News – GMO SAFETY

THE CONTROVERSY WITH TRANSGENIC CORN CONTINUES

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s controversial ban on transgenic corn has Mexico and the United States on the brink of confrontation. The measure, approved at the end of 2020, can cause great economic losses for both countries, and is viewed with suspicion by farmers on both sides of the border.

The decree against transgenic corn, that is, genetically modified, is intended to supposedly protect the population against agrochemicals, as well as preserve native corn. While environmental organizations have congratulated the measure, it could have big repercussions not only for the increase in production costs, but also for relations between the United States and Mexico.

Although Mexico grows its own white corn (destined for human consumption), the Aztec country is the main importer of US corn, especially yellow corn destined for animal fodder to cover at least three quarters. In 2021, it bought 16.8 million tons from the US. However, if the measure only includes corn for human consumption, what is the controversy?

THE UNITED STATES COULD TAKE ACTION AGAINST MEXICO

The problem is that the legislation is vague, and it is not clear whether or not it will affect imports from the United States. President López Obrador held a meeting with US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and is expected to send a proposal to clarify the matter.

However, the secretary assured that if an agreement is not reached, the US could explore going to trade consultations under the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (TMEC), since it perceives a violation of the treaty. Among the consequences that this could bring is the imposition of tariffs on Mexican exports, in the event of ruling against it.

Although Mexico is willing to soften the measure, environmental organizations ask the government not to give in to pressure from the White House. For their part, in the United States they assure that this prohibition does not comply with the requirement that health regulations be made under relevant scientific principles.

ARE GMO FOODS DANGEROUS OR NOT?

Generally speaking, there is no convincing scientific evidence that GM foods are harmful to human health. The vast majority of scientific studies suggest that genetically modified foods are safe, and organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) do not oppose them.

However, some people have concerns about the potential long-term effects of consuming GM foods, especially in terms of allergies and antibiotic resistance xxx gratuit. In addition, some groups argue that GM crops can have negative effects on the environment and biodiversity, such as increased resistance to pesticides, cross-pollination between species, or negatively impact soil quality.

According to the National Agricultural Council of Mexico, the use of transgenic corn has not registered any negative effect. For now, the economic consequences of a ban are more certain.

Among them is an increase in the price of non-transgenic corn by almost 50%, according to a study by the consultancy World Perspectives. Likewise, the production of meat and chicken would also be affected by the increase in the cost of fodder, which would lead to more inflation in Mexico.

For its part, the United States could lose up to 3,560 million in the first year alone, while it would affect thousands of jobs and the economy of the grain-producing states, especially Iowa. Even so, associations such as Greenpeace consider that this could encourage the creation of a market for non-transgenic corn.

All about the Vegetable Vaccine against Covid

Researchers at Medicago (a biotechnology company) in Quebec, collaborating with GlaxoSmithKline (a leading drug manufacturer), have developed a plant-based vaccine for Covid-19. The vaccine branded Covifenz is quite promising, with trial participants exhibiting a robust antibody response after getting the jab. The immune response is about ten times above that observed in individuals recuperating from the natural disease. The antibody levels are also higher than are those induced by other current vaccines.

How it Works

Researchers must identify a method to produce antigens to develop a vaccine. Antigens are the molecular particles that induce an immune reaction in the body. In plant-based vaccines, plants serve as bioreactors for the production of antigens. A suitable plant candidate for vaccine development must exhibit susceptibility to infections by an array of pathogens porno. For the development of covifenz, Nicotiana benthamonia, a plant related to the tobacco plant, was the ideal plant. Researchers modify the plant to produce virus-like particles (VPLs), which serve as the antigen.

The process begins by inserting the genetic code for making the VLPs into the plant. The code is like an instruction manual to the plant. Next, The plant cells read the code and use the information to produce large amounts of VLPs. The VLPs are very complex molecular structures that closely resemble the virus that causes the covid-19; they mimic the organization and size of the virus. However, VLPs lack genetic information and are therefore not virulent – unlike the virus, VLPs cannot replicate or cause disease. Once injected into the body system, the VLPs trick the body’s immune defenses into action. The next step involves the purification of the VLPs.

Vegetable Vaccine against Covid

Aside from VLPs, the covifenz vaccine contains another key ingredient, an adjuvant produced by GSK GlaxoSmithKline. Adjuvants are essential in some but not all vaccines, and they strengthen the immune response. The inclusion of adjuvants is necessary, especially during a pandemic, because it boosts the immune response and reduces the quantity of antigen needed in a dose. This allows for the production of more vaccine doses to protect a larger population.

The Effectiveness of Plant-Based Vaccines

During its third phase of trials, covifenz (currently the only plant-based vaccine against covid-19) showed a general efficacy rate of 71 percent. According to researchers, virus-like proteins retain their structure as the blood transports them through the body. Other vaccines’ active molecules – spike proteins – quickly disperse in the bloodstream. Since VLP’s are delivered as a whole – resembling the virus – they elicit a more robust immune reaction. This could explain the excellent performance of the vaccine in different environments. The plant-based vaccine is 75.3 percent effective against the current dominant Delta strain and about 89 percent effective against the Gamma strain.

Advantages of Plants for Vaccine Production

Plants are ideal for vaccine development because they yield high amounts of VLPs. It is also cheaper to produce vaccines using plants than other methods. Plant-based vaccines take a shorter time to make than conventional vaccine production methods. For example, the production of plant-based flu vaccine takes between five and six weeks. The same vaccine takes five to six months using the egg-based vaccine production method.

MIT Scientists Create GMO Biofuel

A team of researchers from MIT have managed to find a solution for the production of genetically modified biofuel which can be mass distributed in the future, lowering the cost of the biofuel available in the market today. The process of deriving biofuels from plants and bio waste can be lengthy and the fermentation is often tainted by unwanted microbes if not done in completely sterile and secure environment. What makes this discovery so astonishing is the fact that they have managed to grow modified microorganisms and generate biofuel from them quickly and efficiently. Therefore, this method of production vastly lowers the environmental issues involved in the current production of biofuel.

The MIT research team is supported by Novogy, which is a startup company that will take over the patent once the formula is perfected and the product passes the final tests. The scientists managed to create genetically modified microbes that use phosphorus and nitrogen, both essential for the production of biofuel. They are the foundation of this sort of fuel and are crucial for the final product porno.

Biofuel and the benefits

The typical way of creating biofuel includes fermentation and a lot of outside factors that take a lot of time. Therefore, biofuel is very expensive and the majority of population cannot afford it right now. However, this new method of generating biofuel by using genetically modified microorganisms will lower both the price of production and the final product.

The team of researchers at MIT created special strains of microorganisms that are capable of using nitrogen and phosphorous from various sources, such as genetically modified Escherichia coli bacteria that uses melamine in order to produce high levels of nitrogen within itself. They also created Yarrowia lipolytica, a strain of yeast capable of using potassium phosphate to generate phosphorus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae that has the ability to get nitrogen by breaking down cyanimide into urea. All of these microorganisms are found in nature but their abilities to absorb the chemicals from other sources cannot even come close to these strains created at MIT’s laboratories.

Biofuel is important because it does not emit greenhouse gasses like fossil fuel. Using it regularly would make a huge difference in saving the environment and reducing the pollution. Biofuel is derived from plants and agricultural waste and that process can get a bit costly for the manufacturers. The results are not always satisfactory due to the possible microbes that might invade the process of fermentation. By genetically modifying the strains, scientists are making them more resistant to the microbes and therefore securing the positive outcome.

Novology who is behind this project hopes to make a difference in fuel production and once they test out the process and the efficiency of the genetically modifies biofuel, they plan to license the patent and pass it out to bigger fuel companies who have the ability to mass produce this fuel. It would revolutionize the production and the availability of biofuels to the public, as well as prove the critics how useful genetic engineering can be for improving our daily lives.

Healthier GM Potato Hits the Shelves

Simplot, a large food company from Idaho announced that they will begin with mass production of healthier genetically modified potato that is resistant to bruising. They spent more than a decade developing and perfecting this new sort of potato that will reduce the food waste and carry more healthy fats which might be appealing to the health conscious people who are interested in getting the right micro nutrients from their meals.

Besides the obvious changes in the appearance of the genetically modified potatoes who are bruise resistant, Simplot also developed a non-browning apple. They managed to do so by applying the so-called gene silencing technology that is a new way of genetically modifying various fruits and vegetables. The scientists extract certain genes from already cultivated products and they put them in the fruits or vegetables they are trying to improve. The extracted genes mute the ones that are already existing in a said product and modify the genetic sequence that is the cause of bruising, browning, etc.

Gene silencing is not a standard way of modifying the fruits and vegetables because no foreign genes are introduced, so this might be one of the new methods of biotechnology that will bring changes to the production in the future. Plus, gene silencing will activate numerous other processes in a crop that was treated with this method.

So what makes this potato healthier than the others? The gene silencing method modifies the acrylamide production in the said plant as well. Acrylamide is released during frying and it adds unnecessary carbohydrates to a potato. As you already know, excessive consumption of carbohydrates can lead to obesity and that is one of the main causes of health problems in the United States. As a matter of fact, numerous foods release larger quantities of carbohydrates during cooking, frying, or deep frying xxx.

Another concern is that a couple of unofficial studies have shown that acrylamide can be cancerous. Even though there is no concrete proof and further investigation should be done in order to determine the validity of these findings, numerous people started avoiding potatoes due to the fact that it produces this chemical when it is deep fried. However, Simplot’s potatoes are completely safe since it has very low amounts of acrylamide even after it has been cooked at very high temperatures.

On the other hand, we know for sure that acrylamide is a neurotoxin and that it is not harmful in low doses. It is released during frying but it cannot leave any permanent damage to human health even if you work in a restaurant and you are exposed to it on a daily basis. So if you still have any concerns about this chemical, using Simplot’s potato in your diet might be the way to go.

Simplot really did their best to develop this sort of potato and their efforts have been met with fairly positive feedback from the scientific community. However, it might not be as successful with the consumers because people are still concerned about the genetically modified foods and have reservations about buying the products that are being marketed as altered fruits and vegetables.

Trial Run: The Success of Bt Corn in Kenya

Corn is one of the staple products in Africa. It gained popularity due to the fact it can be cultivated everywhere and in every possible temperature. Surely, the conditions in Africa are difficult and droughts are common but there are other issues that are causing a lot of trouble for the local farmers.

A couple of species of stem borers are known for attacking corn that is cultivated in Africa. This is a huge problem because thousands and thousands of people are relying on these plants as the source of food. Luckily, Bt corn did show great results in standing up to these pests and managing to thrive perfectly.

The research

A study that examined three harvest seasons in Kenya was released this month in the journal called Crop Protection. The scientists analyzed the produce to the smallest details, measuring both the number of successful crops, as well as the damage that was made by stem borers. This research included eighteen different sorts of crops and they were put to test at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization. The examined corn ranged from the high-quality GMO hybrids, to local corn species that were not treated with Bt.

So over the course of three planting seasons, scientists measured the damage that was done to all planted crops as well as the general productivity. It was clear that the first planting season was an overall success with all crop variations. However, the number of healthy products did reduce in the second and third season. It was also evident that Bt corn hybrids yielded more produce than any other planted crop. Mon810 hybrids came in second place, while the non GMO corn gave the least amount of usable corn.

Bt and Mon810 corn hybrids performed really well against pests and they were able to keep all species of stem borers away. Since Bt corn is resistant to these pests “from the inside”, there is no need for farmers to spend their funds on various chemicals in order to treat the outside of their crops. Therefore, Bt corn has a huge impact on the economy, and it can be an excellent source of affordable food to the entire region.

Conclusion

Even though GMO seeds are not widespread in Africa, it is clear that the countries that have implemented the new technology into their agriculture are generally more successful. South Africa is the leading force in producing GMO corn and the surrounding countries are following the same path. Since Bt corn seems to thrive in harsh African weather and the crop is resistant to pests, it is clear that this plant might be the future of farming on this continent.

Everyone would benefit from planting and producing Bt corn, but most importantly – a large number of people would stop worrying about their next meal. Famine is a real problem in Africa and since technology did come a long way, this is a step forward in helping those in need. Bt corn did pass the tests and now we can only hope that it will be accepted by the government in Kenya.

Source: Breaking.com.mx

The Future of Medicine: CRISPR Technology vs HIV Virus

HIV virus has been a global problem for decades now, and even though scientists did make progress in battling this illness, these is no definite solution (so far). So it is surprising that the answer might lay in CRISPR technology, primarily developed for genetically modifying crops and plants. CRISPR gene editing method allows scientists to identify and locate the DNA sequence they want to modify and basically improve it by a copy/paste method. So the end result is an edited organism that does not contain any outside DNA.

CRISPR vs HIV

A team of scientists working at the Temple University located in Philadelphia decided to take a closer look at CRISPR/Cas 9 technology and find the way to use it in order to remove HIV-1 genome from human CD4+T cells. These cells are in charge of immune system. Their attempt was successful and HIV-1 genome disappeared completely from the infected cells. This finding might be a watershed moment in our history because HIV-1 is the main source of HIV infections.

Further analysis of the few treated individuals revealed that HIV-1 replication has slowed down and that their general health has improved. These astonishing results are a proof that immune system can repair itself and that CD4+T cells will not be damaged by this brand new treatment. As a matter of fact, the small number of patients who were involved in this study showed a huge progress in a very short period of time.

As we have previously mentioned, the host genome was not affected in any way after this treatment. Their DNA remained unchanged after the successful removal of HIV-1 from the immune cells. There are even indications that the treated cells are almost immune to a new HIV-1 infection, but this claim has to be explored furthermore. However, one thing is certain – the viral load of the treated patients decreased significantly. The research team from Temple University still have plenty of work ahead of them for sure.

The cure for HIV-1?

This trial was not large and it included only a handful of individuals that are infected with HIV-1 virus. It is certainly a huge step forward because this finding might lead us straight to the cure. Various drug therapies are available for the infected patients and they allow them to live a normal life for years to come. However, the virus is still present in their system and it might affect them in the long run if they are not careful. Any step away from the prescribed therapy might bring the virus back to the surface. So yes, once the virus gets into human system, there is no going back.

What makes CRISPR/Cas 9 technology so important is the fact that it can be used to target specific areas of a cell, and modify the parts that need repair. The fact that the technology developed for genetically modifying crops can be used to save thousands and thousands of lives and it might be the solution we have all been waiting for decades is very exciting. Temple University will continue their research and we are all excited to see the results.

Genetically Modified Mosquitos to Battle Zika Virus

Zika virus was all over the headlines this year and it became a real danger to anyone visiting South America. It is spread by mosquito bites and scientists are having a really hard time containing the virus in one place. Since the cure is nowhere in sight, researchers are hoping to find an alternative solution to this problem.

As a matter of fact, two scientists from Virginia Tech decided to tackle the issue head on and try to fight it from within by applying the latest technologies that involve genetically modifying mosquitos. Zuch Adolman and Zhijen Thu started developing a new method of fighting the virus by reducing the number of female mosquitos in one place because they are the ones who are spreading the virus.

So how do they plan to lower the number of female mosquitos? They came up with a new way to convert the female mosquitos to males by genetically modifying their code. The same scientists managed to make alterations to female mosquitos who were spreading malaria and sterilize them by using CRISPR-Cas9 gene modifying technology. They plan to do something similar with mosquitos who are the carriers of the Zika virus.

They have already identified the gene that is responsible for determining the gender of a mosquito and by applying the so called Nix gene to female mosquitos, they were successful in turning them into male mosquitos. That is particularly useful because female mosquitos are the ones who suck blood and transmit the virus via bite. By reducing the number of female mosquitos, a certain area will be less populated with these bugs and the possibility of getting bitten by a mosquito that is a Zika virus carrier will be significantly reduced.

If these two scientists manage to perfect this method of controlling the mosquito population, we will be able to battle various illnesses that are capable of spreading by mosquito bites. It is an excellent way to keep the mosquito population in check without wreaking havoc on the surrounding ecosystem.

CRISPR technology differs from the standard GMOs due to the fact it doesn’t introduce any foreign genes to the organisms that it is modifying. It became pretty well known in the scientific circles because it was successfully applied to mushrooms in order to prevent them from changing color from white to brown, prolonging their shelf life. So CRISPR improves and strengthens the already existing genes within a given species.

Surely, the team from Virginia Tech will need more time to test their findings in a controlled environment so the chances are we won’t be seeing the results of their hard work for the next couple of months. CRISPR gene modifying technology is still a new concept that requires more trials, but they already have a solid foundation because the same team of scientists worked on a similar project. If they do succeed, this method will reduce Zika virus carriers and save thousands of lives all around the globe. Mosquito borne diseases are really hard to fight so hopefully we’ll finally have a solution that will eliminate the threat.

The Longest GMO Research: The Results Are In

The results of the longest GMO research have been released to the public last week and the findings are astonishing. The general public were left in the dark for years regarding the GMO crops and their influence on the economy of a country. A team of economists led by Francesco Ciliberti from The University of Virginia started collecting the data in 1998 and started analyzing it after fourteen years. They focused on the use of pesticides among farmers who are cultivating soy beans and maize, and looked at it from the economic aspect. The released findings mostly focus on the use of pesticides that include herbicides and insecticides and the final results are quite interesting.

The team and the research

Francesco Ciliberti managed to assemble a team of respectable economists who do have years of experience with data analysis. The majority of the team members come from respectable universities from all around the United States. They started their research back in 1998, selecting 10,000 US farmers who were growing soy beans and maize.

Have in mind that every past research that touched upon this topic usually covered only two or three years, so this study is definitely the largest (so far). Soy beans and maize are the most commonly cultivated crops in the world so it comes as no surprise that they decided to focus on the farmers who were growing those plants. The team selected the candidates and followed their journey from planting the first crop in 1998, to making a decision to grow GMO crops, and everything that followed, including the usage of pesticides and insecticides during each year.

GMO soy beans are modified in order to hold out against various weeds that ruin the crops, while genetically modified maize is resistant to pests. After planting the genetically modified crops, farmers did report the decrease in usage of herbicides and insecticides. They simply did not need it in the first couple of years of cultivating the genetically crops. However, the situation did change after a couple of years.

The results

Planting and growing GMO crops do have a significant impact on the economy due to the fact that the crops in question are more resistant to the outside factors and they generally give more produce at the end of each harvest. Additionally, farmers spend far less money on pesticides since they are not needed in this situation.

However, this research discovered that after some time, genetically modified plants do change the environment around them and even though they don’t require specific herbicides or insecticides, they do give in to other weeds or pests. For instance, weeds that grow around genetically modified soy develop immunity and farmers usually start using large amounts of herbicides in order to keep the situation under control.

This fact alone has a huge impact on the economy and the farming methods since farmers have to spend more money on various chemicals in order to battle this unexpected situation that can arise after years of growing genetically modified crops. On the other hand, insects are not reacting in the same way to genetically modified crops probably because they breed with other insects who do not live in the same.

The team was surprised by their findings regarding the increased usage of herbicides and the impact it has on the economy. The patterns were quite clear so dealing with this problem should definitely be the next goal of GMO researchers who develop the crops in order to reduce the weed resistance and keep the balance.

Enriched Banana Project

The third world countries have been facing a high rate of deaths that could have been prevented by adding the common vitamin supplements into the diets of those individuals who are in need. However, this is a huge undertaking that requires a lot of funding and donations. It simply cannot be done right now at the scale that is required in order to save lives. However, there are a couple of alternatives for battling this issue and they include genetically modified foods. In this case, that would be bananas.
Bananas are already hailed as one of the healthiest foods on the planet. They are rich in carbohydrates and therefore, they are a great source of energy. Besides that, bananas contain a number of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin B6 and manganese. All of these are simply essential when it comes to having a healthy metabolism and a strong body. But what if we could improve the levels of the nutrients in bananas and create the ultimate superfood? Well, with the technology we have today, we actually can.
Vitamin A deficiency is a serious problem in undeveloped countries and a group of researchers who were inspired by golden rice that is still feeding millions of people worldwide, providing them with plenty of energy and nutrients, decided to take a closer look at the ways they could genetically modify bananas. They were successful and managed to add higher levels of vitamin A into a standard banana.
The general plan is to try to cultivate this GMO plant in Uganda and the surrounding countries because the climate there will help the plants grow faster. Plus, this would provide an easier access to genetically modified bananas for everyone in need. The levels of vitamin A in a single banana meet the daily needs and that means you will need to eat just one in order to prevent the vitamin deficiency.
On the other hand, scientists who are working on this project are very aware of the possible backlash this banana might receive from those who are afraid of GMO or oppose modifications. They do point out that this is not a true GMO product – they didn’t introduce any foreign DNA to the banana but simply enriched what was already inside. Sure enough, it was produced in a laboratory, but the structure of the fruit remained the same. The only visible difference is in the color of the banana peel – standard bananas are green or yellow, while enriched bananas are a bit orange.
But just like every genetically modified food, the enriched banana simply have to go through testing and need to get the final approval from the FDA. Since these trials take time, it is unlikely that we will get the answer in the next two years. All in all, the researchers who are a driving force behind this project are hoping that they will be able to start planting these bananas by 2020.
If they deliver just a fraction of the golden rice results, the death rate due to vitamin deficiency will greatly decrease. Golden rice has saved millions of lives all around the globe. Enriched banana is a superb idea that might actually work if they get the green light from the authorities who are governing the food safety, production, and distribution.
Enriched bananas have received plenty of support and public seems to be generally interested in this project. The majority of comments are positive and all we need to do right now is wait and see what FDA has to say. It seems like enriched bananas might be the answer we were looking for to solve this serious problem.

FDA Approves GMO Salmon

Just a few days ago, FDA approved the first genetically modified salmon for mass production. The company that is behind this project is AquaBounty Technologies and they approached FDA with this GMO product back in the 1990s. However, this is the first time FDA gave a green light to GMO salmon. Of course, there are a number of rules and regulations that simply has to be followed, but we will take a closer look at those later on.

So, what exactly is genetically modified salmon? It is clear that the researchers have worked on this project for quite some time now and the simplest answer we can give you is that it is a salmon with the advanced growth hormone that makes this fish develop faster. The hormone was taken from the Pacific Chinook salmon. Genetically modified salmon also has another gene from ocean pout that aids the growth hormone, making it stronger and more effective.

FDA took their time with this one and came to a conclusion that genetically modified salmon made by AquaBounty Technologies does not differ from the standard salmon that is caught in the wilderness. The nutritional values are the same and they came to a conclusion that it is not harmful to humans or animals. But there are a couple of restrictions, such as the place where this new salmon is allowed to be grown.
FDA made it clear that the salmon should be raised only in Canada and Panama. It is not allowed to be released in the nature and the growing process should be done in artificial environment, such as large water tanks. This security measure is obligatory in order to prevent the GMO salmon from mixing up with the standard species. FDA will also be keeping a close eye on the factories themselves and will be checking them out quite often.

CEO of AquaBounty Technologies is convinced that this is a watershed moment in food production and claims that it is the best way to deliver healthy and nourishing foods to the consumers without damaging and polluting the environment, especially the ocean wildlife. But on the other hand, the groups who are against GMO have been very vocal about this FDA decision, which is turning out to be quite thought provoking.

A couple of large grocery food chains have already announced that they will not be selling this type of salmon in their stores. That can be a strong blow to AquaBounty Technologies and their long term plans. Also, the environmentalists are concerned about the possible escape of these genetically modified salmons into the wildlife. AquaBounty’s CEO assured them that the escape scenario is quite unlikely, but the critics remain unconvinced. Also the Center for Food Safety will be suing FDA for giving AquaBounty an approval.

This entire ordeal is turning out to be quite messy and even if you are willing to try the genetically modified salmon for yourself, the chances are you won’t be able to find it in your nearest store. The end result is uncertain and this type of salmon might never reach the United States like AquaBounty has planned.
It seems like FDA approval doesn’t mean much to people right now. Yes, the manufacturers can put GMO labels on their products, but doesn’t mean that the consumers will be purchasing them from the stores. Sure, the advancement of biotechnology is evident and we are capable of improving and modifying various organisms, but it is clear that people are not entirely convinced in the safety of these new products. We simply have to wait and see what will eventually happen to AquaBounty’s salmon if and when it reaches the shelves.

Category: News