Focus

Marker genes: A health risk?

On 2 March 2010 the EU Commission reached the decision to allow the cultivation of the genetically modified potato Amflora. This is the first GM plant since 1998 that has received approval for cultivation in the EU – and correspondingly public discussion is intense. It is argued that Amflora represents a health risk. The antibiotic-genetic markers could be taken up by pathogens. The result: the antibiotics would become ineffective. However, that is a rather theoretical scenario. Although many research projects have focussed on this question, as yet no horizontal gene transfer (the transfer of plant genes to bacteria) has been detected under natural conditions.

• New EFSA report: Adverse effects from marker genes "unlikely" (News 13 June 2009)
• Do bacteria take up plant genes? Current understanding
• Focus: Horizontal gene transfer

Mais

Bt maize and butterflies and moths

At RWTH Aachen University, Mechthild Schuppener has succeeded in setting up a breeding programme for the small tortoiseshell butterfly. She needs small caterpillars for feeding studies that she is conducting in the laboratory. She wants to find out whether genetically modified Bt maize is harmful to butterflies.

• Bt maize: Pollen diet for caterpillars

Debate

Feed the world: With or without genetic engineering?

From 16 to 18 November, Rome hosted the World Food Summit, a gathering of heads of governments and NGOs organised by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). In 2009 the number of starving and malnourished people in the world rose to over a billion. Can plant biotechnology play a role in reducing hunger and poverty? GMO Safety asked two experts.

• Feed the world: With or without genetic engineering?
• "There are various organic farming techniques which can get us a lot further than genetic engineering" Interview with Hans Herren
• "With Bt cotton, and even with Bt maize, we have seen yield increases of 30 to 40 per cent in developing countries." Interview with Matin Qaim

Bt maize: Biosafety research results 2005-2008

Between 2005 and 2008, a large number of biosafety research projects investigated the ecological impacts of genetically modified MON88017 Bt maize, which has a new gene that makes it resistant to the Western corn rootworm. The research findings are now available. GMO Safety spoke to Stefan Rauschen of RWTH Aachen University.

• "Looking at all the results, we can assume that cultivation of this maize does not pose a problem." Interview with Stefan Rauschen (RWTH Aachen University)

Science live

Bt-maize: Bee trials 

The maize test area in the middle of August. Gauze-covered tents, distributed over the whole maize test area, represent the restricted habitat for the bees during the maize flowering season, each with two bee colonies. This flowering season is the crucial time for the bee trials of Stephan Härtel and his co-workers from the University of Bayreuth, since only then can the bees gather the maize pollen.

• "We are looking at how bee colonies that can gather pollen from only one type of maize develop."

Science live

Bt maize: How does Bt protein behave in the soil?

On the maize research field: Scientists from the University of Göttingen are digging up a soil profile. As part of the maize research group they are responsible for characterising the soil on the trial fields. They are also investigating in the laboratory how much Bt protein the soil can bind and whether the Bt protein can move to lower soil layers.

• Science live: Binding sites and soil horizons. How does Bt protein behave in the soil?