins, acrylamide, food additives, genetically modified food products, so-called health foods, and food allergens are included.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 16541744 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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74: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2006 Apr;17(2):179-82. Epub 2006 Mar 15. Related Articles, Links


Molecular advances and novel directions in food biotechnology innovation.

Kleerebezem M.

Publication Types:
Editorial
Review

PMID: 16540309 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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75: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Mar 7;103(10):3546-51. Epub 2006 Feb 28. Related Articles, Links


High-amylose wheat generated by RNA interference improves indices of large-bowel health in rats.

Regina A, Bird A, Topping D, Bowden S, Freeman J, Barsby T, Kosar-Hashemi B, Li Z, Rahman S, Morell M.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Food Futures National Research Flagship, P.O. Box 93, North Ryde 1670, NSW, Australia.

Foods high in resistant starch have the potential to improve human health and lower the risk of serious noninfectious diseases. RNA interference was used to down-regulate the two different isoforms of starch-branching enzyme (SBE) II (SBEIIa and SBEIIb) in wheat endosperm to raise its amylose content. Suppression of SBEIIb expression alone had no effect on amylose content; however, suppression of both SBEIIa and SBEIIb expression resulted in starch containing >70% amylose. When the >70% amylose wheat grain was fed to rats in a diet as a wholemeal, several indices of large-bowel function, including short-chain fatty acids, were improved relative to standard wholemeal wheat. These results indicate that this high-amylose wheat has a significant potential to improve human health through its resistant starch content.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16537443 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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76: J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2006 Apr;7(4):257-66. Related Articles, Links


Chinese public understanding of the use of agricultural biotechnology--a case study from Zhejiang Province of China.

Lu L.

Department of Social Sciences, School of Humanities, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China. lulandk27@yahoo.com

This study explores the Chinese public's perceptions of, and attitudes to, agriculture and food applications of biotechnology; and investigates the effect of socio-demographic factors on attitudes. A questionnaire survey and interviews were used in an attempt to combine quantitative analysis with qualitative review. The main finding of this study is that the Chinese population has a superficial, optimistic attitude to agricultural biotechnology; and that, in accordance with public attitudes, a cautious policy, with obligatory labelling, should be adopted. The study reveals that education is the factor among socio-demographic variables with the strongest impact on public attitudes. Higher education leads to a more positive evaluation of GM (genetically modified) foods and applications of biotechnology with respect to usefulness, moral acceptability, and suitability for encouragement. In addition, public attitudinal differences depend significantly on area of residence. Compared with their more urban compatriots, members of the public in less developed areas of China have more optimistic attitudes, perceive more benefits, and are more risk tolerant in relation to GM foods and agricultural biotechnology. Finally we obtained a very high rate of "don't know" answers to our survey questions. This suggests that many people do not have settled attitudes, and correspondingly, that the overall public attitude to agricultural biotechnology and GM foods in China is at present somewhat unstable.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16532526 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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77: McGeorge Law Rev. 2000;32(1):89-110. Related Articles, Links


Biotechnology and the creation of ethics.

Coletta RR.

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, USA.

PMID: 16523579 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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78: Allergy. 2006 Apr;61(4):491-7. Related Articles, Links


Allergenicity assessment of transgenic mustard (Brassica juncea) expressing bacterial codA gene.

Singh AK, Mehta AK, Sridhara S, Gaur SN, Singh BP, Sarma PU, Arora N.

Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India.

BACKGROUND: Assessing the allergenicity and toxicity of genetically modified (GM) crops is essential before they become a regular part of our food supply. The present study aimed to assess the allergenicity of Brassica juncea (mustard) expressing choline oxidase (codA) gene from Arthrobacter globiformis that provides resistance against abiotic stresses. METHODS: SDAP, Farrp, and Swiss-Prot databases were used to study allergenicity of choline oxidase. Digestibility of choline oxidase was assessed in simulated gastric fluid (SGF). Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity of native and GM mustard was compared by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and skin tests in respiratory-allergic patients. Allergenicity of GM and native mustard proteins was compared in Balb/c mice. RESULTS: Choline oxidase showed no significant homology with allergenic proteins in SDAP and Farrp databases. Cross-reactive epitope search showed a stretch similar to Hev b 6 having some antigenic properties. Purified choline oxidase showed complete degradation with SGF. Skin prick test of native and GM mustard extract on respiratory allergic patients showed significant correlation (P < 0.05). ELISA with 96 patients' sera showed comparable IgE reactivity. Balb/c mice immunized with native and GM mustard proteins showed low IgE response. Presensitized mice on intravenous challenge with Brassica extract showed no anaphylactic symptoms unlike ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization that showed anaphylactic reaction in mice. Lung histology of OVA-sensitized mice showed narrowing of airway and large eosinophilic infiltration, whereas native and GM Brassica extract showed normal airway. CONCLUSION: Genetically modified mustard with the codA gene possessed allergenicity similar to that of native mustard and no enhancement of IgE binding was observed due to genetic manipulation.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16512812 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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79: J AOAC Int. 2006 Jan-Feb;89(1):232-9. Related Articles, Links


Scoring in genetically modified organism proficiency tests based on log-transformed results.

Thompson M, Ellison SL, Owen L, Mathieson K, Powell J, Key P, Wood R, Damant AP.

University of London, Birkbeck College, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Malet St, London, United Kingdom.

The study considers data from 2 UK-based proficiency schemes and includes data from a total of 29 rounds and 43 test materials over a period of 3 years. The results from the 2 schemes are similar and reinforce each other. The amplification process used in quantitative polymerase chain reaction determinations predicts a mixture of normal, binomial, and lognormal distributions dominated by the latter 2. As predicted, the study results consistently follow a positively skewed distribution. Log-transformation prior to calculating z-scores is effective in establishing near-symmetric distributions that are sufficiently close to normal to justify interpretation on the basis of the normal distribution.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16512253 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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80: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2006 Apr;17(2):130-8. Epub 2006 Feb 28. Related Articles, Links


Metabolic engineering in plants for human health and nutrition.

Kinney AJ.

Crop Genetics Research, DuPont Experimental Station, Wilmington, DE 19880-0353, USA. anthony.kinney@cgr.dupont.com

In many cases, multiple pathway enzymes need to be upregulated to produce a significant yield of a desired product. Technical advances in simultaneously manipulating multiple steps in plant metabolic pathways include the use of transcription factors, such as MYB12. By upregulating the genes of an entire pathway, these factors can greatly simplify multienzyme engineering. Furthermore, synthetic zinc-finger protein transcription factors can now be designed to target specific pathway enzymes, such as tocopherol methyltransferases. When multiple steps in a pathway are upregulated, previously unsuspected facets of the pathway might be revealed, such as the newly uncovered bifunctional substrate preference of the key regulatory enzyme in tocopherol (vitamin E) biosynthesis, homogentisate phytyltransferase. The engineering of desired traits, such as long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, can require entirely new pathways to be introduced into a plant. Recent advances in genomics and gene expression technology have made this type of complex metabolic engineering highly feasible.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16510274 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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81: Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Mar;114(3):A146-7. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Aug;113(8):A526-33.

The hazards of genetically engineered foods.

Margulis C.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 16507441 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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82: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2006 Apr;17(2):198-203. Epub 2006 Feb 14. Related Articles, Links


Food products and allergy development, prevention and treatment.

Zuercher AW, Fritsche R, Corthesy B, Mercenier A.

Allergy Group, Nutrition and Health Department, Nestle Research Center, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland.

In westernized countries allergic diseases have reached epidemic proportions. Food is frequently a perpetrator of allergy but, in turn, modified food and selected food ingredients can become valuable intervention tools in the fight against allergy. There are two basic approaches towards mitigation of food allergy through nutrition: to reduce the allergenicity of raw food materials by physical, chemical or genetic methods or to influence host immunity towards a non-allergic state using various food ingredients. Dietary intervention for the prevention and therapy of allergy is an emerging field where initial findings from animal studies are now being validated in human trials. Nevertheless, to consolidate the utility of such interventions, more pre-clinical and clinical studies remain necessary.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16481157 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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83: Appetite. 2006 Mar;46(2):144-51. Epub 2006 Feb 15. Related Articles, Links


Awareness, acceptance of and willingness to buy genetically modified foods in Urban China.

Huang J, Qiu H, Bai J, Pray C.

Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resource Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Jia 11, Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China. jkhuang.ccap@igsnrr.ac.cn

There is concern about the extent to which consumers will accept genetically modified (GM) foods if they are commercialized in China. The evidence from the existing literature is mixed and sometimes confusing. The objective of this study is to conduct a large in-depth face-to-face in-house survey that examines the consumers' awareness, acceptance of and willingness to buy GM foods in China. To achieve this objective, a well-designed consumer survey was conducted in 11 cities of five provinces in Eastern China in 2002 and 2003. The results indicate that despite much less information on GM foods available publicly in China, more than two thirds of consumers in urban areas have heard of GM foods. But their knowledge on biotechnology was limited. Chinese consumers' acceptance of and willingness to buy GM foods was much higher than in other countries. Chinese consumers also demonstrated great variance in their acceptance of different GM foods. Information and prices of GM foods were two important factors affecting consumers' attitudes toward GM foods. Based on the findings of this study and given that our sample is in the more developed eastern Urban China, we conclude that the commercialization of GM foods is not likely to receive great resistance from the consumers in China.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16469414 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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84: Toxicology. 2006 Apr 3;221(1):128-33. Epub 2006 Feb 8. Related Articles, Links


cDNA microarray screening in food safety.

Roy S, Sen CK.

Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and DNA Microarray & Genetics Facility, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

The cDNA microarray technology and related bioinformatics tools presents a wide range of novel application opportunities. The technology may be productively applied to address food safety. In this mini-review article, we present an update highlighting the late breaking discoveries that demonstrate the vitality of cDNA microarray technology as a tool to analyze food safety with reference to microbial pathogens and genetically modified foods. In order to bring the microarray technology to mainstream food safety, it is important to develop robust user-friendly tools that may be applied in a field setting. In addition, there needs to be a standardized process for regulatory agencies to interpret and act upon microarray-based data. The cDNA microarray approach is an emergent technology in diagnostics. Its values lie in being able to provide complimentary molecular insight when employed in addition to traditional tests for food safety, as part of a more comprehensive battery of tests.

Publication Types:
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

PMID: 16466843 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

85: Food Nutr Bull. 2005 Dec;26(4):443-4. Related Articles, Links


Food biotechnology and consumer perceptions in Asia.

Cairns G.

Asian Food Information Network, Bangkok, Thailand. gcairns@afic.org

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16465994 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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86: Food Nutr Bull. 2005 Dec;26(4):436-42. Related Articles, Links


Nutritional and safety assessments of foods and feeds nutritionally improved through biotechnology.

Chassy B, Hlywka JJ, Kleter GA, Kok EJ, Kuiper HA, McGloughlin M, Munro IC, Phipps RH, Reid JE, Stein J, Zabik J; Task Force for the International Life Sciences Institutue International Food Biotechnology Committee.

University of Illinois, Urbana, USA.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16465993 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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87: Trends Biotechnol. 2006 Mar;24(3):102-4. Epub 2006 Feb 7. Related Articles, Links


Unintended effects in genetically modified crops: revealed by metabolomics?

Rischer H, Oksman-Caldentey KM.

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, VTT Biotechnology, Tietotie 2, Espoo, FIN-02044 VTT, Finland.

In Europe the commercialization of food derived from genetically modified plants has been slow because of the complex regulatory process and the concerns of consumers. Risk assessment is focused on potential adverse effects on humans and the environment, which could result from unintended effects of genetic modifications: unintended effects are connected to changes in metabolite levels in the plants. One of the major challenges is how to analyze the overall metabolite composition of GM plants in comparison to conventional cultivars, and one possible solution is offered by metabolomics. The ultimate aim of metabolomics is the identification and quantification of all small molecules in an organism; however, a single method enabling complete metabolome analysis does not exist. Given a comprehensive extraction method, a hierarchical strategy--starting with global fingerprinting and followed by complementary profiling attempts--is the most logical and economic approach to detect unintended effects in GM crops.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16460820 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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88: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Dec;46(6):270-6. Related Articles, Links


[Laboratory performance study of the quantitative detection method for genetically modified soybeans (roundup ready soybeans 40-3-2)]

[Article in Japanese]

Kasama K, Watanabe T, Kikuchi H, Suzuki T, Tokishita S, Sakata K, Matsuki A, Hino A, Akiyama H, Maitani T.

Hatano Research Institute, Food and Drug Safety Center, 729-5, Ochiai, Hadano, Kanagawa 257-8523, Japan.

To investigate important factors affecting the analytical results, a laboratory-performance study was attempted for the Japanese official methods to detect genetically modified (GM) soybeans (40-3-2). Test samples containing 0, 1 and 5% GM soya powder in non-GM soya powder was prepared. A set of 3 test samples was sent to the participating laboratories along with the protocol. The data were collected from all laboratories and statistically analyzed. In the real-time PCR detection method, the average values of the GM 1% and 5% samples were both much lower than the spiked value because the laboratories using a silica-membrane DNA extraction method underestimated the GM value. On the other hand, the laboratories using other extraction methods, such as the CTAB method obtained values close to the spiked value. These results suggest that use of the silica-membrane DNA extraction method may result in underestimation of the GM content in the real-time PCR method. In the ELISA method, the average value of 5% spiked samples appears to be slightly higher than the fortified value. But, overall, it was considered that reported values were close to the spiked level.

Publication Types:
English Abstract
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16440788 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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89: Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2006 Mar;44(2):136-43. Epub 2006 Jan 9. Related Articles, Links


Lack of cross-reactivity between the Bacillus thuringiensis derived protein Cry1F in maize grain and dust mite Der p7 protein with human sera positive for Der p7-IgE.

Ladics GS, Bardina L, Cressman RF, Mattsson JL, Sampson HA.

DuPont/Pioneer Crop Genetics Regulatory Science and Registration, Wilmington, DE, USA. gregory.s.ladics@usa.dupont.com

Cry1F protein, derived from Bacillus thuringiensis, is effective at controlling lepidopteran pests and a synthetic Cry1F transgene was transferred into maize. For the safety assessment of genetically modified food crops, the allergenic potential of the introduced novel trait(s) is evaluated. Because no single parameter is currently predictive of allergic potential, a 'weight of evidence' approach has been proposed. As part of this assessment, the amino acid (aa) sequence of the Cry1F protein was compared to a database of known allergens using recommended criteria. The Cry1F protein did not show significant similarity or a match of eight contiguous identical aa with any allergen. However, a single six contiguous aa match was identified between Cry1F and the Der p7 protein of the dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. To investigate whether Cry1F was cross-reactive with Der p7, sera from 10 dust mite allergic patients containing Der p 7-specific IgE antibody were used to compare IgE-specific binding. No evidence of cross-reactivity was observed between Cry1F and Der p7. This study provides in vitro IgE sera screening data, that when considered in the context of other bioinformatic data [Hileman R.E., Silvanovich, A., Goodman R.E., Rice E.A., Holleschak G., Astwood J.D., Hefle S.L., 2002. Bioinformatic methods for allergenicity assessment using a comprehensive allergen database. Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. 128, 280-291; Stadler, M.B., Stadler, B.M., 2003. Allergenicity prediction by protein sequence. FASEB J. 17, 1141-1143.], adds further evidence arguing against the use of a six contiguous identical amino acid search to identify potential cross-reactive allergens. Cry1F is heat labile, rapidly hydrolyzed in an in vitro pepsin resistance assay, not glycosylated and not from an allergenic source. Taken together, these data indicate a lack of allergenic concern for Cry1F.

PMID: 16406630 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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90: Fitoterapia. 2006 Feb;77(2):67-82. Epub 2006 Jan 6. Related Articles, Links


Grain legume proteins and nutraceutical properties.

Duranti M.

Department of AgriFood Molecular Sciences, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy. marcello.duranti@unimi.it

Grain legumes are a valuable source of food proteins. Their exploitation is expected to grow in relation of a growing world's food needs. Moreover, it is currently taking place a reappraisal of the beneficial effects of legume seed dietary intake, which are the basis for various health claims. Proteins and peptides concur to the observed biological activities of legume seeds, but their effect(s) has(ve) not completely been disclosed. Aims of this review are: to report the most relevant putative positive effects of grain legumes on human health and to give an account of the current knowledge on the demonstrated legume seed protein biological activities. Specific effects on the prevention and treatment of various diseases, mostly of which are typical of the affluent countries, are reported. Examples of studies at molecular level aimed at elucidating of the underlying mechanism(s) are given. The prospects on targeted legume protein exploitation in the nutraceutical area, including the biotechnological approaches, are also considered.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16406359 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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91: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jan;24(1):2. Related Articles, Links


Genetically modified mush.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types:
Editorial

PMID: 16404374 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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92: Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jan;83(1):59-64. Related Articles, Links


Zinc absorption in Guatemalan schoolchildren fed normal or low-phytate maize.

Mazariegos M, Hambidge KM, Krebs NF, Westcott JE, Lei S, Grunwald GK, Campos R, Barahona B, Raboy V, Solomons NW.

Center for Studies of Sensory Impairments, Aging, and Metabolism, Guatemala City, Guatemala. manolomazariegos@yahoo.es

BACKGROUND: Poor bioavailability of zinc from high-phytate diets is an important contributory factor to zinc deficiency in low-income populations. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of low-phytate maize consumption on zinc absorption. DESIGN: The participants were apparently healthy children from the Central Highlands of Guatemala. Sixty children (20 per group) were randomly assigned to be fed only the low-phytate maize or 1 of 2 control maizes, the isohybrid wild-type maize or a local maize, for a 10-wk period. During the final week, the fractional absorption of zinc for all meals was measured during 1 d with the use of zinc stable isotopes and a dual isotope ratio technique based on urine enrichment data. RESULTS: Mean (+/-SD) phytate intakes for the low-phytate, wild-type, and local maize groups were 1536 +/- 563, 2056 +/- 517, and 2253 +/- 687 mg/d, respectively. Corresponding zinc intakes were 8.6 +/- 2.5, 8.1 +/- 2.0, and 9.7 +/- 2.6 mg/d, and the dietary phytate:zinc molar ratios were 18 +/- 5, 26 +/- 6, and 23 +/- 5. Corresponding fractional absorptions of zinc were 0.32 +/- 0.07, 0.28 +/- 0.07, and 0.29 +/- 0.06. The respective values for total absorbed zinc were 2.72 +/- 0.88, 2.30 +/- 0.96, and 2.78 +/- 1.04 mg/d. No significant differences in either the fractional absorption of zinc or total absorbed zinc were seen between the maize groups. CONCLUSION: Under the conditions of the present study, zinc absorption was not increased by the long-term use of low-phytate maize in children whose major dietary staple is maize.

Publication Types:
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16400050 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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93: Clin Exp Allergy. 2005 Dec;35(12):1638-44. Related Articles, Links


A mutant of the major apple allergen, Mal d 1, demonstrating hypo-allergenicity in the target organ by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge.

Bolhaar ST, Zuidmeer L, Ma Y, Ferreira F, Bruijnzeel-Koomen CA, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, van Ree R, Knulst AC.

Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. s.bolhaar@azu.nl

BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy for food allergy has been hindered by severe side-effects in the past. Well-characterized hypo-allergenic recombinant food allergens potentially offer a safe solution. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate hypo-allergenicity of a mutated major food allergen from apple, Mal d 1, in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: A mutant of the major apple allergen, Mal d 1, was obtained by site-directed mutagenesis exchanging five amino acid residues. Fourteen patients with combined birch pollen-related apple allergy were included in the study. Hypo-allergenicity of the mutant rMal d 1 (rMal d 1mut) compared with rMal d 1 was assessed by in vitro methods, i.e. RAST (inhibition), immunoblotting and basophil histamine release (BHR) and in vivo by skin prick test and double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC). RESULTS: RAST analysis (n = 14) revealed that IgE reactivity to rMal d 1mut was twofold lower than that of the wild-type molecule (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7-2.4). RAST inhibition (n = 6) showed a 7.8-fold decrease in IgE-binding potency (95% CI: 3.0-12.6). In contrast to this moderate decrease in IgE-binding potency, the biological activity of rMal d 1mut assessed by SPT and BHR decreased 10-200-fold. Hypo-allergenicity was confirmed by DBPCFC (n = 2) with both recombinant molecules. CONCLUSION: A moderate decrease in IgE-binding potency translates into a potent inhibition of biological activity. This is the first study that confirms by DBPCFC that a mutated recombinant major food allergen is clinically hypo-allergenic. This paves the way towards safer immunotherapy for the treatment of food-allergic patients.

Publication Types:
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16393331 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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94: Science. 2005 Dec 23;310(5756):1908-9. Related Articles, Links


Erratum in:
Science. 2006 Mar 3;311(5765):1242.

Communication. Social values and the governance of science.

Gaskell G, Einsiedel E, Hallman W, Priest SH, Jackson J, Olsthoorn J.

Methodology Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2A 2AE, UK. g.gaskell@lse.ac.uk

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16373561 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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95: Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2006 Jan;209(1):81-8. Epub 2005 Sep 29. Related Articles, Links


Detection of genetically modified DNA sequences in milk from the Italian market.

Agodi A, Barchitta M, Grillo A, Sciacca S.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n. 87, 95123 Catania, Italy. agodia@unict.it

The possible transfer and accumulation of novel DNA and/or proteins in food for human consumption derived from animals receiving genetically modified (GM) feed is at present the object of scientific dispute. A number of studies failed to identify GM DNA in milk, meat, or eggs derived from livestock receiving GM feed ingredients. The present study was performed in order to: (i) develop a valid protocol by PCR and multicomponent analysis for the detection of specific DNA sequences in milk, focused on GM maize and GM soybean; (ii) assess the stability of transgenic DNA after pasteurization treatment and (iii) determine the presence of GM DNA sequences in milk samples collected from the Italian market. Results from the screening of 60 samples of 12 different milk brands demonstrated the presence of GM maize sequences in 15 (25%) and of GM soybean sequences in 7 samples (11.7%). Our screening methodology shows a very high sensitivity and the use of an automatic identification of the amplified products increases its specificity and reliability. Moreover, we demonstrated that the pasteurization process is not able to degrade the DNA sequences in spiked milk samples. The detection of GM DNA in milk can be interpreted as an indicator of fecal or airborne contamination, respectively, with feed DNA or feed particles, although an alternative source of contamination, possibly recognizable in the natural environment can be suggested. Further studies, performed on a larger number of milk samples, are needed to understand the likely source of contamination of milk collected from the Italian market.

PMID: 16373205 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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96: Biomed Environ Sci. 2005 Oct;18(5):321-5. Related Articles, Links


Preparation of monoclonal antibody against HPT and its application to detecting marker protein in genetically modified rice.

Yang LC, Zhang SX, Pi GH, Li YH, Zhu Z, Yang XG.

National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.

OBJECTIVE: To produce the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against hygromycin B phosphotransferase (HPT) and to develop immunoassay based on mAbs for biosafety assessment of HPT in genetically modified rice (GM rice). METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized with purified recombinant 6His. HPT protein, and the conventional hybridoma technology was used to generate the monoclonal hybridoma cells. ELISA and Western blot were used to analyze the specificity of mAbs recognizing HPT and the cross reaction with other proteins. A double-Ab sandwich ELISA method was established to detect HPT expression level in the sck gene-modified rice plants. RESULTS: Four hybridomas, named F1, D4-2, D4-4, and D4-5, producing the mAbs against HPT were successfully obtained with the titer of ascetic mAbs ranging from 1x10(-4) to 1x10(-5). Identification of subclass showed that all the produced mAbs belonged to IgG1. Western blot showed specific binding reaction between the mAbs to the HPT proteins expressed in the GM rice. A double sandwich ELISA coated with anti-HPT polyclonal antibody was established with mAbs as sandwich antibody, which showed a sensitivity of 30ng/mL and did not crossreact with other proteins. The expression level of HPT in the leaves of sck-transformed lines was detected (80-150ng/mL). But HPT protein in the grain and seed of GM rice could not be detected using this ELISA assay. CONCLUSION: Anti-HPT mAbs prepared herein have a high specificity and can be used for rapid assay of HPT antigen. The expression level of HPT in the GM rice grain and seed is lower than our ELISA detection limit.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16370315 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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97: J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Dec 28;53(26):9971-9. Related Articles, Links


Distortion of genetically modified organism quantification in processed foods: influence of particle size compositions and heat-induced DNA degradation.

Moreano F, Busch U, Engel KH.

Center of Food and Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Am Forum 2, 85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany.

Milling fractions from conventional and transgenic corn were prepared at laboratory scale and used to study the influence of sample composition and heat-induced DNA degradation on the relative quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food products. Particle size distributions of the obtained fractions (coarse grits, regular grits, meal, and flour) were characterized using a laser diffraction system. The application of two DNA isolation protocols revealed a strong correlation between the degree of comminution of the milling fractions and the DNA yield in the extracts. Mixtures of milling fractions from conventional and transgenic material (1%) were prepared and analyzed via real-time polymerase chain reaction. Accurate quantification of the adjusted GMO content was only possible in mixtures containing conventional and transgenic material in the form of analogous milling fractions, whereas mixtures of fractions exhibiting different particle size distributions delivered significantly over- and underestimated GMO contents depending on their compositions. The process of heat-induced nucleic acid degradation was followed by applying two established quantitative assays showing differences between the lengths of the recombinant and reference target sequences (A, deltal(A) = -25 bp; B, deltal(B) = +16 bp; values related to the amplicon length of the reference gene). Data obtained by the application of method A resulted in underestimated recoveries of GMO contents in the samples of heat-treated products, reflecting the favored degradation of the longer target sequence used for the detection of the transgene. In contrast, data yielded by the application of method B resulted in increasingly overestimated recoveries of GMO contents. The results show how commonly used food technological processes may lead to distortions in the results of quantitative GMO analyses.

PMID: 16366682 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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98: Pharmacol Ther. 2006 Aug;111(2):374-83. Epub 2005 Dec 20. Related Articles, Links


Genetically modified plants and food hypersensitivity diseases: usage and implications of experimental models for risk assessment.

Prescott VE, Hogan SP.

Division of Molecular Bioscience, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

The recent advances in biotechnology in the plant industry have led to increasing crop production and yield that in turn has increased the usage of genetically modified (GM) food in the human food chain. The usage of GM foods for human consumption has raised a number of fundamental questions including the ability of GM foods to elicit potentially harmful immunological responses, including allergic hypersensitivity. To assess the safety of foods derived from GM plants including allergenic potential, the US FDA, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO), and the EU have developed approaches for evaluation assessment. One assessment approach that has been a very active area of research and debate is the development and usage of animal models to assess the potential allergenicity of GM foods. A number of specific animal models employing rodents, pigs, and dogs have been developed for allergenicity assessment. However, validation of these models is needed and consideration of the criteria for an appropriate animal model for the assessment of allergenicity in GM plants is required. We have recently employed a BALB/c mouse model to assess the potential allergenicity of GM plants. We have been able to demonstrate that this model is able to detect differences in antigenicity and identify aspects of protein post-translational modifications that can alter antigenicity. Furthermore, this model has also enabled us to examine the usage of GM plants as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of allergic diseases. This review discusses the current approaches to assess the allergenic potential of GM food and particularly focusing on the usage of animal models to determine the potential allergenicity of GM foods and gives an overview of our recent findings and implications of these studies.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 16364445 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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99: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Dec;23(12):1475-6. Related Articles, Links


Reassessing the environmental risks of GM crops.

Firbank L, Lonsdale M, Poppy G.

Publication Types:
Letter

PMID: 16333281 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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100: J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2005 Dec 10;68(23-24):2263-76. Related Articles, Links


Multigeneration reproductive and developmental toxicity study of bar gene inserted into genetically modified potato on rats.

Rhee GS, Cho DH, Won YH, Seok JH, Kim SS, Kwack SJ, Lee RD, Chae SY, Kim JW, Lee BM, Park KL, Choi KS.

Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Toxicological Research, Korea Food and Drug Administration, Seoul.

Each specific protein has an individual gene encoding it, and a foreign gene introduced to a plant can be used to synthesize a new protein. The identification of potential reproductive and developmental toxicity from novel proteins produced by genetically modified (GM) crops is a difficult task. A science-based risk assessment is needed in order to use GM crops as a conventional foodstuff. In this study, the specific characteristics of GM food and low-level chronic exposure were examined using a five-generation animal study. In each generation, rats were fed a solid pellet containing 5% GM potato and non-GM potato for 10 wk prior to mating in order to assess the potential reproductive and developmental toxic effects. In the multigeneration animal study, there were no GM potato-related changes in body weight, food consumption, reproductive performance, and organ weight. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out using extracted genomic DNA to examine the possibility of gene persistence in the organ tissues after a long-term exposure to low levels of GM feed. In each generation, the gene responsible for bar was not found in any of the reproductive organs of the GM potato-treated male and female rats, and the litter-related indexes did not show any genetically modified organism (GMO)-related changes. The results suggest that genetically modified crops have no adverse effects on the multigeneration reproductive-developmental ability.

PMID: 16326439 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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101: Altern Ther Health Med. 2005 Nov-Dec;11(6):14-7. Related Articles, Links


The world according to Codex.

Levy AR.

PMID: 16320855 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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102: Vestn Ross Akad Med Nauk. 2005;(10):30-7. Related Articles, Links


[Principles of production of genetically modified food sources]

[Article in Russian]

Kirpichnikov MP, Tyshko NV.

Methods of genetic engineering have given a powerful impulse to the development of fundamental and applied biology and biotechnology of plants. Methods of genetic plant transformation, such as agrobacterium-mediated and microprojectile bombardment-mediated transformation have been used for a long time. These methods allow production of transgenic plants which express the genes of interest. Dozens of transgenic plants have been obtained by now, and their number is steadily increasing.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 16320704 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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103: J Health Commun. 2005 Dec;10(8):751-67. Related Articles, Links


Gene cuisine or Frankenfood? The theory of reasoned action as an audience segmentation strategy for messages about genetically modified foods.

Silk KJ, Weiner J, Parrott RL.

Department of Communication, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.

Genetically modified (GM) foods are currently a controversial topic about which the lay public in the United States knows little. Formative research has demonstrated that the lay public is uncertain and concerned about GM foods. This study (N = 858) extends focus group research by using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to examine attitudes and subjective norms related to GM foods as a theoretical strategy for audience segmentation. A hierarchical cluster analysis revealed four unique audiences based on their attitude and subjective norm toward GM foods (ambivalent-biotech, antibiotech, biotech-normer, and biotech individual). Results are discussed in terms of the theoretical and practical significance for audience segmentation.

Publication Types:
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

PMID: 16316937 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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104: Proc Nutr Soc. 2005 Nov;64(4):487-90. Related Articles, Links


Allergenic potential of novel foods.

Meredith C.

BIBRA International Ltd, Carshalton, Surrey, UK. clivemeredith@btinternet.com

Concerns have been expressed that the introduction of novel foods into the diet might lead to the development of new food allergies in consumers. Novel foods can be conveniently divided into GM and non-GM categories. Decision-tree approaches (e.g. International Life Sciences Institute-International Food Biotechnology Council and WHO/FAO) to assess the allergenic potential of GM foods were developed following the discovery, during product development, of the allergenic potential of GM soyabean expressing a gene encoding a storage protein from Brazil nut (Bertolletia excelsa). Within these decision trees considerations include: the source of the transgene; amino acid homology with known allergens; cross-reactivity with IgE from food-allergic individuals; resistance to proteolysis; prediction using animal models of food allergy. Such decision trees are under constant review as new knowledge and improved models emerge, but they provide a useful framework for the assessment of the allergenic potential of GM foods. For novel non-GM foods the assessment of allergenic potential is more subjective; some foods or food ingredients will need no assessment other than a robust protein assay to demonstrate the absence of protein. Where protein is present in the novel non-GM food, hazard and risk assessments need to be made in terms of the quantity of protein that might be consumed, the identity of individual protein components and their relationships to known food allergens. Where necessary, this assessment would extend to serum screening for potential cross-reactivities, skin-prick tests in previously-sensitised individuals and double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16313692 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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105: Proc Nutr Soc. 2005 Nov;64(4):481-6. Related Articles, Links


GM organisms and the EU regulatory environment: allergenicity as a risk component.

Davies HV.

Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, UK. hdavie@scri.ac.uk

The European Food Safety Authority, following a request from the European Commission, has published a guidance document for the risk assessment of GM plants and derived food and feed to assist in the implementation of provisions of Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and Council on GM food and feed. This regulation has applied since 18 April 2004. In principle, hazard identification and characterisation of GM crops is conducted in four steps: characterisation of the parent crop and any hazards associated with it; characterisation of the transformation process and of the inserted recombinant DNA, including an assessment of the possible production of new fusion proteins or allergens; assessment of the introduced proteins (toxicity, allergenicity) and metabolites; identification of any other targetted and unexpected alterations in the GM crop, including changes in the plant metabolism resulting in compositional changes and assessment of their toxicological, allergenic or nutritional impact. In relation to allergenicity specifically, it is clear that this property of a given protein is not intrinsic and fully predictable but is a biological activity requiring an interaction with individuals with a predisposed genetic background. Allergenicity, therefore, depends on the genetic diversity and variability in atopic human subjects. Given this lack of complete predictability it is necessary to obtain, from several steps in the risk-assessment process, a cumulative body of evidence that minimises any uncertainty about the protein(s) in question.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16313691 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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106: Proc Nutr Soc. 2005 Nov;64(4):470-4. Related Articles, Links


Industrial dimensions of food allergy.

Crevel R.

SEAC Toxicology Laboratory, Unilever Research, Sharnbrook, Bedford, UK. rene.crevel@unilever.com

Serious attempts to estimate the impact of allergic reactions to foods on public health did not begin until the 1980s. Until about 15 years ago food allergy was considered a minor aspect of food safety. Two developments probably prompted a radical re-appraisal of that situation. The first was the apparently inexorable rise in the prevalence of atopic diseases, of which food allergy forms a part, with its possible consequences highlighted by some well-publicised severe reactions. The second was the growth of genetic modification technology, manifested by the commercialisation of transgenic crops. Each of these developments impacted on the food industry in distinct ways. On the one hand, consumers with food allergies had to be enabled to avoid specific allergens in products formulated with existing ingredients. Food manufacturers therefore had to identify those specific allergens down to trace amounts in all the ingredients forming the product and label or remove them. On the other hand, the introduction of products using ingredients from novel sources required an assessment of the allergenicity of these ingredients as an integral part of safety assurance. The approaches used by the food industry to protect existing consumers who have food allergies and those at potential risk of sensitisation from novel proteins will be illustrated, emphasising how they need to be built into every stage of the life cycle of a product.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16313689 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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107: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Oct;46(5):J286-8. Related Articles, Links


[Safety assessment of genetically modified foods]

[Article in Japanese]

Hayakawa T.

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 16305183 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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108: Biomed Pharmacother. 2005 Dec;59(10):531-40. Epub 2005 Oct 21. Related Articles, Links


Biological and biomedical aspects of genetically modified food.

Celec P, Kukuckova M, Renczesova V, Natarajan S, Palffy R, Gardlik R, Hodosy J, Behuliak M, Vlkova B, Minarik G, Szemes T, Stuchlik S, Turna J.

Biomed Research and Publishing Group, Bratislava, Slovakia. petercelec@gmail.com

Genetically modified (GM) foods are the product of one of the most progressive fields of science-biotechnology. There are major concerns about GM foods in the public; some of them are reasonable, some of them are not. Biomedical risks of GM foods include problems regarding the potential allergenicity, horizontal gene transfer, but environmental side effects on biodiversity must also be recognized. Numerous methods have been developed to assess the potential risk of every GM food type. Benefits of the first generation of GM foods were oriented towards the production process and companies, the second generation of GM foods offers, on contrary, various advantages and added value for the consumer. This includes improved nutritional composition or even therapeutic effects. Recombinant probiotics and the principle of alternative gene therapy represent the latest approach of using GM organisms for biomedical applications. This article tries to summarize and to explain the problematic topic of GM food.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 16298508 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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109: Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2006 Mar;44(2):125-35. Epub 2005 Nov 18. Related Articles, Links


Statistical analysis used in the nutritional assessment of novel food using the proof of safety.

Hothorn LA, Oberdoerfer R.

University of Hannover, LG Biostatistics, Herrenhaeuser Str. 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany.

The safety assessment of Novel Food, including GM biotechnology-derived crops, starts with the comparison of the Novel Food with a traditional counterpart that is generally accepted as safe based on a history of human food use. Substantial equivalence is established if no meaningful difference from the conventional counterpart was found, leading to the conclusion that the Novel Food is as safe and nutritious as its traditional counterpart. In general, the non-significance of p value is used for the proof of safety. From a statistical perspective, the problems connected with such an approach are demonstrated, namely that quite different component-specific false negative error rates result. As an alternative, the proof of safety is discussed with the inherently related definition of safety thresholds. Moreover, parametric and non-parametric confidence intervals for the difference and the ratio to control (conventional line) are described in detail. Finally, the treatment of multiple components for a global proof of safety is explained.

PMID: 16298467 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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110: Appetite. 2006 Jan;46(1):67-74. Epub 2005 Nov 17. Related Articles, Links


Implicit attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) foods: a comparison of context-free and context-dependent evaluations.

Spence A, Townsend E.

RASPH group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. lpxas@psychology.nottingham.ac.uk

Past research on attitudes towards GM food has focused on measuring explicit attitudes. Here we compared implicit attitudes towards GM foods with explicit attitudes towards GM foods. We used the Go No-Go task to investigate context-free implicit evaluations of GM foods and compared these with evaluations made in the context of ordinary and organic foods. Semantic differential scales were used to evaluate explicit attitudes towards GM foods. As expected, explicit attitudes towards GM foods were found to be neutral. However, contrary to our hypotheses, participants were found to hold positive, rather than neutral, implicit attitudes towards GM foods when these were assessed in a context free manner. In addition, neutral implicit attitudes were found when attitudes were assessed in the context of ordinary or organic foods, again contrasting with our hypotheses. These results imply that implicit attitudes towards GM food are more positive than anticipated and may lead to approach behaviour towards such products. Thus, given the choice, consumers are likely to accept GM food although other incentives may be needed if alternative foods are available.

Publication Types:
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16298018 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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111: Risk Anal. 2005 Oct;25(5):1241-52. Related Articles, Links


Who does the public trust? The case of genetically modified food in the United States.

Lang JT, Hallman WK.

Department of Sociology and the Food Policy Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. John@Coolclass.com

Trust is important for the perception of many types of risk, including those relating to genetically modified (GM) food. Who the public trusts in any given circumstance, however, is not well understood. In this study of public trust regarding GM food, an exploratory factor analysis with Promax rotation reveals public classification of three common institutional types-evaluators, watchdogs, and merchants. The structure of relationships among these stakeholders can act to enable or constrain public support for this new technology. Evaluators-scientists, universities, and medical professionals-are the most trusted. Watchdogs-consumer advocacy organizations, environmental organizations, and media sources-are moderately trusted. Merchants-grocers and grocery stores, industry, and farmers-are least trusted. While the federal government is seen as closest to being an evaluator, it is not highly correlated with any of the factors. The lack of trust in the organizations with the greatest resources and responsibilities for ensuring the safety of GM food should be seen as an important obstacle to the adoption of the technology.

Publication Types:
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

PMID: 16297228 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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112: Genewatch. 2005 May-Jun;18(3):3-5, 16. Related Articles, Links


Without a trace: how a lack of U.S. domestic LMO regulations is undermining international control.

Bereano P.

University of Washington, USA

PMID: 16285121 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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113: Transgenic Res. 2005 Oct;14(5):775-84. Related Articles, Links


Assessing the transfer of genetically modified DNA from feed to animal tissues.

Mazza R, Soave M, Morlacchini M, Piva G, Marocco A.

Instituto di Agronomia generale e Coltivazioni erbacee, Universita Cattolica S. Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, Piacenza 29100, Italy. mazza.raffaele@virgilio.it

In Europe, public and scientific concerns about the environmental and food safety of GM (Genetically Modified) crops overshadow the potential benefits offered by crop biotechnology to improve food quality. One of the concerns regarding the use of GM food in human and animal nutrition is the effect that newly introduced sequences may have on the organism. In this paper, we assess the potential transfer of diet-derived DNA to animal tissues after consumption of GM plants. Blood, spleen, liver, kidney and muscle tissues from piglets fed for 35 days with diets containing either GM (MON810) or a conventional maize were investigated for the presence of plant DNA. Only fragments of specific maize genes (Zein, Sh-2) could be detected with different frequencies in all the examined tissues except muscle. A small fragment of the Cry1A(b) transgene was detected in blood, liver, spleen and kidney of the animals raised with the transgenic feed. The intact Cry1A(b) gene or its minimal functional unit were never detected. Statistical analysis of the results showed no difference in recovery of positives for the presence of plant DNA between animals raised with the transgenic feed and animals raised with the conventional feed, indicating that DNA transfer may occur independently from the source and the type of the gene. From the data obtained, we consider it unlikely that the occurrence of genetic transfer associated with GM plants is higher than that from conventional plants.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16245168 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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114: Transgenic Res. 2005 Oct;14(5):749-59. Related Articles, Links


Crop-to-crop gene flow using farm scale sites of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in the UK.

Weekes R, Deppe C, Allnutt T, Boffey C, Morgan D, Morgan S, Bilton M, Daniels R, Henry C.

Central Science Laboratory, YO41 1LZ Sand Hutton, York, UK.

From 2000-2003 a range of Farm Scale Evaluation (FSE) trials were established in the UK to assess the effect of the release and management of herbicide tolerant (HT) crops on the abundance and diversity of farmland wildlife compared with their conventionally managed non-GM-equivalents. The objective of this research project was to investigate gene flow within the winter (WOSR) and spring oilseed rape (SOSR) FSE trials and to develop a statistical model for the prediction of cross-pollination frequency that can be used to evaluate current separation distance guidelines. Seed samples were collected from the non-GM half of the trial sites and were tested for evidence of cross-pollination from the GM HT halves using a quantitative PCR assay specific to the HT (bar) gene. Rates of cross-pollination were found to decrease rapidly with increasing distance from the GM source. The quantitative data were subjected to statistical analysis and a two-step model was found to provide the best fit for the data. Significant differences were found between the results for WOSR, SOSR and varietal association (VA) crops. The model predicted that the %GM content (including upper 95% confidence limits) of a sample taken at a distance of 50 m away from the GM source would be 0.04% (0.84%) for WOSR, 0.02% (0.39%) for SOSR, 0.77% (21.72%) for WOSR VA and 0.37% (5.18%) for SOSR VA. The data and models presented here are discussed in the context of necessary separation distances to meet various possible thresholds for adventitious presence of GM in OSR.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16245166 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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115: Vet Res Commun. 2005 Aug;29 Suppl 2:31-4. Related Articles, Links


Role of the "National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection" in the official control of food and feed.

Ciabatti I, Marchesi U, Froiio A, Paterno A, Ruggeri M, Amaddeo D.

Department of Virology and Biotechnology, National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio e Toscana, via Appia Nuvoa 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy. iciabatti@rm.izs.it

The National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection was established in 2002 within the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio e Toscana, with the aim of providing scientific and technical support to the National Health System and to the Ministry of Health within the scope of the regulation of GMO use in food and feed.The recently adopted EU legislation on GMOs (Regulation CE no. 1829/2003 and no. 1830/2003) introduced more rigorous procedures for the authorisation, labelling and analytical control of food and feed consisting, containing or derived from GMOs. The National Reference Centre, besides its institutional tasks as one of the laboratories of the Italian National Health System, collects and analyses data and results of the national official control of GMOs; carries out scientific research aimed at developing, improving, validating and harmonising detection and quantification methods, in cooperation with other scientific institutions, the Community Reference Laboratory and within the European Network of GMOs laboratories (ENGL); collaborates with the Ministry of Health in the definition of control programmes and promotes educational and training initiatives. Objectives defined for 2004-2006, activities in progress and goals already achieved are presented.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16244921 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

116: Vet Res Commun. 2005 Aug;29 Suppl 2:19-26. Related Articles, Links


Aspects connected with the enforcement of the EU provisions on genetically modified organisms.

Marabelli R.

General Directorate for Veterinary Health and Food, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy. alimentivet@sanita.it

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16244919 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

117: Vet Res Commun. 2005 Aug;29 Suppl 2:7-11. Related Articles, Links


GMO: human health risk assessment.

D'Agnolo G.

Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscienzes, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy. dagnolo@iss.it

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16244917 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

118: Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Science. 2005 Apr 29;308(5722):688-90.

Debate over a GM rice trial in China.

Cleveland DA, Soleri D.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 16231407 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

119: Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Science. 2005 Apr 29;308(5722):688-90.

Debate over a GM rice trial in China.

Sze PC, Cotter J.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 16231406 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

120: Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Science. 2005 Apr 29;308(5722):688-90.

Debate over a GM rice trial in China.

Heong KL, Chen YH, Johnson DE, Jahn GC, Hossain M, Hamilton RS.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 16224002 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

121: Eur J Histochem. 2005 Jul-Sep;49(3):237-42. Related Articles, Links


Reversibility of hepatocyte nuclear modifications in mice fed on genetically modified soybean.

Malatesta M, Tiberi C, Baldelli B, Battistelli S, Manuali E, Biggiogera M.

Istituto di Istologia e Analisi di Laboratorio, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, via Zeppi s.n., 61029 Urbino, Italy. malatesta@uniurb.it

In the literature, the reports on the effects of a genetically modified (GM) diet are scanty and heterogeneous; in particular, no direct evidence has so far been reported that GM food may affect human or animal health. Hepatocytes represent a suitable model for monitoring the effects of a GM diet, the liver potentially being a primary target. In a previous study, we demonstrated that some modifications occur in hepatocyte nuclei of mice fed on GM soybean. In order to elucidate whether such modifications can be reversed, in the present study, 3 months old mice fed on GM soybean since their weaning were submitted to a diet containing wild type soybean, for one month. In parallel, to investigate the influence of GM soybean on adult individuals, mice fed on wild type soybean were changed to a GM diet, for the same time. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we demonstrated that a one-month diet reversion can influence some nuclear features in adult mice, restoring typical characteristics of controls in GM-fed animals, and inducing in control mice modifications similar to those observed in animals fed on GM soybean from weaning. This suggests that the modifications related to GM soybean are potentially reversible, but also that some modifications are inducible in adult organisms in a short time.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16216809 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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122: Environ Biosafety Res. 2005 Jan-Mar;4(1):13-27. Related Articles, Links


A conceptual framework for the design of environmental post-market monitoring of genetically modified plants.

Sanvido O, Widmer F, Winzeler M, Bigler F.

Agroscope FAL Reckenholz, Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, CH-8046 Zurich, Switzerland. olivier.sanvido@fal.admin.ch

Genetically modified plants (GMPs) may soon be cultivated commercially in several member countries of the European Union (EU). According to EU Directive 2001/18/EC, post-market monitoring (PMM) for commercial GMP cultivation must be implemented, in order to detect and prevent adverse effects on human health and the environment. However, no general PMM strategies for GMP cultivation have been established so far. We present a conceptual framework for the design of environmental PMM for GMP cultivation based on current EU legislation and common risk analysis procedures. We have established a comprehensive structure of the GMP approval process, consisting of pre-market risk assessment (PMRA) as well as PMM. Both programs can be distinguished conceptually due to principles inherent to risk analysis procedures. The design of PMM programs should take into account the knowledge gained during approval for commercialization of a specific GMP and the decisions made in the environmental risk assessments (ERAs). PMM is composed of case-specific monitoring (CSM) and general surveillance. CSM focuses on anticipated effects of a specific GMP. Selection of case-specific indicators for detection of ecological exposure and effects, as well as definition of effect sizes, are important for CSM. General surveillance is designed to detect unanticipated effects on general safeguard subjects, such as natural resources, which must not be adversely affected by human activities like GMP cultivation. We have identified clear conceptual differences between CSM and general surveillance, and propose to adopt separate frameworks when developing either of the two programs. Common to both programs is the need to put a value on possible ecological effects of GMP cultivation. The structure of PMM presented here will be of assistance to industry, researchers, and regulators, when assessing GMPs during commercialization.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16209133 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

123: Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2006 Feb;44(1):43-8. Epub 2005 Sep 26. Related Articles, Links


Science, politics, and the GM debate in Europe.

Tencalla F.

Monsanto Europe S.A., Avenue de Tervuren 270-272, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium. francesca.tencalla@monsanto.com

Europe today stands at a crossroad, facing challenges but also opportunities. In its intent to make Europe a leading technology-based economy by 2010, the European Commission has identified biotechnology and genomics as fields for future growth, crucial for supporting the agricultural and food processing industry. Since first commercialization in 1996, GM crop areas have grown at double-digit rates, making this one of the most rapidly adopted technologies in agriculture. However, in contrast to other world areas and despite European Commission support, Europe has found itself 'bogged-down' in a polemic between opponents and supporters of plant biotechnology. As a result, planted areas have remained small. This stalemate is due to a lack of political leadership, especially at the Member State level, all the more surprising in light of European early development and competitive advantage with crop biotechnology. This situation proves once again that, for cutting-edge innovations, a solid science base alone is not sufficient. Acceptance or rejection of new technologies depends on interlinked political, economic, and societal factors that create a favorable or unfavorable situation at a given time. This article will look at GM crops in Europe and the role science and politics have played in the introduction of crop biotechnology.

PMID: 16188360 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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124: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Aug;46(4):J223-7. Related Articles, Links


[Polymerase chain reaction technology for detection of unapproved genetically modified maize line (Bt10 line)]

[Article in Japanese]

Watanabe T.

National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16180689 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

125: New Sci. 2005 Jun 11-17;186(2503):21. Related Articles, Links


Making the world better?

Bruce D.

Science, Religion and Technology Project, Church of Scotland, UK.

PMID: 16178099 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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126: Anal Biochem. 2005 Nov 1;346(1):90-100. Epub 2005 Aug 25. Related Articles, Links


Multiplex polymerase chain reaction and ligation detection reaction/universal array technology for the traceability of genetically modified organisms in foods.

Peano C, Bordoni R, Gulli M, Mezzelani A, Samson MC, Bellis GD, Marmiroli N.

Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, Segrate, Milano 20090, Italy. clelia.peano@itb.cnr.it

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system was developed for the simultaneous detection of target sequences in genetically modified soybean (Roundup Ready) and maize (MON810, Bt176, Bt11, and GA21). Primer pairs were designed to amplify the junction regions of the transgenic constructs analyzed and the endogenous genes of soybean (lectin) and maize (zein) were included as internal control targets to assess the efficiency of all reactions. This multiplex PCR has constituted the basis for an efficient platform for genetically modified organism traceability based on microarray technology. In particular, the ligation detection reaction combined to a universal array approach, using the multiplex PCR as target, was applied. High specificity and sensitivity were obtained.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16169511 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

127: Appetite. 2005 Dec;45(3):242-9. Epub 2005 Sep 12. Related Articles, Links


Unpacking atitudes towards genetically modified food.

de Liver Y, van der Pligt J, Wigboldus D.

Social Psychology Program, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.n.deliver@uva.nl

The present study investigates the structure of attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) food. A total of 431 respondents completed a questionnaire measuring their overall attitude, cognition and affect towards GM food. A model with distinct positive and negative, affective and cognitive components and a separate factor for perceived risk and worry best accounted for the data. Negative--but not positive--components directly affected behavioural intentions. Implications of these findings for our understanding of attitudes towards GM food and their impact on behaviour are discussed.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16154663 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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128: World J Gastroenterol. 2005 Sep 14;11(34):5381-4. Related Articles, Links


Studies on BN rats model to determine the potential allergenicity of proteins from genetically modified foods.

Jia XD, Li N, Wu YN, Yang XG.

National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing 100050, China.

AIM: To develop a Brown Norway (BN) rat model to determine the potential allergenicity of novel proteins in genetically modified food. METHODS: The allergenicity of different proteins were compared, including ovalbumin (OVA), a potent respiratory and food allergen, bovine serum albumin (BSA), a protein that is considered to have a lesser allergenic potential, and potato acid phosphatase (PAP), a non-allergenic protein when administered to BN rats via different routes of exposure (intraperitoneally or by gavage). IgG and IgE antibody responses were determined by ELISA and PCA, respectively. An immunoassay kit was used to determine the plasma histamine level. In addition, possible systemic effect of allergens was investigated by monitoring blood pressure. RESULTS: OVA provoked very vigorous protein-specific IgG and IgE responses, low grade protein-specific IgG and IgE responses were elicited by BSA, while by neither route did PAP elicit anything. In either routes of exposure, plasma histamine level in BN rats sensitized with OVA was higher than that of BSA or PAP. In addition, an oral challenge with BSA and PAP did not induce any effect on blood pressure, while a temporary drop in systolic blood pressure in few animals of each routes of exposure was found by an oral challenge with OVA. CONCLUSION: BN rat model might be a useful and predictive animal model to study the potential allergenicity of novel food proteins.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16149151 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

129: Science. 2005 Sep 2;309(5740):1471. Related Articles, Links


European politics. Germany poised to elect first scientist-chancellor.

Vogel G.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 16141035 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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130: Allergy Asthma Proc. 2005 May-Jun;26(3):210-6. Related Articles, Links


Genetically modified and wild soybeans: an immunologic comparison.

Yum HY, Lee SY, Lee KE, Sohn MH, Kim KE.

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Pochon, Korea.

Most traits introduced into genetically engineered crops result from the expression of new proteins. As the first step toward assessing the allergenic potential of genetically modified organism (GMO) food, immunologic and physicochemical characterizations are needed. We prepared crude extract from GMO soybeans, wild soybeans, curd, and soy milk and then performed sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). After acidification with HCl, the samples were separated to globulin and whey. To evaluate changes in protein composition, either the samples were heated or pepsin was added. Polymerase chain reaction with primer encoding the 35S-promotor and the 3-enol-pyruvyl-shikimat-5-phosphat-synthase gene were performed, respectively, to detect the GMO component. SDS-PAGE results showed definite protein bands at 80 kDa in GMO soybean, 50 kDa in wild soybean, and a similar distribution of protein bands was noticed below 40 kDa. It was difficult to observe protein distribution because of modifications that occurred during processing in soybean-processed products. After heating, proteins of GMO and wild soybeans showed similar distributions and no distinct bands were detected at 50 and 80 kDa. Although SDS-PAGE analyses of raw GMO and wild soybeans differed, the same protein bands of 68, 37, and 20 kDa were observed in the globulin fraction after acidification. After adding pepsin, 20- and 68-kDa bands were found preserved in GMO and wild soybeans. The polymerase chain reaction procedures with primers specific to GMO soybeans showed that GMO soybeans and some curd samples included a GMO component. The skin test results of 49 patients showed 13 positive results to wild soybeans and 8 positive results to GMO soybeans. One patient had a positive skin test result to GMO soybeans only. Sera from nine patients with positive skin tests to the crude extract and a positive capsulated allergen product test to the soybean antigen were used for the immunoblotting of GMO and wild soybeans. GMO soybeans revealed a unique strong immunoglobulin E binding band at 25 kDa in some patients and wild soybeans showed a strong immunoglobulin E binding band at 30-36 kDa. To assess the allergenicity of GMO food, more research, including a selection of controlled sample materials and immunoassays of qualified sera, is needed.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16119037 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

131: Rev Sci Tech. 2005 Apr;24(1):231-42. Related Articles, Links


Traceability of biotech-derived animals: application of DNA technology.

Loftus R.

IdentiGEN Ltd, Unit 9, Trinity Enterprise Centre, Pearse Street, Dublin 02, Ireland.

Traceability is increasingly becoming standard across the agri-food industry, largely driven by recent food crises and the consequent demands for transparency within the food chain. This is leading to the development of a range of traceability concepts and technologies adapted to different industry needs. Experience with genetically modified plants has shown that traceability can play a role in increasing public confidence in biotechnology, and might similarly help allay concerns relating to the development of animal biotechnology. Traceability also forms an essential component of any risk management strategy and is a key requirement for post-marketing surveillance. Given the diversity of traceability concepts and technologies available, consideration needs to be given to the scope and precision of traceability systems for animal biotechnology. Experience to date has shown that conventional tagging and labelling systems can incorporate levels of error and may not have sufficient precision for biotech-derived animals. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology can overcome these difficulties by tracing animals and animal by-products through their DNA code rather than an associated label. This offers the possibility of tracing some by-products of animal biotechnology through the supply chain back to source animals, offering unprecedented levels of traceability. Developments in both DNA sampling and analysis technology are making large-scale applications of DNA traceability increasingly cost effective and feasible, and are likely to lead to a broader uptake of DNA traceability concepts.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16110891 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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132: Rev Sci Tech. 2005 Apr;24(1):149-57. Related Articles, Links


Public perceptions of transgenic animals.

Einsiedel EF.

Communication Studies Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.

The field of animal biotechnology has been rapidly expanding and the development of transgenic animals has been part of this research expansion. How the public perceives such developments is an important component of policy considerations. In general, biotechnology applications have been judged with evident hierarchies of acceptability. There appearto be hierarchies in terms of the type of organism being modified, the purpose of the application, the means to attain particular ends, and the nature of the benefits obtained. While general awareness of biotechnology and its specific applications remains low to moderate, this article presents data regarding public acceptance of a variety of applications. These range from the use of animals as disease models and as sources for tissues and organs, to the use of transgenic animals for disease control, for food, and for the production of pharmaceutical and industrial products. Case-by-case judgments are evident, but at the same time, the application of criteria such as the nature of the organism being modified, the animal welfare aspects and the ethical-moral concerns are additional criteria for public judgments. These findings are discussed in the context of their implications for public policy.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 16110885 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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133: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Aug 30;102(35):12338-43. Epub 2005 Aug 10. Related Articles, Links


Erratum in:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Dec 13;102(50):18242.

Comment in:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Sep 13;102(37):13003-4.

Absence of detectable transgenes in local landraces of maize in Oaxaca, Mexico (2003-2004).

Ortiz-Garcia S, Ezcurra E, Schoel B, Acevedo F, Soberon J, Snow AA.

Instituto Nacional de Ecologia, Secretaria del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Colonia Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Delegacion Coyoacan, 04530 Mexico D.F., Mexico.

In 2000, transgenes were detected in local maize varieties (landraces) in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico [Quist, D. & Chapela, I. H. (2001) Nature 414, 541-543]. This region is part of the Mesoamerican center of origin for maize (Zea mays L.), and the genetic diversity that is maintained in open-pollinated landraces is recognized as an important genetic resource of great cultural value. The presence of transgenes in landraces was significant because transgenic maize has never been approved for cultivation in Mexico. Here we provide a systematic survey of the frequency of transgenes in currently grown landraces. We sampled maize seeds from 870 plants in 125 fields and 18 localities in the state of Oaxaca during 2003 and 2004. We then screened 153,746 sampled seeds for the presence of two transgene elements from the 35S promoter of the cauliflower mosaic virus and the nopaline synthase gene (nopaline synthase terminator) from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. One or both of these transgene elements are present in all transgenic commercial varieties of maize. No transgenic sequences were detected with highly sensitive PCR-based markers, appropriate positive and negative controls, and duplicate samples for DNA extraction. We conclude that transgenic maize seeds were absent or extremely rare in the sampled fields. This study provides a much-needed preliminary baseline for understanding the biological, socioeconomic, and ethical implications of the inadvertent dispersal of transgenes from the United States and elsewhere to local landraces of maize in Mexico.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16093316 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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134: Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2005 Jul;117(13-14):437-9. Related Articles, Links


[In vitro tests for the determination of allergenic potency of "novel foods' and genetically modified organisms: relevance in vivo?]

[Article in German]

Jensen-Jarolim E, Untersmayr E.

Institut fur Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Medizinische Universitat Wien, Wien, Osterreich. erika. jensen-jarolim@meduniwien.ac.at

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16091867 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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135: Perspect Biol Med. 2005 Summer;48(3):328-43. Related Articles, Links


Ethical issues in animal cloning.

Fiester A.

University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. fiester@mail.med.upenn.edu

The issue of human reproductive cloning has recently received a great deal attention in public discourse. Bioethicists, policy makers, and the media have been quick to identify the key ethical issues involved in human reproductive cloning and to argue, almost unanimously, for an international ban on such attempts. Meanwhile, scientists have proceeded with extensive research agendas in the cloning of animals. Despite this research, there has been little public discussion of the ethical issues raised by animal cloning projects. Polling data show that the public is decidedly against the cloning of animals. To understand the public's reaction and fill the void of reasoned debate about the issue, we need to review the possible objections to animal cloning and assess the merits of the anti-animal cloning stance. Some objections to animal cloning (e.g., the impact of cloning on the population of unwanted animals) can be easily addressed, while others (e.g., the health of cloned animals) require more serious attention by the public and policy makers.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16085991 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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136: Food Chem Toxicol. 2006 Feb;44(2):147-60. Epub 2005 Aug 9. Related Articles, Links


Results of a 90-day safety assurance study with rats fed grain from corn rootworm-protected corn.

Hammond B, Lemen J, Dudek R, Ward D, Jiang C, Nemeth M, Burns J.

Monsanto Company, 800 North Lindbergh Blvd., St Louis, MO 63167, USA. bruce.g.hammond@monsanto.com

The results of a 90-day rat feeding study with YieldGard (YieldGard Rootworm Corn is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology, LLC.) Rootworm corn (MON 863) grain that is protected against feeding damage caused by corn rootworm larvae are presented. Corn rootworm-protection was accomplished through the introduction of a cry3Bb1 coding sequence into the corn genome for in planta production of a modified Cry3Bb1 protein from Bacillus thuringiensis. Grain from MON 863 and its near isogenic control were separately formulated into rodent diets at levels of 11% and 33% (w/w) by Purina Mills, Inc. Additionally, six groups of rats were fed diets containing grain from different conventional (non-biotechnology-derived) reference varieties. The responses of rats fed diets containing MON 863 were compared to those of rats fed grain from conventional corn varieties. All diets were nutritionally balanced and conformed to Purina Mills, Inc. specifications for Certified LabDiet 5002. There were a total of 400 rats in the study divided into 10 groups of 20 rats/sex/group. Overall health, body weight gain, food consumption, clinical pathology parameters (hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis), organ weights, gross and microscopic appearance of tissues were comparable between groups fed diets containing MON 863 and conventional corn varieties. This study complements extensive agronomic, compositional and farm animal feeding studies with MON 863 grain, confirming that it is as safe and nutritious as existing conventional corn varieties.

PMID: 16084637 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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137: Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2005 Sep;8(5):516-22. Related Articles, Links


A perspective on DNA microarray technology in food and nutritional science.

Kato H, Saito K, Kimura T.

Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. akatoq@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The functions of nutrients and other foods have been revealed at the level of gene regulation. The advent of DNA microarray technology has enabled us to analyze the body's response to these factors in a much more holistic manner than before. This review is intended to overview the present status of this DNA microarray technology, hoping to provide food and nutrition scientists, especially those who are planning to introduce this technology, with hints and suggestions. RECENT FINDINGS: The number of papers examining transcriptomics analysis in food and nutrition science has expanded over the last few years. The effects of some dietary conditions and administration of specific nutrients or food factors are studied in various animal models and cultured cells. The target food components range from macronutrients and micronutrients to other functional food factors. Such studies have already yielded fruitful results, which include discovery of novel functions of a food, uncovering hitherto unknown mechanisms of action, and analyses of food safety. SUMMARY: The potency of DNA microarray technology in food and nutrition science is broadly recognized. This technique will surely continue to provide researchers and the public with valuable information on the beneficial and adverse effects of food factors. It should also be acknowledged, however, that there remain problems such as standardization of the data and sharing of the results among researchers in this field.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16079622 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

138: Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Aug;113(8):A526-33. Related Articles, Links


Comment in:
Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Mar;114(3):A146-7.

Genetically modified foods: breeding uncertainty.

Schmidt CW.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 16079054 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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139: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Jun;46(3):J203-7. Related Articles, Links


[Consideration of detection method and identification for genetically modified foods]

[Article in Japanese]

Akiyama H, Matsuda R.

National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16042304 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

140: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Jun;46(3):J193-7. Related Articles, Links


[Standardization of the detection methods for genetically modified organisms in ISO]

[Article in Japanese]

Futo S.

FASMAC Co., Ltd.: 5-1-3, Midorigaoka, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0041, Japan.

PMID: 16042302 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

141: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Jun;46(3):79-85. Related Articles, Links


Detection of genetically modified organisms in foreign-made processed foods containing corn and potato.

Monma K, Araki R, Sagi N, Satoh M, Ichikawa H, Satoh K, Tobe T, Kamata K, Hino A, Saito K.

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health: 3-24-1, Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Investigations of the validity of labeling regarding genetically modified (GM) products were conducted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for foreign-made processed foods made from corn and potato purchased in the Tokyo area and in the USA. Several kinds of GM crops were detected in 12 of 32 samples of processed corn samples. More than two GM events for which safety reviews have been completed in Japan were simultaneously detected in 10 samples. GM events MON810 and Bt11 were most frequently detected in the samples by qualitative PCR methods. MON810 was detected in 11 of the 12 samples, and Bt11 was detected in 6 of the 12 samples. In addition, Roundup Ready soy was detected in one of the 12 samples. On the other hand, CBH351, for which the safety assessment was withdrawn in Japan, was not detected in any of the 12 samples. A trial quantitative analysis was performed on six of the GM maize qualitatively positive samples. The estimated amounts of GM maize in these samples ranged from 0.2 to 2.8%, except for one sample, which contained 24.1%. For this sample, the total amount found by event-specific quantitative analysis was 23.8%. Additionally, Roundup Ready soy was detected in one sample of 21 potato-processed foods, although GM potatoes were not detected in any sample.

PMID: 16042293 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

142: Nature. 2005 Jul 21;436(7049):328. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561.

Unlike climate science, GM is full of uncertainties.

Parr D.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 16034396 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

143: Nature. 2005 Jul 21;436(7049):328. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561.

Leave GM analysis to the relevant scientists.

Couvet D.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 16034395 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

144: Nutr Rev. 2005 Jun;63(6 Pt 1):210-23. Related Articles, Links


Science, law, and politics in FDA's genetically engineered foods policy: scientific concerns and uncertainties.

Pelletier DL.

Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 378 MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. dlp5@cornell.edu

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) 1992 policy statement granted genetically engineered foods presumptive GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status. Since then, divergent views have been expressed concerning the scientific support for this policy. This paper examines four sources to better understand the basis for these claims: 1) internal FDA correspondence; 2) reports from the National Academy of Sciences; 3) research funded by US Department of Agriculture from 1981 to 2002; and 4) FDA's proposed rules issued in 2001. These sources reveal that little research has been conducted on unintended compositional changes from genetic engineering. Profiling techniques now make this feasible, but the new debate centers on the functional meaning of compositional changes.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16028565 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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145: Genet Med. 2005 Jul-Aug;7(6):454-5. Related Articles, Links


Genetic testing, biotechnology, and GMOs: A snapshot of public opinion, 2003 through 2004.

Alford RL, Morris KE, Rives CM, Scherer SE, Weinstock G, Gibbs RA, Ghonima K, Belcher M, Valdes H, Sumners C, Law C, Reiff P.

Publication Types:
Letter
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

PMID: 16024979 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

146: Appetite. 2005 Aug;45(1):40-6. Related Articles, Links


Food and the relation between values and attitude characteristics.

Dreezens E, Martijn C, Tenbult P, Kok G, de Vries NK.

Department of Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. e.dreezens@psychology.unimaas.nl

This survey showed that the values power (dominance over nature and resources) and universalism (respect for people and for nature) are related to attitudes toward genetically modified food (GMF) and organically grown food (OGF). Furthermore, these values have an influence on the centrality, commitment and ambivalence of these attitudes. Values that are positively related to an attitude influence how central this attitude is to a person. However, values that are negatively related to an attitude have a larger effect on the commitment of this attitude. No such pattern of effects was found for the relationship between ambivalence and values. These data suggest that centrality, commitment, and ambivalence are structurally different constructs that have a distinct relationship with specific values.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16018906 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

147: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Apr;46(2):55-7. Related Articles, Links


[Study on positive control for GM papaya (55-1) detection method by GUS (beta-glucuronidase) assay]

[Article in Japanese]

Takahashi K, Horie M.

Saitama Institute of Public Health: 639-1 Kamiokubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama 338-0824, Japan.

A suitable positive control was investigated for histochemical assay (GUS-examining method) to detect genetically modified (GM) papaya (55-1), currently undergoing a safety assessment in Japan. Six different kinds of test papers were soaked with beta-glucuronidase solution and examined for GUS activity. The test papers made of nylon and glass fiber turned blue, and were stable for fifteen months at -20 degrees C. They are concluded to be useful as positive controls in the GUS-examining method for inspection of GM papaya (55-1).

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 16018592 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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148: Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2004 Oct-Dec;108(4):838-42. Related Articles, Links


[Genetically modified foods. Advantages and human health risks]

[Article in Romanian]

Filip L, Miere D, Indrei LL.

Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Iuliu Hatieganu Cluj-Napoca Facultatea de Farmacie, Disciplina de Chimie sanitara.

One of the most important issue with which the mankind is confronting now is related to the quantitatively as well as qualitatively assurance of the food supply necessary for human species existence. In this context, by means of genetic engineering, modified genetic organisms were obtained. In the first stage, plant crops with high productivity and resistant against diseases and pests were obtained. After that, food products having modified organoleptic properties and high nutrition values were produced. The main problem concerning the long-term consumption of these products is their toxicity, which until now was not confirmed or denied. For this reason, tests are necessary to be made in order to stipulate and prevent these effects.

Publication Types:
English Abstract
Review

PMID: 16004228 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

149: J AOAC Int. 2005 May-Jun;88(3):814-22. Related Articles, Links


Real-time polymerase chain reaction detection of cauliflower mosaic virus to complement the 35S screening assay for genetically modified organisms.

Cankar K, Ravnikar M, Zel J, Gruden K, Toplak N.

National Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Vecna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. katja.cankar@nib.si

Labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is now in place in many countries, including the European Union, in order to guarantee the consumer's choice between GM and non-GM products. Screening of samples is performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of regulatory sequences frequently introduced into genetically modified plants. Primers for the 35S promoter from Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) are those most frequently used. In virus-infected plants or in samples contaminated with plant material carrying the virus, false-positive results can consequently occur. A system for real-time PCR using a TaqMan minor groove binder probe was designed that allows recognition of virus coat protein in the sample, thus allowing differentiation between transgenic and virus-infected samples. We measured the efficiency of PCR amplification, limits of detection and quantification, range of linearity, and repeatability of the assay in order to assess the applicability of the assay for routine analysis. The specificity of the detection system was tested on various virus isolates and plant species. All 8 CaMV isolates were successfully amplified using the designed system. No cross-reactivity was detected with DNA from 3 isolates of the closely related Carnation etched ring virus. Primers do not amplify plant DNA from available genetically modified maize and soybean lines or from different species of Brassicaceae or Solanaceae that are natural hosts for CaMV. We evaluated the assay for different food matrixes by spiking CaMV DNA into DNA from food samples and have successfully amplified CaMV from all samples. The assay was tested on rapeseed samples from routine GMO testing that were positive in the 35S screening assay, and the presence of the virus was confirmed.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16001857 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

150: BMJ. 2005 Jul 2;331(7507):11. Related Articles, Links


Developing countries may not get benefits of GM food.

Brettingham M.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 15994680 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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151: J Environ Health. 2005 Jun;67(10):44-9. Related Articles, Links


Health professionals hold positive attitudes toward biotechnology and genetically engineered foods.

Schmidt J, Vickery CE, Cotugna NA, Snider OS.

Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Sudlersville, MD 21668, USA. jenhans@dmv.com

Few biotechnology processes have elicited the degree of controversy that genetic manipulation of food through recombinant DNA technology has. Research has shown that consumers turn to health professionals for answers to questions regarding health and nutrition. This study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of physicians (MDs/DOs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and registered dietitians (RDs) toward food biotechnology and genetic engineering (GE). Six hundred three-part, self-administered surveys were sent to health professionals holding active professional licenses. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance with Tukey's HSD and Scheffe's post hoc tests. Attitudes toward GE were positive. MDs held more positive attitudes than NPs or RDs (p = .000). MDs and NPs supported the use of GE to improve plant resistance to pests; RDs tended to support nutritional-improvement technology. All groups supported the use of GE to produce human medicines and the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling policy. No profession was more knowledgeable than another. Biotechnology holds the potential to positively affect human health. All health professionals can facilitate or diminish this process through their understanding of the technology and their ability to communicate effectively about the science and issues associated with biotechnology.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15991684 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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152: Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2005 Sep 1;207(2 Suppl):19-27. Related Articles, Links


What determines the acceptability of genetically modified food that can improve human nutrition?

Purchase IF.

University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.

It has been predicted that by 2025 there will be an annual shortfall of cereals for feeding the human population of 68.5 million tonnes. One possible solution is the use of genetically modified (GM) crops, which are already grown extensively (59 million ha of GM crops were planted in 2002) in the USA, South America, Africa and China. Nevertheless, there is considerable disagreement about the advisability of using such crops, particularly in Europe. Obviously, the safety of the food derived from the GM crops is a primary consideration. Safety assessment relies on establishing that the food is substantially equivalent to its non-GM counterpart and specific testing for allergenicity of proteins and toxicity of metabolites and the whole food. There appears to be international agreement on the principles of safety assessment. Safety to the environment is equally important, but will not be covered in this presentation. The public's perception of the risk of new technology is critical to its acceptance. Perception of risk, in turn, depends on the credibility of the source of the information and trust in the regulatory process. In many countries, the public appears to have lost its trust in the scientists and government dealing with GM food, making the acceptability of GM crops uncertain. Of equal importance are the socio-economic factors that impinge on the viability of GM produce. These include intellectual property protection, trade liberalisation (through subsidy and tariff barriers in developed countries) and the intensity of bio safety regulations. The socio-economic interests of developed and developing countries may diverge and may even be contradictory in any one country. Acceptance of GM crops will thus depend on detailed issues surrounding particular crops and economies.

PMID: 15982686 [PubMed - in process]

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153: Nutr Rev. 2005 May;63(5):171-81. Related Articles, Links


Science, law, and politics in the Food and Drug Administration's genetically engineered foods policy: FDA's 1992 policy statement.

Pelletier DL.

Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 378 MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. dlp5@cornell.edu

The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) 1992 policy statement was developed in the context of critical gaps in scientific knowledge concerning the compositional effects of genetic transformation and severe limitations in methods for safety testing. FDA acknowledged that pleiotropy and insertional mutagenesis may cause unintended changes, but it was unknown whether this happens to a greater extent in genetic engineering compared with traditional breeding. Moreover, the agency was not able to identify methods by which producers could screen for unintended allergens and toxicants. Despite these uncertainties, FDA granted genetically engineered foods the presumption of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and recommended that producers use voluntary consultations before marketing them.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 15971412 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

154: Sci Cult (Lond). 2002 Dec;11(4):459-79. Related Articles, Links


Selling the life sciences: promises of a better future in biotechnology advertisements.

Hellstein I.

Universiteit van Amsterdam, ASCoR (Amsterdam School of Communications Research), Kloveniersburgwal 48, NL-1012CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. hellsten@pscw.uva.nl

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15971365 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

155: Sci Cult (Lond). 2001 Dec;10(4):445-81. Related Articles, Links


Creating public alienation: expert cultures of risk and ethics on GMOs.

Wynne B.

CSEC, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1, UK. B.Wynne@Lancaster.ac.uk

PMID: 15971363 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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156: J Fish Dis. 2005 Jun;28(6):317-30. Related Articles, Links


An examination of the intestinal tract of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr fed different varieties of soy and maize.

Sanden M, Berntssen MH, Krogdahl A, Hemre GI, Bakke-McKellep AM.

National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), Bergen, Norway. monica.sanden@nifes.no

This study was conducted to investigate the long-term effects of feeding plant products from both traditional breeding and from biotechnology on intestinal somatic indices, histology and cell proliferation in first-feeding Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. (initial weight 0.21 +/- 0.02 g). A standard fishmeal diet (standard fishmeal) was formulated to contain fishmeal as the sole protein source and suprex maize as the main starch source. Six experimental diets were then developed: two in which some of the fishmeal was replaced with commercially available, genetically modified Roundup Ready full-fat soybean meal (GM-soy) or commercially available, non-GM full-fat soybean meal (nGM-soy) at a level of 12.5% of the total diet, and four diets in which the suprex maize was replaced with two lines of GM-maize (Dekalb 1; D1 and Pioneer 1; P1), both products of event MON810, and their half-sibling non-GM counterparts (Dekalb 2; D2 and Pioneer 2; P2), at a level of 12.1% of total diet. Each diet was fed to fish in triplicate tanks and the experiment lasted for 8 months, during which the fish reached a final weight of 101-116 g. There was no significant effect of diet on the intestinal indices, nor were histological changes observed in the pyloric caeca or mid intestine. In the distal intestine, one of nine sampled fish fed nGM-soy showed moderate changes, two of nine sampled fish fed GM-soy showed changes, one with moderate and one with severe changes, and two of nine fish fed nGM-maize D2 had moderate changes. Using a monoclonal antibody against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cell proliferative responses to the experimental diets were assessed. In fish fed both soy diets, a significantly higher (P < 0.05) cell proliferation response was observed in the distal intestine concomitant with an increased localization of PCNA positive cells along the whole distal intestinal folds. The PCNA response among the nGM-soy group was significantly higher compared with all the other diet groups. In contrast, for fish exposed to dietary maize (type D) compared with fish fed the standard fishmeal, the soy-diets (GM-soy and nGM-soy) and maize (type P), a significantly lower (P < 0.05) cell proliferation response was observed in the distal intestine. Results indicated that the GM plant products investigated in this study, at about 12% inclusion level, were as safe as commercially available non-GM products, at least in terms of their effect on indices and histological parameters of the Atlantic salmon intestinal tract.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study

PMID: 15960655 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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157: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3b):631-4. Related Articles, Links


Extraction and PCR analysis of soy DNA in chocolate.

Supli K, Gryson N, Messens K, De Loose M, Dewettinck K.

AgriFing, Centre for Applied Research and Services, Hogeschool Gent, Voskenslaan 270, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.

The manner in which to discriminate between genetically modified (GM) versus non-modified foodstuffs is based on the presence of newly introduced genes at the protein or DNA level. Current available methods are almost exclusively based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These methods consist of three steps: DNA isolation, amplification of the desired DNA fragment and visualisation of the obtained amplification products. The first and crucial step is the DNA isolation. In this study three different methods are described for the isolation of DNA from chocolate, two of which are commercial kits. The results indicate that both kits, in contrast with the non-commercial method, are suitable for the isolation of DNA from chocolate, provided that the adapted PCR conditions are applied.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15954670 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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158: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3b):469-72. Related Articles


Use of cloned DNA fragments as reference materials for event specific quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Taverniers I, Van Bockstaele E, De Loose M.

Department for Plant Genetics and Breeding, CLO-Gent, Caritasstraat 21, B-9090 Melle, Belgium.

For the quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in foods and feeds, real-time PCR is currently the most widely applied technique. To obtain a % of GMO, a GMO-specific target sequence is quantified relatively to a species-specific sequence. The correctness and reliability of the obtained quantitative results fully depend on the reference materials used as standards for setting up external calibration curves. We introduced a completely new type of standards for quantification of GMOs, based on cloned plasmid DNA solutions with well-known amounts of the sequences of interest, expressed as copy numbers. Moreover, the junction sequence between inserted DNA and plant DNA was used as 'unique identifier'. In this study, the model was applied for Roundup Ready soybean.

PMID: 15954640 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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159: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3b):435-6. Related Articles, Links


Improvement of sorghum transformation efficiency for increasing nutritional quality.

Chakraborty R, Jacobs M, Angenon G.

Laboratory of Plant Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Paadenstraat 65, B-1640 Genesius Rode, Belgium.

PMID: 15954630 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

160: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3b):417-24. Related Articles, Links


Refining of soy bean oil: detection of DNA.

Gryson N, Ronsse F, Messens K, De Loose M, Verleyen T, Dewettinck K.

AgriFing, Centre for Applied Research and Services, Hogeschool Gent, Voskenslaan 270, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15954627 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

161: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3a):31-7. Related Articles


Biotechnology and the consumer.

Debeuckelaere W.

Test-Aankoop, Hollandstraat 13, 1060 Brussel, Belgium.

PMID: 15954560 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

162: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(4):335-9. Related Articles


Consumers and GM food: a divergent relation.

Verdurme A.

Ghent University, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences Department of Agricultural Economics, Division of Agro-marketing, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Annelies.Verdurme@rug.ac.be

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15954315 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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163: Trends Biotechnol. 2005 Aug;23(8):386-7. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Trends Biotechnol. 2004 Mar;22(3):107-9.

Consumer acceptance of biotechnology and the role of second generation technologies in the USA and Europe.

Lusk JL, Rozan A.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 15953650 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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164: Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2005 Mar;34(2):244-8. Related Articles, Links


[Strategies for safety assessment of genetically modified crops: current and future development]

[Article in Chinese]

Zhuo Q, Yang XG.

National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.

Gene recombinant technologies supply agriculture product with great vitality. But the risk of genetically modified crops cannot be ignored. The international organizations such as WHO, FAO and OECD have reached common agreement: the safety of transgenic crops should be thoroughly evaluated based on "substantial equivalence"principle. The relevant strategies including: substantial equivalent analysis, toxic tests, protein allergenic study, nutritional assessment, etc. With the development of new technologies, the approaches of genomic, proteomics, metabolomics would be applied to detect the unintended effects. The EU recently adopted legislation on the cultivation GM crops requiring the post market surveillance for any unanticipated adverse effects in the long term. In conclusion, the strategies of the safety assessment of GM crop are very strict and likely development.

Publication Types:
English Abstract
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 15952675 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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165: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):153-66. Epub 2005 Jun 8. Related Articles, Links


Comment in:
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):151-2.

Assessing genetically modified crops to minimize the risk of increased food allergy: a review.

Goodman RE, Hefle SL, Taylor SL, van Ree R.

Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0955, USA. rgoodman2@unlnotes.unl.edu

The first genetically modified (GM) crops approved for food use (tomato and soybean) were evaluated for safety by the United States Food and Drug Administration prior to commercial production. Among other factors, those products and all additional GM crops that have been grown commercially have been evaluated for potential increases in allergenic properties using methods that are consistent with the current understanding of food allergens and knowledge regarding the prediction of allergenic activity. Although there have been refinements, the key aspects of the evaluation have not changed. The allergenic properties of the gene donor and the host (recipient) organisms are considered in determining the appropriate testing strategy. The amino acid sequence of the encoded protein is compared to all known allergens to determine whether the protein is a known allergen or is sufficiently similar to any known allergen to indicate an increased probability of allergic cross-reactivity. Stability of the protein in the presence of acid with the stomach protease pepsin is tested as a risk factor for food allergenicity. In vitro or in vivo human IgE binding are tested when appropriate, if the gene donor is an allergen or the sequence of the protein is similar to an allergen. Serum donors and skin test subjects are selected based on their proven allergic responses to the gene donor or to material containing the allergen that was matched in sequence. While some scientists and regulators have suggested using animal models, performing broadly targeted serum IgE testing or extensive pre- or post-market clinical tests, current evidence does not support these tests as being predictive or practical. Based on the evidence to date, the current assessment process has worked well to prevent the unintended introduction of allergens in commercial GM crops.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 15947471 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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166: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):151-2. Epub 2005 Jun 8. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):153-66.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):167-80.

Can we predict or avoid the allergenic potential of genetically modified organisms?

Obermeyer G, Ferreira F.

Publication Types:
Comment
Editorial

PMID: 15947470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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167: Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Nature. 2005 Apr 14;434(7035):807.

Ampicillin threat leads to wider transgene concern.

Azeez G.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 15931193 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

168: Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561. Related Articles, Links


Comment in:
Nature. 2005 Jul 21;436(7049):328.
Nature. 2005 Jul 21;436(7049):328.

Comment on:
Nature. 2005 Mar 31;434(7033):559.

Activists should accept mainstream view of GM.

Dennis DT.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 15931192 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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169: J Environ Manage. 2005 Aug;76(3):210-20. Related Articles, Links


Regulating insect resistance management: the case of non-Bt corn refuges in the US.

Bourguet D, Desquilbet M, Lemarie S.

Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations, UMR INRA/IRD/CIRAD/ENSA.M, Campus International de Baillarguet, CS 30 016, 34 988 Montferrier/Lez, France. bourguet@ensam.inra.fr

In this paper, we analyze the insect resistance management (IRM) plan put in place by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to delay the evolution of resistance to Bt corn in natural populations of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner. This IRM plan is the most impressive mandatory IRM system ever developed. It forms a coherent whole and includes mandatory refuges, actions to increase growers' compliance and a program for monitoring the evolution of resistance. However, our analysis suggests that two components of this IRM plan are not entirely satisfactory: growers' compliance and monitoring of the evolution of resistance. Moreover, the implementation of these two components of IRM has been required of the registrants, whose incentives for IRM are probably lower than the social optimum. Our analysis suggests that alternatives to the IRM plan currently in place could improve these two components.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 15922504 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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170: Lancet Infect Dis. 2005 Jun;5(6):330. Related Articles, Links


Scoring at the wrong end.

Dixon B.

dixonadams@blueyonder.co.uk

PMID: 15919619 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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171: Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2005 Mar-Apr;79(2):271-82. Related Articles, Links


[Genetically modified organisms: a new threat to food safety]

[Article in Spanish]

Spendeler L.

Amigos de la Tierra Espana, Madrid. transgenicos@tierra.org

This article analyzes all of the food safety-related aspects related to the use of genetically modified organisms into agriculture and food. A discussion is provided as to the uncertainties related to the insertion of foreign genes into organisms, providing examples of unforeseen, undesirable effects and of instabilities of the organisms thus artificially fabricated. Data is then provided from both official agencies as well as existing literature questioning the accuracy and reliability of the risk analyses as to these organisms being harmless to health and discusses the almost total lack of scientific studies analyzing the health safety/dangerousness of transgenic foods. Given all these unknowns, other factors must be taken into account, particularly genetic contamination of the non-genetically modified crops, which is now starting to become widespread in some parts of the world. Not being able of reversing the situation in the even of problems is irresponsible. Other major aspects are the impacts on the environment (such as insects building up resistances, the loss of biodiversity, the increase in chemical products employed) with indirect repercussions on health and/or future food production. Lastly, thoughts for discussion are added concerning food safety in terms of food availability and food sovereignty, given that the transgenic seed and related agrochemicals market is currently cornered by five large-scale transnational companies. The conclusion entails an analysis of biotechnological agriculture's contribution to sustainability.

Publication Types:
English Abstract
Review

PMID: 15913060 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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172: Appetite. 2005 Aug;45(1):47-50. Related Articles, Links


Perceived naturalness and acceptance of genetically modified food.

Tenbult P, de Vries NK, Dreezens E, Martijn C.

Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. p.tenbult@gvo.unimaas.nl

This study examines people's acceptance of genetically modified (GM) food. Results suggest that GM acceptance depends most on how natural the genetically modified product is perceived and not directly on how natural the non-GM product is seen. A GM product that is perceived as more natural is more likely to be accepted than a GM product that is perceived as less natural. The extent to which GM affects the perceived naturalness of a product partly depends on the kind of product.

PMID: 15896875 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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173: Kennedy Inst Ethics J. 2005 Mar;15(1):57-76. Related Articles, Links


Germ-line enhancement of humans and non-humans.

Loftis JR.

Department of Philosophy, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, USA.

The current difference in attitude toward germ-line enhancement in humans and nonhumans is unjustified. Society should be more cautious in modifying the genes of nonhumans and more bold in thinking about modifying our own genome. I identify four classes of arguments pertaining to germ-line enhancement: safety arguments, justice arguments, trust arguments, and naturalness arguments. The first three types are compelling, but do not distinguish between human and nonhuman cases. The final class of argument would justify a distinction between human and nonhuman germ-line enhancement; however, this type of argument fails and, therefore, the discrepancy in attitude toward human and nonhuman germ-line enhancement is unjustified.

PMID: 15881796 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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174: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Feb;46(1):J4-7. Related Articles, Links


Current status of regulation on GM food in Korea.

Park SH.

Korea Foof and Drug Administration: 5, Nokbun-dong, Eunpyung-gu, Seoul, Korea.

PMID: 15881254 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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175: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Feb;46(1):J1-3. Related Articles, Links


[The present condition and a view of the food inspection using the invader method]

[Article in Japanese]

Hanazawa R, Yamaguchi T.

BML Food Science, Inc.: 1491, Matoba, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama 350-1101, Japan.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 15881253 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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176: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Feb;46(1):21-7. Related Articles, Links


[Laboratory-performance study of the notified methods to detect genetically modified papaya (55-1)]

[Article in Japanese]

Kikuchi H, Watanabe T, Kasama K, Wakui C, Matsuki A, Akiyama H, Maitani T.

National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan.

To investigate important factors affecting the reliability of the analytical results, proficiency tests were attempted for the histochemical method (GUS method) and the qualitative PCR method (PCR method) to detect genetically modified papaya (55-1) in the Japanease official method. The test samples were distributed to twenty-three laboratories that participated in the study and were examined according to the protocol. All the data collected from participating laboratories were statistically analyzed. In the PCR method, one negative sample was detected as positive using detection primers in one laboratory, though the sample was negative when checked using confirmation primers. Contamination might have occurred in the step of the preparation of the PCR sample solution using detection primers. In the GUS method, all the test samples were identified as expected. Thus, all the laboratories reported correct results overall.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 15881251 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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177: Risk Anal. 2005 Apr;25(2):467-79. Related Articles, Links


Using surveys in public participation processes for risk decision making: the case of the 2003 British GM Nation? Public debate.

Pidgeon NF, Poortinga W, Rowe G, Jones TH, Walls J, O'Riordan T.

Centre for Environmental Risk, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. n.pidgeon@uea.ac.uk

This article takes as its case study the "GM Nation?" public debate, a major participation process on the commercialization of agricultural biotechnology, which occurred in Britain during the summer of 2003. We investigate possible self-selection biases in over 36,000 open questionnaire responses on the risks and benefits of genetically modified crops and food obtained during GM Nation? A comparison sample of equivalent responses from a statistically representative sample (n = 1,363) of the British general public obtained shortly after the conclusion of the debate is reported. This comparison shows that the GM Nation? open responses were indeed not fully representative of British "public opinion" regarding agricultural biotechnology. Rather, such opinion is not a unitary whole, but fragmented, with considerable ambivalence coexisting alongside outright opposition to GM agriculture. The methodological implications for multistage participation processes are discussed: in particular, the need to anticipate outcomes of complex design decisions, and to include representative public surveys as standard where measures of broader public attitudes to risk are an important objective.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15876218 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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178: Nature. 2005 May 5;435(7038):3. Related Articles, Links


Pesticide results help China edge transgenic rice towards market.

Cyranoski D.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 15874979 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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179: Trends Biotechnol. 2005 May;23(5):222-4. Related Articles, Links


Genetically modified organisms and the EU.

Jank B, Rath J, Spok A.

Publication Types:
Letter

PMID: 15865998 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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180: J AOAC Int. 2005 Mar-Apr;88(2):654-64. Related Articles, Links


Detection of genetically modified corn (Bt176) in spiked cow blood samples by polymerase chain reaction and immunoassay methods.

Petit L, Baraige F, Bertheau Y, Brunschwig P, Diolez A, Duhem K, Duplan MN, Fach P, Kobilinsky A, Lamart S, Schattner A, Martin P.

Agence Francaise de Securite Sanitaire des Aliments, Unite d'Etude Moleculaire des Contaminants Biologiques Alimentaires (EBA), 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France. l.petit@afssa.fr

The fate of DNA and protein transgenic sequences in products derived from animals fed transgenic crops has recently raised public interest. Sensitive molecular tests targeting the Bt176 genetic construct and the transgenic Cry1Ab protein were developed to determine whether plant sequences, especially transgenic sequences, are present in animal products. A protocol for total DNA extraction and purification from cow whole blood samples was first drawn up and assessed by spiking with known amounts of DNA from Bt176 maize. The limit of detection for transgenic sequences (35S promoter and Bt176-specific junction sequence) was determined by both the polymerase chain reaction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) and the 5'-nuclease PCR assay. Four additional PCR systems were built to substantiate the results. The first detects a mono-copy maize-specific sequence (ADH promoter). Two others target multi-copy sequences from plant nucleus (26S rRNA gene) and chloroplast (psaB gene). The last one, used as a positive control, targets a mono-copy animal sequence (alpha(s1)-casein gene). Both methods detected a minimum spiking at 25 copies of Bt176 maize/mL in 10 mL whole blood samples. The sandwich ELISA kit used detected down to 1 ng transgenic Cry1Ab protein/mL spiked whole blood.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15861534 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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181: Science. 2005 Apr 29;308(5722):688-90. Related Articles, Links


Comment in:
Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3.
Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3.
Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3.

Insect-resistant GM rice in farmers' fields: assessing productivity and health effects in China.

Huang J, Hu R, Rozelle S, Pray C.

Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resource Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jia 11, Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China. jkhuang.ccap@igsnrr.ac.cn

Although no country to date has released a major genetically modified (GM) food grain crop, China is on the threshold of commercializing GM rice. This paper studies two of the four GM varieties that are now in farm-level preproduction trials, the last step before commercialization. Farm surveys of randomly selected farm households that are cultivating the insect-resistant GM rice varieties, without the aid of experimental station technicians, demonstrate that when compared with households cultivating non-GM rice, small and poor farm households benefit from adopting GM rice by both higher crop yields and reduced use of pesticides, which also contribute to improved health.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15860626 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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182: J AOAC Int. 2005 Mar-Apr;88(2):536-46. Related Articles, Links


Characterization and event specific-detection by quantitative real-time PCR of T25 maize insert.

Collonnier C, Schattner A, Berthier G, Boyer F, Coue-Philippe G, Diolez A, Duplan MN, Fernandez S, Kebdani N, Kobilinsky A, Romaniuk M, de Beuckeleer M, de Loose M, Windels P, Bertheau Y.

Laboratoire de Methodologies de la Detection des OGM, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Route de Saint Cyr, Versailles, France.

T25 is one of the 4 maize transformation events from which commercial lines have so far been authorized in Europe. It was created by polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation using a construct bearing one copy of the synthetic pat gene associated with both promoter and terminator of the 35S ribosomal gene from cauliflower mosaic virus. In this article, we report the sequencing of the whole T25 insert and the characterization of its integration site by using a genome walking strategy. Our results confirmed that one intact copy of the initial construct had been integrated in the plant genome. They also revealed, at the 5' junction of the insert, the presence of a second truncated 35S promoter, probably resulting from rearrangements which may have occurred before or during integration of the plasmid DNA. The analysis of the junction fragments showed that the integration site of the insert presented high homologies with the Huck retrotransposon family. By using one primer annealing in the maize genome and the other in the 5' end of the integrated DNA, we developed a reliable event-specific detection system for T25 maize. To provide means to comply with the European regulation, a real-time PCR test was designed for specific quantitation of T25 event by using Taqman chemistry.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15859082 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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183: Genewatch. 2005 Jan-Feb;18(1):12-4, 18. Related Articles, Links


The genetic bill of rights: advancing a rights platform in biotechnology.

Krimksy S, Shorett P.

Council for Responsible Genetics (CRG) Board, USA.

PMID: 15838997 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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184: Nature. 2005 Apr 14;434(7035):807. Related Articles, Links


Comment in:
Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561.

Don't rely on Uncle Sam.

[No authors listed]

Publication Types:
Editorial

PMID: 15829921 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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185: J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Apr 20;53(8):3041-52. Related Articles, Links


Event-specific plasmid standards and real-time PCR methods for transgenic Bt11, Bt176, and GA21 maize and transgenic GT73 canola.

Taverniers I, Windels P, Vaitilingom M, Milcamps A, Van Bockstaele E, Van den Eede G, De Loose M.

Department for Plant Genetics and Breeding, Centre for Agricultural Research, Caritasstraat 21, B-9090 Melle, Belgium. i.taverniers@clo.fgov.be

Since the 18th of April 2004, two new regulations, EC/1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed products and EC/1830/2003 on traceability and labeling of GMOs, are in force in the EU. This new, comprehensive regulatory framework emphasizes the need of an adequate tracing system. Unique identifiers, such as the transgene genome junction region or a specific rearrangement within the transgene DNA, should form the basis of such a tracing system. In this study, we describe the development of event-specific tracing systems for transgenic maize lines Bt11, Bt176, and GA21 and for canola event GT73. Molecular characterization of the transgene loci enabled us to clone an event-specific sequence into a plasmid vector, to be used as a marker, and to develop line-specific primers. Primer specificity was tested through qualitative PCRs and dissociation curve analysis in SYBR Green I real-time PCRs. The primers were then combined with event-specific TaqMan probes in quantitative real-time PCRs. Calibration curves were set up both with genomic DNA samples and the newly synthesized plasmid DNA markers. It is shown that cloned plasmid GMO target sequences are perfectly suitable as unique identifiers and quantitative calibrators. Together with an event-specific primer pair and a highly specific TaqMan probe, the plasmid markers form crucial components of a unique and straighforward tracing system for Bt11, Bt176, and GA21 maize and GT73 canola events.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15826057 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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186: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Apr;23(4):403. Related Articles, Links


Monsanto branches out into fruits and vegetables.

Herrera S.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 15815653 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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187: Allergy. 2005 May;60(5):559-64. Related Articles, Links


Risks of allergic reactions to biotech proteins in foods: perception and reality.

Lehrer SB, Bannon GA.

Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.

In recent years, significant attention has been paid to the use of biotechnology to improve the quality and quantity of the food supply due in part to the projected growth in the world population, plus limited options available for increasing the amount of land under cultivation. Alterations in the food supply induced by classical breeding and selection methods typically involve the movement of large portions of genomic DNA between different plant varieties to obtain the desired trait. This is in contrast to techniques of genetic engineering which allows the selection and transfers specific genes from one species to another. The primary allergy risk to consumers from genetically modified crops may be placed into one of three categories. The first represents the highest risk to the allergic consumer is the transfer of known allergen or cross-reacting allergen into a food crop. The second category, representing an intermediate risk to the consumer, is the potential for replacing the endogenous allergenicity of a genetically-modified crop. The last category involves expression of novel proteins that may become allergens in man and generally represents a relatively low risk to the consumer, although this possibility has received attention of late. In order to mitigate the three categories of potential allergy risk associated with biotech crops, all genes introduced into food crops undergo a series of tests designed to determine if the biotech protein exhibits properties of known food allergens. The result of this risk assessment process to date is that no biotech proteins in foods have been documented to cause allergic reactions. These results indicate that the current assessment process is robust, although as science of allergy and allergens evolves, new information and new technology should help further the assessment process for potential allergenicity.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

PMID: 15813800 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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188: Nature. 2005 Mar 31;434(7033):548. Related Articles, Links


Stray seeds had antibiotic-resistance genes.

Macilwain C.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 15800583 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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189: Nature. 2005 Mar 24;434(7032):423. Related Articles, Links


US launches probe into sales of unapproved transgenic corn.

Macilwain C.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 15791213 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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190: Risk Anal. 2005 Feb;25(1):199-209. Related Articles, Links


Trust in risk regulation: cause or consequence of the acceptability of GM food?

Poortinga W, Pidgeon NF.

Centre for Environmental Risk, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. w.poortinga@uea.ac.uk

Although there is ample empirical evidence that trust in risk regulation is strongly related to the perception and acceptability of risk, it is less clear what the direction of this relationship is. This article explores the nature of the relationship, using three separate data sets on perceptions of genetically modified (GM) food among the British public. The article has two discrete but closely interrelated objectives. First, it compares two models of trust. More specifically, it investigates whether trust is the cause (causal chain account) or the consequence (associationist view) of the acceptability of GM food. Second, this study explores whether the affect heuristic can be applied to a wider number of risk-relevant concepts than just perceived risk and benefit. The results suggest that, rather than a determinant, trust is an expression or indicator of the acceptability of GM food. In addition, and as predicted, "affect" accounts for a large portion of the variance between perceived risk, perceived benefit, trust in risk regulation, and acceptability. Overall, the results support the associationist view that specific risk judgments are driven by more general evaluative judgments The implications of these results for risk communication and policy are discussed.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15787769 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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191: J Chromatogr A. 2005 Feb 11;1065(1):107-13. Related Articles, Links


Detection of processed genetically modified food using CIM monolithic columns for DNA isolation.

Jerman S, Podgornik A, Cankar K, Cadet N, Skrt M, Zel J, Raspor P.

Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, S-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The availability of sufficient quantities of DNA of adequate quality is crucial in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for genetically modified food detection. In this work, the suitability of anion-exchange CIM (Convective Interaction Media; BIA Separations, Ljubljana, Slovenia) monolithic columns for isolation of DNA from food was studied. Maize and its derivates corn meal and thermally pretreated corn meal were chosen as model food. Two commercially available CIM disk columns were tested: DEAE (diethylaminoethyl) and QA (quaternary amine). Preliminary separations were performed with standard solution of salmon DNA at different pH values and different NaCl concentrations in mobile phase. DEAE groups and pH 8 were chosen for further isolations of DNA from a complex matrix-food extract. The quality and quantity of isolated DNA were tested on agarose gel electrophoresis, with UV-scanning spectrophotometry, and by amplification with real-time PCR. DNA isolated in this way was of suitable quality for further PCR analyses. The described method is also applicable for DNA isolation from processed foods with decreased DNA content. Furthermore, it is more effective and less time-consuming in comparison with the existing proposed methods for isolation of DNA from plant-derived foods.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15782956 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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192: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2005;12(1):56. Related Articles, Links


Understanding Western Australian consumers' views: acceptance of food produced using gene technology. A case of herbicide tolerant canola (Brassica napus L.).

Baumann A, Osman M, Burton M, Lumley S.

School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia. eilif@gmx.net

PMID: 15768741 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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193: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Mar;23(3):283-5. Related Articles, Links


Erratum in:
Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Apr;23(4):488.

Clone on the range: What animal biotech is bringing to the table.

Dove AW.

Publication Types:
News

PMID: 15765075 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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194: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Mar;23(3):281. Related Articles, Links


Agbio keeps on growing.

Lawrence S.

PMID: 15765074 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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195: J AOAC Int. 2005 Jan-Feb;88(1):136-55. Related Articles, Links


Polymerase chain reaction technology as analytical tool in agricultural biotechnology.

Lipp M, Shillito R, Giroux R, Spiegelhalter F, Charlton S, Pinero D, Song P.

Monsanto Co., 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63167, USA. markus.lipp@monsanto.com

The agricultural biotechnology industry applies polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology at numerous points in product development. Commodity and food companies as well as third-party diagnostic testing companies also rely on PCR technology for a number of purposes. The primary use of the technology is to verify the presence or absence of genetically modified (GM) material in a product or to quantify the amount of GM material present in a product. This article describes the fundamental elements of PCR analysis and its application to the testing of grains. The document highlights the many areas to which attention must be paid in order to produce reliable test results. These include sample preparation, method validation, choice of appropriate reference materials, and biological and instrumental sources of error. The article also discusses issues related to the analysis of different matrixes and the effect they may have on the accuracy of the PCR analytical results.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15759736 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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196: Riv Biol. 2004 Aug-Dec;97(3):379-408. Related Articles, Links


Functional dynamics of living systems and genetic engineering.

Buiatti M.

Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, Firenze (Italy).

The discussion on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) has been centred mainly on the nature and effects on economy, human health, environment, of the few transgenic plant lines present in the market in the last eight years. On the contrary, the present paper starts with a discussion of some of the relevant changes in our basic knowledge of the structure and dynamics of living systems in the last twenty years. Contemporary Biology is then compared with what may be called the "modern paradigm" of life sciences on which present day GMO's are conceptually based. Technical, environmental, social and economic problems deriving from the unexpected, persistent prevalence of the old fashioned modern vision of life in the "spirit of time" will be thoroughly discussed with a particular attention to the virtualisation process of GMO's and the effects of the prevalence over economic, social, environmental reality of their symbolic values.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 15754592 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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197: J Agric Environ Ethics. 1999;11(3):197-217. Related Articles, Links


Ethical issues in livestock cloning.

Thompson PB.

Department of Philosophy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1360, USA. pault@purdue.edu

Although cloning may eventually become an important technology for livestock production, four ethical issues must be addressed before the practice becomes widespread. First, researchers must establish that the procedure is not detrimental to the health or well-being of affected animals. Second, animal research institutions should evaluate the net social benefits to livestock producers by weighing the benefits to producers against the opportunity cost of research capacity lost to biomedical projects. Third, scientists should consider the indirect effects of cloning research on the larger ethical issues surrounding human cloning. Finally, the market structure for products of cloned animals should protect individual choice, and should recognize that many individuals find the prospect of cloning (or consuming cloned animals) repugnant. Analysis of these four issues is complicated by spurious arguments alleging that cloning will have a negative impact on environment and genetic diversity.

PMID: 15719505 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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198: Eur J Histochem. 2004 Oct-Dec;48(4):448-54. Related Articles, Links


Ultrastructural analysis of testes from mice fed on genetically modified soybean.

Vecchio L, Cisterna B, Malatesta M, Martin TE, Biggiogera M.

We have considered the possible effects of a diet containing genetically modified (GM) soybean on mouse testis. This organ, in fact, is a well known bioindicator and it has already been utilized, for instance, to monitor pollution by heavy metals. In this preliminary study, we have focussed our attention on Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes by means of immunoelectron microscopy. Our results point out that the immunolabelling for Sm antigen, hnRNPs, SC35 and RNA Polymerase II is decreased in 2 and 5 month-old GM-fed mice, and is restored to normal at 8 months. In GM-fed mice of all ages considered, the number of perichromatin granules is higher and the nuclear pore density lower. Moreover, we found enlargements in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in GM-fed mice Sertoli cells. A possible role played by traces of the herbicide to which the soybean is resistant is discussed.

Publication Types:
Letter
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15718213 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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199: McGeorge Law Rev. 2000 Fall;32(1):89-110. Related Articles, Links


Biotechnology and the creation of ethics.

Coletta RR.

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, USA.

PMID: 15709268 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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200: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Feb;23(2):170. Related Articles, Links


Comment on:
Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Dec;22(12):1503-5.

Pharmacrops and bioterror.

Wuerthele S.

Publication Types:
Comment
Letter

PMID: 15696140 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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