“After this year we will know whether cleistogamic oilseed rape is a suitable method for the biological containment of foreign genes.”

A flowering oilseed rape field near Braunschweig: While one half of the field glows bright yellow, the other half looks somewhat paler. This h… more

"The phenomenon is as old as crop protection itself"

In spring 2010 there were a number of reports of secondary pests in Bt plants. The Western bean cutworm is reported to be spreading in the USA… more

Schavan: “Applying all research methods for safeguarding world food – also gene technology”

For the third time, the Federal Minister for Research, Annette Schavan held a round table discussion on plant genetics in Berlin. This time… more

Producing a Bt protein standard and optimising detection methods

(2008 – 2011) Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum (DLR) Rheinpfalz, Department of Phytomedicine, 67435 Neustadt an der Weinstraße more

EU makes decision on approval, countries on cultivation

The EU Commission has apparently finalised the long-awaited new regulations for approval and cultivation of genetically modified plants. On… more

Release of genetically modified eucalyptus approved

USDA approves environmental release of 200,000 genetically modified eucalyptus trees in seven states. Gene constructs for male sterility, c… more

Long-term study: Cultivation of Bt maize does not affect earthworms

Earthworms are not affected by genetically modified Bt maize even after several years of cultivation. In a 4-year study, ecologists from the U… more

Maize litter and micro-organisms

It is the middle of April and there is stubble as far as the eye can see. There are still a few weeks left until the next crop of maize will b… more

"The impact of transgenes is basically limited to their immediate function"

It is often maintained that genetic interventions may have unintended consequences for the metabolism of modified plants and by implication… more

USA: Genetically modified plants have the potential to reduce ecological damage

The cultivation of genetically modified plants in the USA benefits both farmers and the environment. However, these advantages do not alway… more

Resistant pests found in India

Scientists working in the Indian state of Gujarat have discovered resistant pests in Bt cotton fields. Indian experts are now calling for m… more

Genetically modified wheat: No influence on insect larvae and aphids

Two projects of the Swiss National Research Program “Benefits and Risks of the deliberate release of Genetically Modified Plants̶… more

Using a soil bacterium as a gene transporter

For twenty years now people have been using Agrobacteria to transport new genes into plant cells. Although the procedure is now routine, th… more

Targeted insertion of genes in the plant genome

Simple in theory, difficult in practice: Gene targeting can be used to selectively switch off, modify or replace genes. Targeted insertion of … more

Weeds and pests

Yellow fields in the spring are a tell-tale sign: More and more farmers in Germany are turning to oilseed rape. In the last twenty years the a… more

Controlled gene excision

Recombination systems using bacteria and yeasts are being used successfully to remove marker genes from the genome of transgenic plants. They … more

New traits in woody plants

Quickly growing trees with high yields, trees with less lignin for simpler production of paper, apples that are resistant against the dangerou… more

Agrobacteria - Transfer of genetic information to other bacteria?

In order to insert new genes into plant cells, the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used as a ‘gene ferry’.… more

gmo-safety.eu - Biological safety research in Germany

The Internet portal gmo-safety.eu provides up-to-date clear and intelligible information about current and past biosafety research into geneti… more

Cooking oil, animal feed, biodiesel

Rapeseed is a relatively new crop plant. Until a few years ago the oil pressed from the seeds was not edible. That has changed in the meantime… more