The Double Edged SwordGMO Experimentation

Presentation by Andre LeuChair, Organic Federation of Australia

at the Food Safety and Sustainability Forum Sydney, March 2010

Slides By Jeffrey M. Smith, Executive Director, Institute for Responsible Technology

How does Genetic Engineering work?

1. The perception- Only a single gene with a desired trait is inserted into a plant

2. The Reality – A transgenic construct of several gene sequences is inserted

These include: • viral promoters genes• antibiotic marker genes• ‘junk’ DNA

Gene construct

Regulatory sequence: on/off switch

Coding sequence of a gene

Regulatory sequence: Termination signal

Plasmid backbone DNA, superfluous genetic material

e.g. Bt toxin gene from soil

bacterium

often CaMV (virus)

e.g. from pea

Identify cells with incorporated genes

Only transformed cells survive

Test for markers Add antibiotic

Antibiotic Resistant GenesAntibiotic Resistant Genes““IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS HEALTH IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD TO INTRODUCE A GENE THAT HAZARD TO INTRODUCE A GENE THAT CODES FOR ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE INTO CODES FOR ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE INTO THE NORMAL FLORA OF THE GENERAL THE NORMAL FLORA OF THE GENERAL POPULATION.”POPULATION.”

US FDA Director, Division of Anti-infective Drug Products

Horizontal Transfer of Antibiotic Horizontal Transfer of Antibiotic Resistant GenesResistant GenesMany scientists warned about the dangers Many scientists warned about the dangers of these genes transferring to other of these genes transferring to other organisms through horizontal gene organisms through horizontal gene transfertransfer

GMO industry stated that this could not GMO industry stated that this could not happenhappen

Transfer of

transgenes to gut bacteria

is optimized

•Bacterial Bacterial sequences are sequences are easier to easier to transfer to transfer to bacteriabacteria

•The gene’s The gene’s promoter promoter works in works in bacteriabacteria

What

can

transfer?PromoterAntibiotic resistant marker

Roundup Ready genesViral genesBt gene

Horizontal Gene Transfer

1. Many Scientists are concerned about the horizontal transfer of the CaMV promoter virus into other virus – CaMV – Cauliflower Mosaic Virus

2. The potential to create new transgenic viruses of unknown consequences

The swine flu virus H1N1 is an example of a natural transgenic construct with avian, swine and human virus sequences

– this would have occurred through natural horizontal gene transfer

Horizontal Gene Transfer

1. Many Scientists are concerned about the horizontal transfer of the CaMV promoter virus into other virus – CaMV – Cauliflower Mosaic Virus

2. The potential to create new transgenic viruses of unknown consequences

The swine flu virus H1N1 is an example of a natural transgenic construct with avian, swine and human virus sequences

– this would have occurred through natural horizontal gene transfer

Horizontal Gene Transfer - CaMV

• This CaMV promoter is also known to work for genes all across the living world: in plants, bacteria, fungi, and, as we discovered recently in the literature more than 10 years old, also in frog eggs and human cells. It is able to substitute, in part or in whole, for the promoter of many other viruses.

• Viruses are not only everywhere in the environment, they also lie dormant in the genomes of all organisms, bacteria, plants and animals without exception.

• And there is evidence that such dormant viruses can be reactivated as a result of genetic recombination.

Dr. Mae-Wan Ho– Union of Concerned Scientists

Horizontal Gene Transfer - CaMV

• What is most concerning with this is that this viral promoter gene and other GM constructs have escaped into the wild relatives of GMO plants

• also contaminated a sizeable proportion of non GMO crops like corn, canola and soybeans.

• Transferred into gut bacteria

• The potential danger is being completely ignored by regulatory authorities, with no ongoing research looking at these potential pathogenic transgenic viruses and bacteria.

The process of The process of creating a GM creating a GM crop creates crop creates unpredicted unpredicted changes in DNA changes in DNA and plant and plant compositioncomposition

Allergens

Toxins

New diseases

Nutritional problems

US FDA Agency scientists warned of:

Disruption of gene networksJuly 1, 2007, New York Times:• The presumption that genes operate independently has been The presumption that genes operate independently has been

institutionalized. . . . It is the economic and regulatory institutionalized. . . . It is the economic and regulatory foundation on which the entire biotechnology industry is built.foundation on which the entire biotechnology industry is built.

• Evidence of a networked genome shatters the scientific basis Evidence of a networked genome shatters the scientific basis for virtually every official risk assessment of today’s commercial for virtually every official risk assessment of today’s commercial biotech products.biotech products.

• Yet to date, every attempt to challenge safety claims for biotech Yet to date, every attempt to challenge safety claims for biotech products has been categorically dismissed, or derided as products has been categorically dismissed, or derided as unscientific.unscientific.

First GM Crop

FlavrSavr

Tomato

Yuk!

Rats refused to eat the

tomato

After 28 days•7 of 20 rats developed stomach lesions7 of 20 rats developed stomach lesions

•Another 7 of 40 died within 2 weeksAnother 7 of 40 died within 2 weeksIndustry study

GM potatoes damaged rats (10 or 110 days)Rats developed• Potentially pre-

cancerous cell growth in the digestive tract

• Smaller brains, livers and testicles

• Partial atrophy of the liver, and

• Immune system damage

Lancet, 1999 & others

Intestinal Wall

Non-GM GM

Stomach lining

Non-GM GM

Rats ate Bt corn (90 days)

Indicators for Liver and kidney

toxicityBlood pressure

problems, allergies, infections or disease, higher

blood sugar and anemiaMonsanto Monsanto

studystudy

Mice had an

immuneresponse

to GM pea

proteinAgriculturalFood Chemistry,

2005

Chickens fed Liberty Link corn died at twice the rate

Industry study

Mice Fed GM SoyMice fed GM soyPancreas Reduced digestive

enzymes Altered cell structure Altered gene expression

Journal of Anatomy, 2002Journal of Anatomy, 2002

European Journal of Histochemistry, 2003European Journal of Histochemistry, 2003

Mice fed GM soyLiver Cells damaged Altered gene expression Higher metabolic activity

(suggesting toxic insult)Cell Structure and Function, Cell Structure and Function, 20022002

Mice livers

Control GM-fed

Hepatocyte Nuclei

Mice livers

Control GM-fed

Hepatocyte Nuclei

Rat LiversC, D – GM-soy groupА, B – control group

A

B

C

D

Dr. Irina Ermakova

Mice fed GM soyTesticular cells had altered structure and function

European Journal of Histochemistry, 2004European Journal of Histochemistry, 2004

Rat testicles

ControControll GM soy fedGM soy fed

GM-soyGM-soyControlControl

Offspring of Mice Fed GM Soy

Young embryos from GM-fed parents had temporary decrease in gene expression

In In presspress

Mortality of rat pupsMortality of rat pups

Control GM-soy Non-GM soy

First Generation

Irina Ermakova, 2005-2007

GM-soy group

Ermakova Irina, 2005-2007

Mortality of rat offspring for one day

Control Non-GM soy

GM-soy

Rat litters at

9-days from mothers

fed non-GM

or GM soy.

Non-GM soy group

GM-soy group

Irina Ermakova, 2005-2007

19-day old ratsLarger rat is from control group;

smaller from GM-soy group.Irina Ermakova, 2005-2007

Preliminary evidenceRat offspring did not

conceive

When the entire When the entire Russian facility began using Russian facility began using

GM soy-based feed, GM soy-based feed, infant mortality infant mortality

for all rats hit 55.3%.for all rats hit 55.3%.

Killed about 100 and caused

5,000-10,000 to fall sick

L-tryptophan produced by GM bacteria

The epidemic The epidemic was discoveredwas discoveredbecause the because the diseasedisease

1. Was new, with unique symptoms

2. Acute3. Came on quickly

Conclusion

There is a need to do peer reviewed science on GM especially in the following areas .

• Feeding trials• CaMV and other viral and bacterial gene segments and horizontal

gene transfer• Systems approach – genes working as sequence – what happened

when this is disrupted by inserting new DNA

• Instability of the transgenes especially the promoters within the genome

• Alterations to RNA sequences when coding proteins

Acknowlegdements

• Most of these Slides come from a comprehensive GMO presentation by Jeffrey M. Smith, Executive Director, Institute for Responsible Technology

• http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/TakeAction/PowerPointPresentations/index.cfm

• For more information on these issues, please read GM the Hidden Science on the OFA website

• http://www.ofa.org.au/pages/Reports-%7B47%7D-Industry-Papers.html