Genetically Engineered Crop Gene Found for First Time in Human Digestive System

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Genetically Engineered Crop Gene Found for First Time in Bacteria in

Human Digestive System Concerns About Antibiotic Resistance Raised

http://www.commondreams.org/news2002/0717-03.htm

 

WASHINGTON - July 17 - New evidence from British scientists

raises serious questions about the safety of genetically engineered

foods. A study published by the British Food Safety Standards Agency

(FAS) showed for the first time that a gene inserted in a

genetically engineered crop has found its way into bacteria in the

human gut. Many engineered crops have antibiotic resistance marker

genes inserted in them, and there are fears that if material from

these marker genes passes into humans, people's ability to fight

infections may be reduced.

 

Researchers fed a single meal of a hamburger and a milk shake

that both contained genetically engineered soy to study

participants. According to the FSA gene uptake study,

entitled " Evaluating the Risks Associated with Using GMOs in Human

Foods " (pp. 22-

27,http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/science/sciencetopics/gmfoods/gm_r

eports), an herbicide resistance gene from a Roundup Ready variety

of engineered soy was found by researchers in bacteria from the

small intestines of three out of seven study participants (pg. 24).

 

Adrian Bebb, GM food campaigner for Friends of the Earth UK said,

" This research should set alarm bells ringing. Industry scientists

and government advisors have always played down the risk of this

ever happening, but the first time they looked for it they found

it. "

 

The biotech industry has long maintained that DNA is destroyed

during digestion and that there are barriers to incorporation of

genetically engineered crop genes by bacteria. According to a March

4, 2001 news release by the multi-million dollar biotech lobbying

initiative called the Council for Biotechnology Information, " the

DNA contained in food -- including the antibiotic- resistance gene --

is broken down in the human gut during the digestive process. "

(http:// www.whybiotech.com/index.asp?trackid=7 & id=1726#1726).

However, these assertions crumbled under the FSA findings, which

showed that engineered crop genes can survive digestion long enough

to be incorporated by bacteria.

 

The new evidence raises safety concerns for people eating

genetically engineered foods. In particular, if antibiotic

resistance genes used in some varieties of engineered crops are

being picked up by bacteria in the intestines of people eating

engineered foods, this could increase bacterial resistance to life-

saving antibiotics.

 

According to Michael Antoniou, a senior lecturer in molecular

genetics at King's College Medical School in London, the

study " suggests that you can get antibiotic marker genes spreading

amongst the bacterial population within the intestine which could

compromise future antibiotic use. They have shown that this can

happen even at very low levels after just one meal. "

 

Given the research results, Friends of the Earth is calling for

the immediate withdrawal of genetically engineered crops containing

antibiotic resistance markers from the market. The organization also

calls for further research into the effects of gene transfer to

bacteria.

 

In May 1999, the British Medical Association also called for a

ban of crops with antibiotic resistance marker genes stating, " There

should be a ban on the use of antibiotic resistance marker genes in

GM food, as the risk to human health from antibiotic resistance

developing in micro-organisms is one of the major public health

threats that will be faced in the 21st Century. "

 

And from the Food Standard people:

http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/science/sciencetopics/gmfoods/gm_repo

rts

 

 

'Extremely low' risk of GM transfer Thursday, 11 July 2002

 

A series of FSA research projects have concluded that it is

extremely unlikely that genes from genetically modified (GM) food

can end up in bacteria in the gut of people who eat them.

 

The Agency's independent advisers on genetically modified foods

had expressed concern about the presence of a particular gene (an

antibiotic resistance marker) in GM maize approved for consumption

by the European Community. This led the Agency to commission five

related research projects to investigate the transfer and survival

of DNA - the fundamental genetic material of all living things - in

the bacteria of the human gut.

 

The most recently completed study - which will be published in a

scientific journal later this year - shows that in real-life

conditions with human volunteers, no GM material survived the

passage through the entire human digestive tract. Although some DNA

survived in laboratory-created environments that simulated human or

animal gastrointestinal tracts, the research concluded that the

likelihood of functioning DNA being taken up by bacteria in the

human or animal gut is extremely low.

 

Much of the work from the first four research projects has

already been published in respected scientific journals. All five

reports, including the study involving human volunteers, can be

accessed via the links below. [see above link]

 

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