GMO Research
Abstract: This essay discusses two statements: a) there are no fundamental differences between classical genetic improvement (CGI) or breeding and genetic engineering improvement (GEI); the latter is an extension of the first but is more accurate so, it gives greater safety to the consumer; and b) transformation by genetic engineering is equivalent to a natural …
Abstract: 目的: 探讨农达(41%草甘膦)对人L-02肝细胞产生的损伤作用及其可能的机制。 方法: 体外试验(in vitro test)以L-02肝细胞为受试细胞,通过MTT法检测不同浓度的农达对L-02肝细胞存活率的影响,选择细胞存活率为20%-80%的浓度进行后续实验。设置5个农达处理组,60mg/L、90mg/L、120mg/L、150mg/L、180mg/L和1个阴性对照组(PBS),农达处理细胞时间为24h。L-02肝细胞的形态学改变采用姬母萨染色法在光镜下观察结合透射电镜观察;农达对L-02肝细胞膜通透性影响和细胞毒性作用采用谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)活性水平结合台盼蓝拒染法来评价;农达诱导L-02肝细胞氧化损伤程度选用超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量等指标评价;用线粒体跨膜电位(△Ψm)检测细胞线粒体损伤;用DNA条带(DNA-Ladder)检测肝细胞DNA损伤;以AnnexinV-FITC/PI复染法测定细胞发生凋亡和坏死的情况;Western Blotting检测对照组与90mg/L组细胞色素C(Cyt C)和凋亡诱导因子(AIF)表达水平。 结果: 1.在60～180mg/L的处理浓度范围内,能明显引起L-02肝细胞存活率的降低(P＜0.05),处理浓度和细胞存活率之间存在负相关(r=-0.974)。 2.在光镜下观察姬母萨染色L-02肝细胞爬片,观察到各农达处理组L-02肝细胞皱缩或肿大,形态由瓦片状收缩为圆形,细胞间隙扩大,细胞破裂,染色质浓缩,贴壁细胞密度和数量减少。电镜下观察,可发现处理组细胞出现表面微绒毛消失,细胞膜结构不完整,细胞核碎裂或肿胀,线粒体空泡样变等细胞凋亡或坏死的表现。 3.农达处理L-02肝细胞,其活细胞台盼兰蓝染比例升高(P＜0.05);细胞培养上清液中ALT活性增加(P＜0.05);从90mg/L组开始AST活性增加(P＜0.05);农达导致处理组细胞内MDA的含量增加,SOD活性减弱,GSH含量减少(P＜0.05);农达导致120～180mg/L组细胞Na~+-K~+ ATP酶活性降低(P＜0.05)。 4.农达处理能诱导细胞DNA链断裂,处理浓度在150mg/L、180mg/L,DNA受损程度严重;90mg/L组Cyt C和AIF表达水平高于对照组(P＜0.05);90mg/L组开始用农达处理的L-02细胞线粒体膜电位明显降低(P＜0.05);农达能明显诱导处理组肝L-02细胞发生凋亡和坏死(P＜0.05),随着处理农度的增高,细胞凋亡和坏死的比例增高,但是在180mg/L组凋亡比例下降。 结论: 农达在60mg/L～180mg/L范围内,能引起L-02肝细胞存活率下降,细胞膜通透性增加,抑制细胞离子转运,诱发DNA损伤,线粒体膜电位降低,Cyt C、AIF等凋亡因子泄漏,使细胞产生凋亡和坏死,对肝细胞具有明显的损伤作用;其损伤的作用机制可能与农达导致肝细胞氧化损伤、线粒体崩溃等途径有关。 Keywords: glyphosate, human L-02 hepatocytes, in vitro, AST, ALT, SOD, apoptosis, Roundup, malondialdehyde, glutathione Citation: Fei, W., 2008. Roundup (41% glyphosate) research on human L-02 liver cell injury. South University.
To the editor: Your May 29 editorial1 about the health risks of genetically modified (GM) food was apposite and addresses some of the important medical issues vigorously. It beggars belief that “badly designed, poorly carried out, inaccurately interpreted experiments” could have perpetuated such profound public debate for almost a year. Regrettably, among the correspondents who …
Abstract: A 28-day study was conducted to determine the effects of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab toxin on the earthworm Eisenia andrei. Previously, investigations have been limited to life-cycle level effects of this protein on earthworms, and mostly on E. fetida. In this study several endpoints were compared which included biomass changes, cocoon production, hatching success, …
Abstract: В последние годы большой интерес вызван распространением и использованием искусственно измененных организмов, к которым, в первую очередь, относятся генетически модифицированные организмы (ГМО). Проведенный анализ показал недостаток сведений о взаимодействии ГМО с животными и растениями окружающей среды. Экспериментальные данные свидетельствуют о сильно выраженном негативном воздействии ГМО на физиологическое состояние, поведение и репродуктивные функции животных. Широкое …
Text: Widespread distribution of genetically modified organisms (GMO) causes great biological risks for human and the Environment. Three kind of biological risks are described usually: ecological, nutrition and agrotechnical. The term genetically modified organisms (GMOs) refers to plants, microbes and animals with genes transferred from other species in order to produce certain novel characteristics (for …
Abstract: Gene targeting (GT) is a technique used to modify endogenous genes in target genomes precisely via homologous recombination (HR). Although GT plants are produced using genetic transformation techniques, if the difference between the endogenous and the modified gene is limited to point mutations, GT crops can be considered equivalent to non-genetically modified mutant crops …
Abstract: Qualitative and quantitative DNA-based methods were applied to detect genetically modified foods in samples from markets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Two hundred samples were collected from Al-Qassim, Riyadh, and Mahdina in 2009 and 2010. GMOScreen 35S and NOS test kits for the detection of genetically modified organism varieties in samples were used. …
Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible hepatorenal toxicity and genotoxicity from eating meat meal of genetically modified (GM) Japanese quail in 90 days dietary experiment using micronucleus (MN) test, mitotic index (MI) and RAPD-PCR for genotoxicity assay, ALT, AST, urea and creatinine for hepatorenal toxicity. Four groups of Swiss male …
Abstract: The aim of this study was to trace selected nucleic acid and protein components of isogene versus Bt transgene maize within the bovine gastrointestinal tract (GIT). After feeding 22 cattle for 4 weeks with Bt176 maize, different plant genes and the recombinant protein CryIAb were quantified during digestion. Furthermore, a first initial characterization of …
Abstract: Transgenic plants of tobacco and Arabidopsis that produce genetically marked pollen, expressing the reporter geneuidA (gusA), were generated to determine whether pollen proteins can be expressed and stable in honey, a potential route by which foreign proteins might enter the wider environment. Hydrated tobacco pollen was found to lose viability rapidly in honey, while …
Abstract: Throughout the world pesticides are widely employed in agriculture sector in order to elevate crops’ yield with low labour and efforts. Pesticides exposure leads to toxicity in many non-target organisms, fish being one of the most prominent among these. Most of the time acute concentration of these pesticides leads to mortality while sub lethal …
Abstract: Results obtained from several studies suggest that the pre-seeding application of the widely used herbicide glyphosate can alter the microbial community of the rhizosphere of non-target plants, as well as soil processes mediated by microorganisms. Although this impact should be related to the response of weed plants to glyphosate application, little is known on …
Abstract: The persistence and movement of transgenic DNA in agricultural and natural systems is largely unknown. This movement poses a threat of horizontal gene transfer and possible proliferation of genetically modified DNA into the general environment. To assess the persistence of transgenic DNA in a field of Roundup Ready® corn, we quantified the presence of …
Abstract: We examined expression and inheritance of salmonid growth hormone genes RSVLTR-rtGH1 cDNA and RSVLTR-csGH cDNA, transferred to channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) by microinjection. One to 9 copies of the foreign DNA were inserted in either head-to-tail tandem array at single insertion sites or single copies at multiple insertion sites. All P1 transgenic catfish evaluated …
Abstract: Genetically modified corn crops and suspensions of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are currently used to control pest infestations of insects of the Lepidoptera family. For this purpose, the cry1Ab gene coding for protein δ-endotoxin derived from B. thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk), which is highly toxic to these insects, was inserted and expressed in corn. The aims …
Abstract: The present study aimed to evaluate biochemical and genotoxic effects of the herbicides atrazine (ATZ) and Roundup® (RD) separately, as well as their mixture, on the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea after 96 h exposure. Animals were exposed to 2 and 10 ppb of ATZ (ATZ2 and ATZ10), 2 and 10 ppm of RD (RD2 …
Summary: 1. A field study using transgenic plants with associated recombinant micro-organisms was conducted to assess the potential effects of genetically engineered organisms on soil ecosystems. Three genotypes of alfalfa plants (parental, transgenic aamylase-producing and transgenic lignin peroxidase-producing) were planted in an agricultural field plot. Immediately prior to planting, the roots of the alfalfa plants …
Abstract: In this paper, we summarize several microcosm and field studies we have performed using different transgenic plants to evaluate the persistence of their products and their effects on soil and plant microorganisms. These studies used cotton, potato, tobacco, and alfalfa plants that were engineered for the production of pesticidal products (Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins and …
Abstract: According to the information reported by the WHO, the genetically modified (GM) products that are currently on the international market have all passed risk assessments conducted by national authorities. These assessments have not indicated any risk to human health. In spite of this clear statement, it is quite amazing to note that the review …
Abstract: Transgenic Pacific salmon have been produced by microinjection of a DNA construct consisting of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) growth hormone sequences driven by an ocean pout (Macrozoarces americanus) antifreeze protein promoter. This construct was retained in approximately 4% of fish derived from injected eggs, and resulted in dramatic enhancement of growth relative to controls. …
Abstract: The global expansion in the development and cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops has increased international concern about adventitious presence of GM materials in non-GM seeds and grains. GM events in canola, corn, soybean, cotton, flax, papaya, potato, squash, sugar beet, and tomato have received regulatory approval in Canada. However, GM cultivars are only …
Abstract: The glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup(®), is one of the most used pesticides worldwide. In concert with the advent of transgenic crops resistant to glyphosate, the use of this pesticide has led to an increase in agricultural yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effect that the herbicide Roundup(®) (at a concentration …
Abstract: Acute toxicity and genotoxicity of the 54.8% 2,4-D-based commercial herbicide DMA® were assayed on Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Pisces, Poeciliidae). Whereas lethal effect was used as the end point for mortality, frequency of micronuclei (MNs), other nuclear abnormalities and primary DNA damage evaluated by the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay were employed as end points …
Abstract: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between sexually unrelated species has recently been documented for higher plants, but mechanistic explanations for HGTs have remained speculative. We show that a parasitic relationship may facilitate HGT between flowering plants. The endophytic parasites Rafflesiaceae are placed in the diverse order Malpighiales. Our multigene phylogenetic analyses of Malpighiales show that …
