GMW: Hidden genetic engineering

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GMW: Hidden genetic engineering

" GM WATCH " <info

Fri, 26 Aug 2005 12:09:59 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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New Zealand genetic engineer Tony Conner claims to have developed a new

genetic engineering technique which by using vectors based on the DNA

of the target crop does not involve the transfer of foreign DNA (such as

the widely used Cauliflower Mosaic Virus).

 

Conner claims that plants produced using this technique " are, by

definition, not transgenic " , despite the fact that they have been

genetically

engineered. He says this would, in the case of some countries, move

them outside the regulations intended to control the release of GM plants

and that " this means the compliance costs involved in gaining approval

for commercial use are minimised. " he also says it would make them hard

to detect as GM plants.

 

But as former genetic engineer, Dr Elvira Dommisse, points out in her

response below, Conner's attempt to dodge the consequences of the GM

definition does not get round key safety issues arising from genetic

engineering.

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Widely used, but transgenic science still up for debate

RURAL NEWS, 23 Aug 05, p. 24

 

Dear Editor

 

In the article " New technique challenges GM definition " (12 July) Conner says " We're only using genes which are already available to

traditional plant breeders. But we can transfer those genes

responsible for

a particular characteristic into a new plant very precisely, in one

step. "

 

Firstly, the genes are not " precisely " transferred, ending up anywhere

in the recipient plant's DNA. Secondly, the insertion of these genes

is not problem-free.

 

Researchers (1) have documented that a large fraction of even

apparently simple (trans)gene insertion events result in large-scale DNA

rearrangement or deletion and superfluous DNA insertion (2). This

occurs when

transgenic DNA is inserted into plant cell DNA using the bacterial

vector Agrobacterium.

 

These authors (1) speculate that widespread use of transgenic crops

carrying insertion-site mutations of this magnitude could lead to harmful

consequences. Mutations such as these would almost certainly pass

unnoticed through both the molecular and phenotypic characterization

stages

of the current regulatory systems of both the EU and the US.

 

These scientists are but some of many whose concerns about GM

techniques have been aired. Not all scientists share Tony Conner's

enthusiasm.

 

He also says, " It is difficult to test for GM in these plants because

all the genetic (DNA) material is already there. So it compromises the

concept of GM testing. "

 

How then does he determine that his potatoes have in fact been

genetically modified?

 

Yours sincerely

Elvira Dommisse (Dr)

 

1. Wilson, A., Latham, J. & Steinbrecher, R. Genome Scrambling-Myth or

Reality? Transformation-induced Mutations in Transgenic Crop Plants.

(Econexus, Brighton, UK, 2004). http://www.econexus.info

 

2. Forsbach, A., Schubert, D., Lechtenberg, B., Gils, M. & Schmidt, R.

Plant Mol. Biol. 52, 161-176 (2003).

 

 

 

 

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