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Thread: 2428 New Research on the Impact of GMOs on Health.
2428 New Research on the Impact of GMOs on Health.
user name
 2006-06-21 06:58:06 

  


  

    GM WATCH daily
http://www.gmwatch.org
---
New Research on the Impact of GMOs on Health
SOIL ASSOCIATION, GM briefing 19

Although some GMOs have been approved and marketed for several years, 
there was no body of scientific research on their impact on the biology 
of living organisms. This is partly because animal feeding trials are 
not required in the current safety approval process for GMOs in the EU 
or USA.  Only now is a body of evidence starting to emerge from a small 
number of animal feeding trials into the health effects and progress in 
the new science of epigenetics.  This indicates that genetic 
engineering is much more unpredictable and risky than traditional breeding.

Animal feeding trials

Recent studies have found a range of serious, unexplained effects from 
GM consumption:

* an Australian
 study of GM peas revealed immunological effects of 
genetic engineering with the transfer of a ‘safe’ gene to a different plant 
species producing allergic reactions in mice. ;  A trial by Monsanto 
also indicated immunological effects with higher white blood cell levels 
in GM maize fed rats.

* the only long-term feeding trial (24 months, by an Italian team) 
found GMOs can affect key body organs, changing the cell structure and cell 
functioning of the liver, pancreas and testes of mice fed Roundup Ready 
soya.   Similarly, a Monsanto trial found rats fed its GM maize Mon863 
developed smaller kidneys.

* a Monsanto trial found GM consumption affects the development of the 
blood with fewer immature red blood cells and changes in blood 
chemistry in rats fed its GM maize Mon863.

* a Russian rat study found apparent generational effects of GMOs with 
very high death rates in the young of rats fed GM
 Roundup Ready soya 
(56% died) and stunted growth in the surviving progeny.

* a programme of UK studies funded by the Food Standards Agency found 
that genetic engineering routinely causes a large number of random 
genetic and chemical changes in GM plants, the health impacts of which are 
unknown.

* two UK trials, one with humans and one with sheep, found that when 
GMOs are eaten some of the inserted genes move out and transfer into the 
gut bacteria.

Additionally, past studies found GM consumption damages the gut wall 
and is associated with unexplained deaths of test animals:

* studies by three scientific teams of two different GM plants found 
GMOs have the potential to cause haemorrhage. Feeding trials by two teams 
found that GM potatoes cause lesions in the gut wall of rats and mice, ; 
and two US feeding trials found that GM tomatoes cause lesions in the 
gut wall of rats.

* at least two
 trials of different GMOs found unexplained deaths among 
the test animals, with 7 of 40 rats (17.5%) in a feeding study of GM 
tomatoes dying within two weeks ; and a 7% mortality rate for chickens 
fed GM glufosinate-tolerant Chardon LL maize (twice the rate of the 
non-GM fed chickens).

(It should be noted that these studies were designed to identify health 
impacts and include toxicological studies involving tissue analysis.  
These are different to the various non-toxicological feeding studies 
frequently referred to by the biotechnology industry, which are primarily 
carried out to test commercial aspects of GM feed).

The study of Epigenetics

The actual causes of these effects are not known, but many possible 
factors could account for them. ; It has long been known by scientists that 
the artificial insertion of the genes physically disrupts other genes 
through the damage caused by the uncontrolled
 insertion process 
('positional effects').  In addition, the chemical functioning of the new gene 
interacts with the activity of the plants' existing genes and 
biochemical pathways, and so disrupts the metabolism in unpredictable ways.

However, research into the new science of "epigenetics" (meaning 'above 
genetics') is also now showing that genes account for only a part of 
the control of the biochemistry of organisms, and organisms have a level 
of control above genes that interact with genes.  The exact details of 
this interaction between the rest of the organism and its genes are 
still far from known.  However, this more complete understanding explains 
why genetic engineering is so unpredictable, with different results 
produced by each attempt and why the products are often unstable.

GA, 13.1.2006, GMbriefing19.  Updated 13.4.2006


  
  
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