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5/10/2006

GM Industry Puts Human Gene Into Rice

Frankenstein

Posted By: Kaspel
24 April 2005

Scientists have begun putting genes from human beings into food crops in a dramatic extension of genetic modification. The move, which is causing disgust and revulsion among critics, is bound to strengthen accusations that GM technology is creating "Frankenstein foods" and drive the controversy surrounding it to new heights.

Even before this development, many people, including Prince Charles, have opposed the technology on the grounds that it is playing God by creating unnatural combinations of living things.

Environmentalists say that no one will want to eat the partially human-derived food because it will smack of cannibalism.

But supporters say that the controversial new departure presents no ethical problems and could bring environmental benefits.

In the first modification of its kind, Japanese researchers have inserted a gene from the human liver into rice to enable it to digest pesticides and industrial chemicals. The gene makes an enzyme, code-named CPY2B6, which is particularly good at breaking down harmful chemicals in the body.

Present GM crops are modified with genes from bacteria to make them tolerate herbicides, so that they are not harmed when fields are sprayed to kill weeds. But most of them are only able to deal with a single herbicide, which means that it has to be used over and over again, allowing weeds to build up resistance to it.

But the researchers at the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences in Tsukuba, north of Tokyo, have found that adding the human touch gave the rice immunity to 13 different herbicides. This would mean that weeds could be kept down by constantly changing the chemicals used.

Supporting scientists say that the gene could also help to beat pollution.

Professor Richard Meilan of Purdue University in Indiana, who has worked with a similar gene from rabbits, says that plants modified with it could "clean up toxins" from contaminated land. They might even destroy them so effectively that crops grown on the polluted soil could be fit to eat.

But he and other scientists caution that if the gene were to escape to wild relatives of the rice it could create particularly vicious superweeds that were resistant to a wide range of herbicides.

He adds: "I do not have any ethical issue with using human genes to engineer plants", dismissing talk of "Frankenstein foods" as "rubbish". He believes that that European opposition to GM crops and food is fuelled by agricultural protectionism.

But Sue Mayer, director of GeneWatch UK, said yesterday: "I don't think that anyone will want to buy this rice. People have already expressed disgust about using human genes, and already feel that their concerns are being ignored by the biotech industry. This will just undermine their confidence even more."

Pete Riley, director of the anti-GM pressure group Five Year Freeze, said:

"I am not surprised by this. "The industry is capable of anything and this development certainly smacks of Frankenstein."


People must not be guinea pigs in GM rice

( China Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-13

Last Thursday, the Nanfang Weekend reported that authorities are still mulling over a decision about whether to commercialize genetically modified rice in China.

The Ministry of Agriculture, which is in charge of granting safety certificates for GM plants, will not make the decision until early next year.

The official decision is up in the air.

Even if some strains of GM rice are certified, the ministry says it will carry out field studies about its safety for at least two years.

There are concerns over GM rice although they have eased somewhat thanks to the authorities' prudence on the issue.

In recent years, the genetically modified organism (GMO) has been gaining popularity in many countries. Genetically altered soybean, cotton, corn and rape seed crops are available in the market.

China has approved field trials for rice, rape seed, corn, wheat, potato and soybeans derived from biotechnology since 1997. The Ministry of Agriculture only granted safety certificates for insect-resistant cotton, tomato, pimento and a species of morning glory.

So far, all these GM plants have only been used in clothing, food processing and animal feed.

There has not been any commonly accepted conclusion about the safety of GM food.

Its impact on human health, the environment and bio-diversity has not yet been thoroughly studied under current levels of science and technology.

Given the short time during which gene engineering technology has developed and been commercialized, it is impossible to fully explore the potential influence of GM food in these aspects.

When it comes to rice specifically, things are more complicated.

Rice is a traditional staple food for the Chinese.

It is already eaten every day without much alteration.

Experiments on animals for months or even several years are not enough to convince consumers that GM rice is safe for humans in the long run.

As well as this basic question, many others should be addressed - what are its effects on the soil it is planted in, and whether it will develop traits after it is planted or cause allergies in certain people?

Scientists do not yet have satisfactory answers.

Some supporters of GM rice said everything incurs risks when it generates benefits. It is not wise to give up the benefits for the potential risks.

But this is true only when the benefits overwhelm the risks. We do not yet know if this applies here.

People should not be used as guinea pigs with food they eat every day.

The authorities must treat the matter with more caution.

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