An annotated bibliography of scientific publications on the risks associated with genetic modification

Journal or Publishing Institution: Victoria University of Wellington

Study: https://web.archive.org/web/20180731153651/http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/handle/10063/3

Author(s): Weaver, S. and Morris, M.

Article Type: Report

Record ID: 1050

Abstract: In order to help facilitate scientific debate on GMO risks a literature search of peer-reviewed science was conducted on GMO risks resulting in the following bibliography. While there is a great deal of published science on genetic modification in general, there is far less that specifically targets the bio-safety issues associated with genetic modification. In order to make scientifically informed decisions relating to the adoption or regulation of this emerging technology, it is important that all of the relevant information is available to decision makers. One of the themes that has coloured the portrayal of the “GE” debate in the popular media is that of science on one side (supporting these innovations) and uninformed emotional arguments on the other. This bibliography is designed to help bring this debate into a scientific arena by providing references to bio-safety concerns that can be obtained by any decision making body. The decision to restrict this bibliography to scientific publications is designed to ensure that the arguments and the information presented has been scrutinised by scientists in the peer review or editorial process and as such should guard against non-scientific contributions to this important scientific debate. This has meant, however, that books written by scientists have been excluded from this bibliography, even though they may provide important contributions to the scientific debate. Of course, the issues surrounding the adoption and regulation of genetic modification are more than scientific, and include ethical, economic, cultural, legal, intellectual property, and liability dimensions. These themes are beyond the scope of this bibliography, which is explicitly focused on biological science.

The primary focus of this collection of references is the risks to human health. Some sections of the bibliography venture slightly beyond this (e.g. the issues surrounding Bt toxin and animal welfare), but are none-the-less related (i.e. risks associated with non-target effects). In general the bibliography is organised according to the nature of the risk in question. The first section involves risks associated with the expression of the gene. The second category of risk is associated with expression of the transgene in non-target organisms. This includes possibilities of genetic transfer across species barriers (horizontal gene transfer) as well as the
possibilities of transfer through pollination to wild relatives. These papers in no way imply that transgenes are any more likely to be transferred than any other gene. The third category of risk relates to risks inherent in genetic modification as such, independent of the gene expressed. These studies show that inserting transgenes can alter the interaction of the genome in unpredictable ways, and that trangenes may also be inherently more unstable or easily transferred than other genes.

Keywords: Bt toxin resistance, non-target effects, Bt cotton debate, soil microfauna, human health, GM plant resistance, vertical gene transfer, horizontal gene transfer, super-weeds, risks, gene therapy, transposons, vectors, animal welfare, feeding studies, GM Tryptophan, Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome, transgenic animals, prion diseases

Citation: Weaver, S. and Morris, M., 2003. An annotated bibliography of scientific publications on the risks associated with genetic modification. Victoria University of Wellington.