1: Nature. 2007 Jan 11;445(7124):132-3. Out of bounds. [No authors listed] Publication Types: News PMID: 17215811 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 2: Ig Sanita Pubbl. 2005 Sep-Oct;61(5):475-96. [Genetically modified organisms: European and Italian legislation to protect citizens' health] [Article in Italian] Sotgiu A, Tala M, Sardu G, Coroneo V, Dessi S, Contu P. Dipartimento di Sanita Pubblica, Universita di Cagliari. The development of GM foods and organisms has concentrated everyone's attention on the importance of food safety and on protecting citizens' health, and inevitably influenced healthcare policies regarding food safety. Personal ethical beliefs regarding food and in particular, the consumption of foods derived from biotechnology should be taken into account when deciding healthcare policy. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse whether European, Italian and Regional legislation meets basic human rights regarding health and the right to choose, based on the precautionary principle. METHODS: European and Italian laws regarding the production and marketing of GM foods were analysed and compared to food safety legislation, in order to evaluate how and to what degree existing legislation protects consumers' right to choose. Results show that existing legislation protects consumers from possible foodborne diseases, but the right to informed consent and to free choice is not warranted. Existing laws do not attach enough importance to consumers' right to information; arbitrary threshold levels set for labeling and clauses concerning technical causes allow food businesses to avoid labeling and do not give consumers the possibility of making an informed choice. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 17206218 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 3: Risk Anal. 2006 Dec;26(6):1707-19. Exploring the structure of attitudes toward genetically modified food. Poortinga W, Pidgeon NF. Cardiff University, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff, Wales, UK. PoortingaW@Cardiff.ac.uk Although it is often thought that the British public is opposed to genetically modified (GM) food, recent qualitative work suggests that most people are ambivalent about GM food and crops. In this article we explore the structure of attitudes in order to examine whether attitudinal ambivalence can be captured by more quantitative methods. Based on the finding that the perceived risks and benefits of GM food can be treated as independent dimensions, we propose a four-way typology of attitudes, consisting of a positive, negative, indifferent, and ambivalent group. This study showed that the differences between the four groups could best be described by three main dimensions: (1) a general evaluative dimension, (2) an involvement dimension, and (3) an attitudinal certainty dimension. While these different attitudinal dimensions have generally been studied in isolation, we argue that they should be studied collectively. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 17184407 [PubMed - in process] 4: Plant Biotechnol J. 2006 Mar;4(2):263-73. Characterization of a higher plant herbicide-resistant phytoene desaturase and its use as a selectable marker. Arias RS, Dayan FE, Michel A, Howell J, Scheffler BE. USDA-ARS, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, PO Box 8048, University, MS 38677, USA. Three natural somatic mutations at codon 304 of the phytoene desaturase gene (pds) of Hydrilla verticillata (L. f. Royle) have been reported to provide resistance to the herbicide fluridone. We substituted the arginine 304 present in the wild-type H. verticillata phytoene desaturase (PDS) with all 19 other natural amino acids and tested PDS against fluridone. In in vitro assays, the threonine (Thr), cysteine (Cys), alanine (Ala) and glutamine (Gln) mutations imparted the highest resistance to fluridone. Thr, the three natural mutations [Cys, serine (Ser), histidine (His)] and the wild-type PDS protein were tested in vitro against seven inhibitors of PDS representing several classes of herbicides. These mutations conferred cross-resistance to norflurazon and overall negative cross-resistance to beflubutamid, picolinafen and diflufenican. The T3 generation of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants harbouring the four selected mutations and wild-type pds had similar patterns of cross-resistance to the herbicides as observed in the in vitro assays. The Thr304 Hydrilla pds mutant proved to be an excellent marker for the selection of transgenic plants. Seedlings harbouring Thr304 pds had a maximum resistance to sensitivity (R/S) ratio of 57 and 14 times higher than that of the wild-type for treatments with norflurazon and fluridone, respectively. These plants exhibited normal growth and development, even after long-term exposure to herbicide. As Thr304 pds is of plant origin, it could become more acceptable than other selectable markers for use in genetically modified food. PMID: 17177802 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 5: Biotechnol J. 2006 Dec;1(12):1433-4. Consumer acceptance of ingenic foods. Lusk JL, Rozan A. Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA. jayson.lusk@okstate.edu Recent advances in plant molecular biology offer a means of reaping the benefits of biotechnology, while potentially assuaging consumer concerns by re-inserting native DNA back into plants. Results are presented from nationwide surveys in the U.S. and France, indicating that more consumers would accept ingenic plants than transgenic plants, with twice as many U.S. than French consumers considering food produced through biotechnology eatable. PMID: 17124706 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 6: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 29;54(24):8984-94. Applications of metabolomics in agriculture. Dixon RA, Gang DR, Charlton AJ, Fiehn O, Kuiper HA, Reynolds TL, Tjeerdema RS, Jeffery EH, German JB, Ridley WP, Seiber JN. Plant Biology Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA. Biological systems are exceedingly complex. The unraveling of the genome in plants and humans revealed fewer than the anticipated number of genes. Therefore, other processes such as the regulation of gene expression, the action of gene products, and the metabolic networks resulting from catalytic proteins must make fundamental contributions to the remarkable diversity inherent in living systems. Metabolomics is a relatively new approach aimed at improved understanding of these metabolic networks and the subsequent biochemical composition of plants and other biological organisms. Analytical tools within metabolomics including mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can profile the impact of time, stress, nutritional status, and environmental perturbation on hundreds of metabolites simultaneously resulting in massive, complex data sets. This information, in combination with transcriptomics and proteomics, has the potential to generate a more complete picture of the composition of food and feed products, to optimize crop trait development, and to enhance diet and health. Selected presentations from an American Chemical Society symposium held in March 2005 have been assembled to highlight the emerging application of metabolomics in agriculture. Publication Types: Review PMID: 17117782 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 7: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Nov;24(11):1329; author reply 1331-3. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):753. 'Cisgenic' as a product designation. Giddings LV. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 17093471 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 8: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Nov;24(11):1329-31; author reply 1331-3. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):753. 'Cisgenic' as a product designation. de Cock Buning T, Lammerts van Bueren ET, Haring MA, de Vriend HC, Struik PC. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 17093470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 9: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Nov;24(11):1327-9; author reply 1331-3. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):753. 'Cisgenic' as a product designation. Schubert D, Williams D. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 17093469 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 10: Nature. 2006 Nov 9;444(7116):137. A breed apart. [No authors listed] PMID: 17093424 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 11: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Nov;118(5):1176-83. Epub 2006 Sep 8. Reduced allergenicity of tomato fruits harvested from Lyc e 1-silenced transgenic tomato plants. Le LQ, Mahler V, Lorenz Y, Scheurer S, Biemelt S, Vieths S, Sonnewald U. Department of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. BACKGROUND: Profilin is a small actin-binding protein that contributes to the allergenic potency of many fruits and vegetables, including tomato. Two highly similar genes encoding tomato profilin have been isolated and designated as allergen Lyc e 1.01 and Lyc e 1.02. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to generate profilin-reduced hypoallergenic tomato fruits by silencing of both genes in transgenic tomato plants by means of RNA interference (RNAi). METHODS: The efficiency of gene silencing was documented by means of Northern blotting, immunoblotting, and skin prick testing. RESULTS: Quantification of the remaining protein revealed that profilin accumulation in transgenic fruits was decreased 10-fold compared with that seen in untransformed controls. This decrease was sufficient to cause a reduced allergenic reactivity in patients with tomato allergy, as determined with skin prick tests. Because most patients with tomato allergy are not monosensitized to profilin, the IgE reactivity to the profilin-silenced tomato fruits in vivo varied widely between individuals tested. CONCLUSION: We could demonstrate the efficient silencing of both profilin genes in transgenic tomato plants using RNAi. This resulted in Lyc e 1-diminished tomato fruits, providing proof of concept and demonstrating that RNAi can be used to design allergen-reduced food. However, simultaneous silencing of multiple allergens will be required to design hypoallergenic tomatoes. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of creating low-allergenic food by using RNAi. This concept constitutes a novel approach to allergen avoidance. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 17088146 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 12: J Vet Med Sci. 2006 Oct;68(10):1113-5. Effects of feeding calves genetically modified corn bt11: a clinico-biochemical study. Shimada N, Murata H, Mikami O, Yoshioka M, Guruge KS, Yamanaka N, Nakajima Y, Miyazaki S. Safety Research Team, National Institute of Animal Health, Ibaraki, Japan. Genetically modified corn Bt11 is insect-resistant and expresses Cry1Ab toxin, an insecticidal protein, in kernels. Although Bt11 corn is considered safe based on animal performance, there are no reports available on the clinico-biochemical effects of feeding it to cattle. In this study, we evaluated the effects of feeding Bt11 to calves, using blood and ruminal clinico-biochemical parameters. Our three-month-long feeding experiment demonstrated that calves (n=6), fed with a ration containing 43.3% of Bt11 corn kernels as dry matter, did not develop any discernible clinical, hematological, biochemical, or ruminal abnormalities as compared with control calves (n=6) fed non-Bt11 corn. The results suggest that the transgenic Bt11 has no negative clinico-biochemical effects on calves. Publication Types: Randomized Controlled Trial Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 17085894 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 13: Med Law. 2006 Sep;25(3):491-502. Biotechnology entrepreneurship and ethics: principles, paradigms, and products. Kuszler PC. University of Washington School of Law, William H Gates Hall, Seattle, USA. Biotechnology, whether in the context of new drugs derived from DNA and genetic technology, genetically modified food, or biologics making use of living cells, raises ethical concerns at a variety of different levels. At the research level, there is concern that the very nature of research is being subverted, rather than enhanced, by entrepreneurship. This area of ethical concern has intensified in the United States as a result of the conflicts of interests resulting from the growing alliance between University academia and private industry in the research enterprise. As we travel down the research path into development of a drug or technology, ethical questions arise with respect to protecting human subjects and society from danger and exploitation by researchers. As development gives way to marketing and dissemination of a new product, government regulators are pressed to get drugs and biologics through the regulatory pipeline into the market faster, walking an ethical tightrope between speed and safety. As new biotechnology products enter the market place, doctors and patients traverse yet another tightrope, that between unknown risk and the promise of benefit. And finally, patent protection is increasingly viewed as a unethical culprit in keeping prices high and depriving the global poor from lifesaving drugs and biologics. Bioethics has, to date, been largely a creation of Western research and medicine. As such it is wholly inadequate to respond to the cascade of ethical issues that flow from a vibrant biotechnology industry. And if biotechnology is in its infancy, as most believe, it is crucial that scientists, entrepreneurs and governments engage in dialogue about the ethical and societal questions raised on the road of scientific progress. PMID: 17078522 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 14: Gig Sanit. 2006 Jul-Aug;(4):7-11. [Hygienic characteristics of foodstuffs containing genetically modified components] [Article in Russian] Beliaev EN, Ivanov AA, Fokin MV. The paper analyzes the results of the investigations of raw foods, foodstuffs for genetically modified components, conducted by the state sanitary and epidemiological service of the Russian Federation during its current sanitary inspection. The presented materials cover 2003-2004. The findings suggest that there is a great deal of foods containing genetically modified sources on the market and show the priority groups of foodstuffs and the distribution of these foods on the territory of the Russian Federation. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 17078283 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 15: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 1;54(22):8640-7. Safety assessment of cre recombinase. Hileman RE, Bonner HK, Kaempfe TA, Hammond BG, Glenn KC. Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri 63167, USA. ronald.e.hileman@monsanto.com Cre recombinase, when used as a tool in agricultural biotechnology, can precisely excise DNA sequences that may be useful in the introduction of a new trait but are not needed in the commercial product. Although the cre genetic material would not be present in the final product, the present studies were performed to assess the safety of Cre recombinase to provide confirmatory evidence of the safe use of Cre-lox technology in agricultural biotechnology. Cre recombinase shares no relevant sequence similarity to known allergens or toxins. When Cre recombinase was exposed to a pH 1.2 solution of simulated gastric fluid lacking pepsin, CD spectroscopy showed that there was a loss of secondary structure and that the protein was no longer active in a functional assay. Cre recombinase was degraded rapidly when exposed to pepsin in a standardized gastric digestion model; therefore, Cre recombinase would not survive the harsh gastric environment. When orally administered to mice as an acute dosage of 53 mg/kg of body weight, no treatment-related adverse findings were observed. These data support the conclusion that human and animal dietary exposure to Cre recombinase pose no known safety concerns; consistent with the fact that bacteriophage P1, the source of the cre gene and expressed protein, is commonly encountered in the environment and in normal enteric bacteria without reports of adverse consequences. PMID: 17061845 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 16: J Agric Environ Ethics. 2006;19(3):253-67. Including public perspectives in industrial biotechnology and the biobased economy. Paula L, Birrer F. Institute of Biology, Biology and Society, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. lepaula@rulsfb.leidenuniv.nl Industrial ("white") biotechnology promises to contribute to a more sustainable future. Compared to current production processes, cases have been identified where industrial biotechnology can decrease the amount of energy and raw materials used to make products and also reduce the amount of emissions and waste produced during production. However, switching from products based on chemical production processes and fossil fuels towards "biobased" products is at present not necessarily economically viable. This is especially true for bulk products, for example ethanol production from biomass. Therefore, scientists are also turning to genetic modification as a means to develop organisms that can produce at lower costs. These include not only micro-organisms, but also organisms used in agriculture for food and feed. The use of genetic modification for "deliberate release" purposes, in particular, has met great opposition in Europe. Many industrial biotechnology applications may, due to their scale, entail deliberate releases of GM organisms. Thus, the biobased economy brings back a familiar question; is it ethically justifiable, and acceptable to citizens, to expose the environment and society to the risks associated with GM, in order to protect that same environment and to sustain our affluent way of life? For a successful innovation towards a biobased economy, its proponents, especially producers, need to take into account (take responsibility for) such issues when developing new products and processes. These issues, and how scientists can interact with citizens about them in a timely way, are further explored in projects at Delft University and Leiden University, also in collaboration with Utrecht University. PMID: 17061382 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 17: J Agric Environ Ethics. 2006;19(3):225-38. The moral difference between intragenic and transgenic modification of plants. Myskja BK. Department of Philosophy, NTNU Trondheim, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway. bjorn.myskja@hf.ntnu.no Public policy on the development and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has mainly been concerned with defining proper strategies of risk management. However, surveys and focus group interviews show that although lay people are concerned with risks, they also emphasize that genetic modification is ethically questionable in itself. Many people feel that this technology "tampers with nature" in an unacceptable manner. This is often identified as an objection to the crossing of species borders in producing transgenic organisms. Most scientists reject these opinions as based on insufficient knowledge about biotechnology, the concept of species, and nature in general. Some recent projects of genetic modification aim to accommodate the above mentioned concerns by altering the expression of endogenous genes rather than introducing genes from other species. There can be good scientific reasons for this approach, in addition to strategic reasons related to greater public acceptability. But are there also moral reasons for choosing intragenic rather than transgenic modification? I suggest three interrelated moral reasons for giving priority to intragenic modification. First, we should respect the opinions of lay people even when their view is contrary to scientific consensus; they express an alternative world-view, not scientific ignorance. Second, staying within species borders by strengthening endogenous traits reduces the risks and scientific uncertainty. Third, we should show respect for nature as a complex system of laws and interconnections that we cannot fully control. The main moral reason for intragenic modification, in our view, is the need to respect the "otherness" of nature. PMID: 17061380 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 18: Dev Biol (Basel). 2006;126:79-86; discussion 324-5. In-house validation and quality control of real-time PCR methods for GMO detection: a practical approach. Ciabatti I, Froiio A, Gatto F, Amaddeo D, Marchesi U. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio e Toscana, National Reference Center for GMO Analysis, Rome, Italy. iciabatti@rm.izs.it GMO detection and quantification methods in the EU are mainly based on real-time PCR. The analytical methods in use must be validated, first on an intra-laboratory scale and through a collaborative trial thereafter. Since a consensual protocol for intra-laboratory validation of real-time PCR methods is lacking, we provide a practical approach for the in-house validation of quantitative real-time PCR methods, establishing acceptability criteria and quality controls for PCR runs. Parameters such as limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, trueness, linear dynamic range, PCR efficiency, robustness and specificity are considered. The protocol is sufficiently detailed to be directly applicable, increases the reliability of results and their harmonization among different laboratories, and represents a necessary preliminary step before proceeding to a time-consuming and costly full validation study. PMID: 17058483 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 19: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Oct;24(10):1178. Parallel universes? [No authors listed] An EU Commissioner has a meeting of minds with an antibiotech agitator. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 17033639 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 20: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Oct;24(10):1177. Why silence is not an option. [No authors listed] GM products will continue to be marginalized in Europe as long as industry remains silent. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 17033637 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 21: Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol. 2006 Jul-Aug;42(4):485-8. [Accuracy of a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction assay for a quantitative estimation of genetically modified sources in food products] [Article in Russian] Abramov DD, Trofimov DIu, Rebrikov DV. The accuracy of a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction assay for genetically modified sources in food products was determined using two official test systems (kits) of primers and samples. These kits were recommended by the Federal Center of State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance (Russian Ministry of Health) and the European Commission. We used the following three models of thermocyclers: iCycler iQ (BioRad, United States), Rotor-Gene 3000 (Corbett Research, Australia), and DT-322 (DNA-Technology, Russia). Studies of samples that contained 1% genetically modified sources showed that the error of a quantitative assay for genetically modified sources in food products corresponds to 20-30% and does not depend on the kit type and the thermocycler model used. Publication Types: Comparative Study English Abstract PMID: 17022461 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 22: Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2004;21:325-67. Design of safe and biologically contained transgenic plants: tools and technologies for controlled transgene flow and expression. Gleba Y, Marillonnet S, Klimyuk V. Icon Genetics AG, Biozentrum Halle, Weinbergweg 22, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany. gleba@icongenetics.de Publication Types: Review PMID: 17017039 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 23: Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2004;21:299-324. Safety testing and regulation of genetically engineered foods. Freese W, Schubert D. Friends of the Earth U.S., 1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036, USA. Publication Types: Review PMID: 17017038 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 24: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Aug;47(4):146-50. Detection method for genetically modified papaya using duplex PCR. Yamaguchi A, Shimizu K, Mishima T, Aoki N, Hattori H, Sato H, Ueda N, Watanabe T, Hino A, Akiyama H, Maitani T. Japan Food Research Laboratories, Chitose: 2-3, Bunkyo, Chitose-shi, Hokkaido 066-0052, Japan. A simple and rapid method for the identification of genetically modified (GM) papaya, derived from Line 55-1, was developed by modifying the Japanese official PCR method. Genomic DNA was directly extracted from the fresh fruit without the lyophilization step, using a commercial silica-based kit. To develop a duplex PCR method which simultaneously detects the GM papaya-specific gene and the intrinsic papain gene, the papain 2-5'/3' (amplicon size; 184 bp) primer pair for the detection of the papain gene was newly designed within the region of the products (211 bp) amplified using the papain 1-5'/-3' primer pair adopted in the Japanese official PCR method. To detect the GM papaya-specific gene, the primer pair Nos C-5'/CaM N-3' described in the Japanese official method was used. The DNA sequences of the GM papaya gene and the intrinsic papain gene were co-amplified using the PCR method in a single tube. The developed duplex PCR method allows the simultaneous detection of the products by means of agarose gel electrophoresis or microchip electrophoresis. The proposed method for GM papaya identification is simple and rapid. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16984033 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 25: Curr Biol. 2006 Aug 8;16(15):R563-4. GMOs still rankle in Europe. Williamson N. Publication Types: News PMID: 16953534 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 26: Public Health Nutr. 2006 Aug;9(5):662-3. Comment on: Public Health Nutr. 2005 Sep;8(6A):673-94. How far should nutrition reach? Kent G. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 16923303 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 27: J AOAC Int. 2006 Jul-Aug;89(4):913-28. Immunoassay as an analytical tool in agricultural biotechnology. Grothaus GD, Bandla M, Currier T, Giroux R, Jenkins GR, Lipp M, Shan G, Stave JW, Pantella V. EnviroLogix Inc, 500 Riverside Industrial Pkwy, Portland, ME 04103, USA. davidgrothaus@envirologix.com Immunoassays for biotechnology engineered proteins are used by AgBiotech companies at numerous points in product development and by feed and food suppliers for compliance and contractual purposes. Although AgBiotech companies use the technology during product development and seed production, other stakeholders from the food and feed supply chains, such as commodity, food, and feed companies, as well as third-party diagnostic testing companies, also rely on immunoassays for a number of purposes. The primary use of immunoassays is to verify the presence or absence of genetically modified (GM) material in a product or to quantify the amount of GM material present in a product. This article describes the fundamental elements of GM analysis using immunoassays and especially its application to the testing of grains. The 2 most commonly used formats are lateral flow devices (LFD) and plate-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The main applications of both formats are discussed in general, and the benefits and drawbacks are discussed in detail. The document highlights the many areas to which attention must be paid in order to produce reliable test results. These include sample preparation, method validation, choice of appropriate reference materials, and biological and instrumental sources of error. The article also discusses issues related to the analysis of different matrixes and the effects they may have on the accuracy of the immunoassays. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 16915826 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 28: Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2006 Jul-Aug;10(4):197-206. Benefits and concerns associated with biotechnology-derived foods: can additional research reduce children health risks? Cantani A. Allergy and Clinical Immunology Division, Pediatric Department, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. The development of techniques devised for the genetic manipulation of foods poses new risks for children with food allergy (FA). The introduction of foreign allergenic proteins from different foods into previously tolerated foods may trigger allergic reactions, often complicating with anaphylactic shock in a subset of allergic babies. Children with FA, even if subjected to preventative diets, always challenge the risk of developing allergic manifestations after unintentional intake of a non tolerated food in restaurant settings, with relatives or schoolmates, etc, where product labelling is necessarily lacking. The introduction of potentially allergenic proteins into foods generally considered safe for allergic children can be done deliberately, by either substantially altering the food ingredients, or by genetic manipulation which change the composition or transfer allergens, or unintentionally by quality-control failures, due to contaminations in the production process, or to genetic mismanipulation. There is a controversy between multinationals often favored by governments and consumer association resistance, thus an equidistant analysis poses some unprecedented impediments. The importance of FA and the potential of transgenic plants to bring food allergens into the food supply should not be disregarded. The expression in soybeans of a Brazil nut protein resulted in a food allergen expressed in widely used infant formulas, so paving the way to an often reported multinational debacle. Genetic engineering poses innovative ethical and social concerns, as well as serious challenges to the environment, human health, animal welfare, and the future of agriculture. In this paper will be emphasized practical concepts more crucial for pediatricians. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16910351 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 29: J Environ Health. 2006 Jul-Aug;69(1):33-4. The ethical dilemma of genetically modified food. Jefferson V. National Capital Area Environmental Health Association, Clinton, MD 20735, USA. Val.Jefferson@verizon.net PMID: 16910106 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 30: Food Drug Law J. 2006;61(2):197-235. Health and food safety: the benefits of Bt-corn. Kershen DL. University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Okla., USA. PMID: 16903029 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 31: Food Drug Law J. 2006;61(2):167-96. The international regulation of genetically modified organisms: importing caution into the U.S. food supply. Strauss DM. Fairfield University, Charles F. Dolan School of Business, Fairfield, Conn., USA. PMID: 16903028 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 32: Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Aug;114(8):1154-7. Digestion assays in allergenicity assessment of transgenic proteins. Herman RA, Storer NP, Gao Y. Dow AgroSciences LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, USA. raherman@dow.com The food-allergy risk assessment for transgenic proteins expressed in crops is currently based on a weight-of-evidence approach that holistically considers multiple lines of evidence. This approach recognizes that no single test or property is known to distinguish allergens from nonallergens. The stability of a protein to digestion, as predicted by an in vitro simulated gastric fluid assay, currently is used as one element in the risk assessment process. A review of the literature on the use of the simulated gastric fluid assay to predict the allergenic status of proteins suggests that more extensive kinetic studies with well-characterized reference proteins are required before the predictive value of this assay can be adequately judged. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16882518 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 33: EMBO Rep. 2006 Aug;7(8):750-3. Cisgenic plants are similar to traditionally bred plants: international regulations for genetically modified organisms should be altered to exempt cisgenesis. Schouten HJ, Krens FA, Jacobsen E. Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands. henk.schouten@wur.nl Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16880817 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 34: Postepy Biochem. 2006;52(1):7-9. [Biochemistry as a background of modern biotechnology] [Article in Polish] Twardowski T. Instytut Chemii Bioorganicznej PAN i Politechnika Lodzka, ul. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan. twardows@ibch.poznan.pl PMID: 16869296 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 35: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Jun;47(3):111-4. A detection method of CryIAc protein for identifying genetically modified rice using the lateral flow strip assay. Akiyama H, Watanabe T, Kikuchi H, Sakata K, Tokishita S, Hayashi Y, Hino A, Teshima R, Sawada J, Maitani T. National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. We examined the lateral flow strip assay for identifying unauthorized genetically modified (GM) rice. The GM rice expresses the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin, CryIAc protein, which confers tolerance to insects. The recombinant CryIAc protein was prepared from the inclusion bodies of an E. coli. strain into which the CryIAc gene had been inserted, using gel filtration chromatography. The lateral flow strip assay for the identification of GM cotton which also expresses CryIAc protein, was applied to unpolished rice and polished rice spiked with recombinant CryIAc protein. The spiked recombinant CryIAc protein was clearly detected at the level of 0.012 microg/g in both the unpolished and polished rice. After loading of the extract on the strip, a 60 -minute stand time is necessary to clearly detect CryIAc protein. The detection limit was approximately 12 ng CryIAc protein per gram of rice. These results suggest that the lateral flow strip assay for GM cotton can be used to detect CryIAc protein expressed in GM rice. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16862988 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 36: J Biotechnol. 2006 Dec 15;127(1):161-6. Epub 2006 Jun 12. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of genetically modified organisms. Yoke-Kqueen C, Radu S. Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. ykcheah@medic.upm.edu.my Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to analyzed 78 samples comprises of certified reference materials (soya and maize powder), raw seeds (soybean and maize), processed food and animal feed. Combination assay of two arbitrary primers in the RAPD analysis enable to distinguish genetically modified organism (GMO) reference materials from the samples tested. Dendrogram analysis revealed 13 clusters at 45% similarity from the RAPD. RAPD analysis showed that the maize and soybean samples were clustered differently besides the GMO and non-GMO products. PMID: 16860900 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 37: Annu Rev Nutr. 2006;26:75-103. Innovative dietary sources of n-3 fatty acids. Whelan J, Rust C. Department of Nutrition, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1920, USA. jwhelan@utk.edu It is now established that dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are involved in health promotion and disease prevention, particularly those traditionally derived from marine sources (e.g., eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). A number of organizations have made specific recommendations for the general population to increase their intakes of these nutrients. In response to and along with these recommendations, n-3 PUFAs are being incorporated into nontraditional food sources because of advances in the technology to safely enrich/fortify our food supply. Fatty acid compositions of traditional oils (e.g., canola and soybean) are being genetically modified to deliver more highly concentrated sources of n-3 PUFA. The advent of algal sources of docosahexaenoic acid provides one of the few terrestrial sources of this fatty acid in a concentrated form. All of this is possible because of newer technologies (microencapsulation) and improved processing techniques that ensure stability and preserve the integrity of these unstable fatty acids. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16848701 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 38: S Afr Med J. 2006 Jun;96(6):509-10. Genetically modified crops--playing a positive role in sustainable development in Africa. Thomson JA. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa. jat@science.uct.ac.za PMID: 16841131 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 39: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):735. Elliot Entis. Powell K. Publication Types: News PMID: 16841044 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 40: Risk Anal. 2006 Jun;26(3):657-70. Examining consumer behavior toward genetically modified (GM) food in Britain. Spence A, Townsend E. RASPH, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. lpxas@psychology.nottingham.ac.uk This study examined behavior toward genetically modified (GM) food in a British community-based sample. We used an equivalent gain task in which participants actually received the options they chose to encourage truthful responding. In conjunction with this, theory of planned behavior (TPB) components were evaluated so as to examine the relative importance of behavioral influences in this domain. Here, the TPB was extended to include additional components to measure self-identity, moral norms, and emotional involvement. Results indicated that the monetary amounts participants accepted in preference to GM food were significantly lower than those accepted in preference to non-GM food. However, the vast majority of participants were indifferent between GM and non-GM food options. All TPB components significantly predicted behavioral intentions to try GM food, with attitudes toward GM being the strongest predictor. Self-identity and emotional involvement were also found to be significant predictors of behavioral intentions but moral norms were not. In addition, behavioral intentions significantly predicted behavior; however, PBC did not. An additional measure of participants' propensity to respond in a socially desirable manner indicated that our results were not influenced by self-presentation issues, giving confidence to our findings. Overall, it appears that the majority of participants (74.5%) would purchase GM food at some price. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16834625 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 41: Sci Technol Human Values. 2006 Jan;31(1):8-28. Genetic technologies meet the public: the discourses of concern. Lassen J, Jamison A. Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark. jlas@kvl.dk To clarify concerns that the public has with genetic technologies, the article presents the results of focus group interviews conducted in Denmark in 2000. The concerns of the public are divided into three ideal-typical categories: social (dealing with environmental and health risks), economic (dealing with both the threats and opportunities of the new technologies), and cultural (taking up ethical and moral concerns). Following a general discussion of why it is important to take these discourses of concern seriously, each discursive category is discussed with examples taken from the focus group interviews. PMID: 16832965 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 42: Public Aff Q. 2006 Apr;20(2):135-61. Gene patents and Lockean constraints. Shrader-Frechette K. University of Notre Dame, USA. PMID: 16832963 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 43: J AOAC Int. 2006 May-Jun;89(3):893-7. Surface plasmon resonance for detection of genetically modified organisms in the food supply. Gambari R, Feriotto G. Ferrara University, Biotechnology Center, 44100, Ferrara, Italy. gam@dns.unife.it A review is presented demonstrating that biospecific interaction analysis, using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and biosensor technologies is a simple, rapid, and automatable approach to detect genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Using SPR, we were able to monitor in real-time the hybridization between oligonucleotide or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-generated probes and target single-stranded PCR products obtained by using as substrates DNA isolated from normal or transgenic soybean and maize. This procedure allows a one-step, nonradioactive detection of GMOs. PCR-generated probes are far more efficient in detecting GMOs than are oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes. This is expected to be a very important parameter, because information on low percentage of GMOs is of great value. Determination of the ability of SPR-based analysis to quantify GMOs should be considered a major research field for future studies, especially for the analyses of food supplies. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 16792091 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 44: Food Nutr Bull. 2006 Jun;27(2):167-79. Agricultural biodiversity, nutrition, and health: making a difference to hunger and nutrition in the developing world. Frison EA, Smith IF, Johns T, Cherfas J, Eyzaguirre PB. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. e.frison@cgiar.org BACKGROUND: In spite of the strides made globally in reducing hunger, the problems of micronutrient deficiencies and coexisting obesity and related cardiovascular and degenerative diseases constitute a formidable challenge for the future. Attempts to reverse this trend with single-nutrient intervention strategies have met with limited success, resulting in renewed calls for food-based approaches. The deployment of agricultural biodiversity is an approach that entails greater use of local biodiversity to ensure dietary diversity. OBJECTIVE: To outline a new strategy proposed by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) that employs agricultural biodiversity as the primary resource for food security and health. METHODS: The authors carried out a meta-analysis to review and assemble existing information on the nutritional and healthful properties of traditional foods based on a diverse set of case studies and food composition and nutritional analysis studies. The methods highlight particular examples of foods where analysis of nutrient and non-nutrient composition reveals important traits to address the growing problems of malnutrition associated with the rise of chronic diseases. Finally, the authors analyze social, economic, and cultural changes that undermine the healthful components of traditional diets. RESULTS: Based on this multidisciplinary and comparative approach, the authors suggest a holistic food-based approach that combines research to assess and document nutritional and healthful properties of traditional foods, investigating options in which nutritionally valuable traditional foods can contribute to better livelihoods, and ways that awareness and promotional campaigns can identify healthful components of traditional diets that fit the needs of urban and market-oriented consumers. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need for agricultural research centers, national agricultural research systems, universities, and community-based organizations to work together under a shared policy framework with the aim of developing a strong evidence base linking biodiversity, nutrition, and health. Although these initiatives are still ongoing, the gains realized in small-scale and local pilot efforts have encouraged IPGRI to work with local partners toward the implementation of scale-up efforts in various regions. Publication Types: Meta-Analysis Review PMID: 16786983 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 45: Plant Mol Biol. 2006 May;61(1-2):123-39. A microarray-based detection system for genetically modified (GM) food ingredients. Leimanis S, Hernandez M, Fernandez S, Boyer F, Burns M, Bruderer S, Glouden T, Harris N, Kaeppeli O, Philipp P, Pla M, Puigdomenech P, Vaitilingom M, Bertheau Y, Remacle J. Unite de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire (URBC), Faculte Universitaire Notre Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium. A multiplex DNA microarray chip was developed for simultaneous identification of nine genetically modified organisms (GMOs), five plant species and three GMO screening elements, i.e. the 35S promoter, the nos terminator and the nptII gene. The chips also include several controls, such as that for the possible presence of CaMV. The on-chip detection was performed directly with PCR amplified products. Particular emphasis was placed on the reduction of the number of PCR reactions required and on the number of primers present per amplification tube. The targets were biotin labelled and the arrays were detected using a colorimetric methodology. Specificity was provided by specific capture probes designed for each GMO and for the common screening elements. The sensitivity of the assay was tested by experiments carried out in five different laboratories. The limit of detection was lower than 0.3% GMO for all tests and in general around 0.1% for most GMOs. The chip detection system complies with the requirements of current EU regulations and other countries where thresholds are established for the labelling of GMO. Publication Types: Evaluation Studies Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16786296 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 46: Transgenic Res. 2006 Jun;15(3):277-89. Mycotoxin reduction in Bt corn: potential economic, health, and regulatory impacts. Wu F. Environmental, Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. fwu@eoh.pitt.edu Genetically modified (GM) Bt corn, through the pest protection that it confers, has lower levels of mycotoxins: toxic and carcinogenic chemicals produced as secondary metabolites of fungi that colonize crops. In some cases, the reduction of mycotoxins afforded by Bt corn is significant enough to have an economic impact, both in terms of domestic markets and international trade. In less developed countries where certain mycotoxins are significant contaminants of food, Bt corn adoption, by virtue of its mycotoxin reduction, may even improve human and animal health. This paper describes an integrated assessment model that analyzes the economic and health impacts of two mycotoxins in corn: fumonisin and aflatoxin. It was found that excessively strict standards of these two mycotoxins could result in global trade losses in the hundreds of millions US dollars annually, with the US, China, and Argentina suffering the greatest losses. The paper then discusses the evidence for Bt corn's lower levels of contamination of fumonisin and aflatoxin, and estimates economic impacts in the United States. A total benefit of Bt corn's reduction of fumonisin and aflatoxin in the US was estimated at 23 million dollars annually. Finally, the paper examines the potential policy impacts of Bt corn's mycotoxin reduction, on nations that are making a decision on whether to allow commercialization of this genetically modified crop. PMID: 16779644 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 47: Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2006 Summer;3(2):157-62. Food safety--who is responsible? Rollin BE. Department of Philosophy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1781, USA. Bernard.Rollin@colostate.edu Though scientists believe that issues of risk can be handled without appeal to values in general or ethics in particular, this is demonstrably false. The very notion of risk is enmeshed in a complex of social ethics. This is clearly true with regard to food safety. With this in mind, it is plausible to affirm that responsibility for food safety at a given point in the chain from producer to consumer rests with the person or entity under whose control the management of that risk most plausibly lies. This principle is illustrated with various examples and with clear cases of industry shouldering and avoiding responsibility. An additional ethical concern relevant to food safety arises from genetically modified foods. Given that the situation here is uncertain and risk unknown, it is hard to see who is responsible for managing such risks. It is arguable that this situation militates in favor of labeling, since consumers are in effect research subjects. The reasonable moral approach to risk we have outlined is jeopardized by the societal tendency towards "victimology" and abrogation of personal responsibility. In such a world, it is incumbent on industry to educate the public with regard to consumer minimization of food safety risks, the impossibility of zero-risk situations, and the economic costs to freedom of protectionism. PMID: 16761941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 48: Mol Nutr Food Res. 2006 Jul;50(7):604-9. Review of the development of methodology for evaluating the human allergenic potential of novel proteins. Taylor SL. University of Nebraska, Food Allergy Research & Resource Program, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, USA. staylor2@unl.edu Safety assessment of novel proteins in genetic-engineered foods is a key component of the overall safety evaluation for these products. Since allergens are typically proteins, assessment of the potential allergenicity of the novel proteins in genetically engineered foods is critical. This article reviews methods available to assess the potential allergenicity of novel proteins, as well as problems and deficiencies in the existing methods. The role of bioinformatics and knowledge of allergenic epitopes in developing new approaches to this problem is discussed. Publication Types: Comparative Study Review PMID: 16736463 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 49: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Apr;47(2):J185-8. [Codex ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology] [Article in Japanese] Umeda T. Department of Food Safety, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan. PMID: 16729673 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 50: Nature. 2006 May 11;441(7090):149. Challengers in the field. Macilwain C. PMID: 16688145 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 51: Trends Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):305-11. Epub 2006 May 6. Genetic engineering of wheat--current challenges and opportunities. Bhalla PL. Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. premlb@unimelb.edu.au Wheat is one of the major staple food crops grown worldwide; however, productivity in cereal crops has not kept pace with the world population growth. A significant increase in wheat production (>40% by 2020) is needed simply to keep up with the growing demand. This increase is unlikely to be achieved by conventional plant breeding methods because of the limited gene pool available. The application of recombinant techniques to improve wheat quality and yield is not only desirable but also has potential to open up new opportunities. Although there has been significant progress in developing gene-transformation technologies for improving these traits, this remains an important challenge for plant biotechnology. Obstacles to translate the full potential of the genomic era to wheat breeding include the need to develop elite wheat varieties without selectable markers, introducing minimal or nil intergenic DNA and social and market issues concerning genetically engineered food products. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 16682090 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 52: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 May;24(5):498; author reply 499. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Nov;23(11):1348-9. Transgenic plant science priorities. Pelletier D. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 16680123 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 53: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 May;24(5):481. US-Indian agbiotech deal under scrutiny. Jayaraman KS. Publication Types: News PMID: 16680115 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 54: J Am Diet Assoc. 2006 May;106(5):719-27. Use of a risk communication model to evaluate dietetics professionals' viewpoints on genetically engineered foods and crops. Roberts KS, Struble MB, McCullum-Gomez C, Wilkins JL. Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ, USA. KRoberts@cse.edu The complex issues surrounding the application of genetic engineering to food and agriculture have generated a contentious debate among diverse interest groups. One pervasive dimension in the resultant discourse is the varying perceptions of the risks and benefits of genetically engineered foods and crops. In the risk communication model, technical information is evaluated within the context of an individual's values and perceptions. The purpose of this study was to explore how dietetics professionals respond to a complex set of interrelated issues associated with genetically engineered foods and crops and to identify what varying viewpoints may exist. Participants were asked to sort a total of 48 statements distributed across eight issue areas according to level of agreement and disagreement. Using Q methodology, a total of 256 sortings were analyzed using the centroid method and varimax rotation in factor analysis. Three distinct viewpoints emerged: Precautionary (R(2)=43%), Discerning Supporter (R(2)=11%), and Promoting (R(2)=5%). Across all viewpoints, respondents agreed that dietetics professionals should employ critical thinking skills to communicate the social, economic, environmental, ethical, and technical aspects of genetically engineered foods and crops. The findings have implications for how dietetics professionals can foster an open interchange of information among diverse groups. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16647331 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 55: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2006 Aug;71(5):598-607. Epub 2006 Apr 26. Genetically modified crops: success, safety assessment, and public concern. Singh OV, Ghai S, Paul D, Jain RK. Department of Pediatrics, The John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. osingh1@jhmi.edu With the emergence of transgenic technologies, new ways to improve the agronomic performance of crops for food, feed, and processing applications have been devised. In addition, ability to express foreign genes using transgenic technologies has opened up options for producing large quantities of commercially important industrial or pharmaceutical products in plants. Despite this high adoption rate and future promises, there is a multitude of concerns about the impact of genetically modified (GM) crops on the environment. Potential contamination of the environment and food chains has prompted detailed consideration of how such crops and the molecules that they produce can be effectively isolated and contained. One of the reasonable steps after creating a transgenic plant is to evaluate its potential benefits and risks to the environment and these should be compared to those generated by traditional agricultural practices. The precautionary approach in risk management of GM plants may make it necessary to monitor significant wild and weed populations that might be affected by transgene escape. Effective risk assessment and monitoring mechanisms are the basic prerequisites of any legal framework to adequately address the risks and watch out for new risks. Several agencies in different countries monitor the release of GM organisms or frame guidelines for the appropriate application of recombinant organisms in agro-industries so as to assure the safe use of recombinant organisms and to achieve sound overall development. We feel that it is important to establish an internationally harmonized framework for the safe handling of recombinant DNA organisms within a few years. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16639559 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 56: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 May 3;54(9):3173-80. Need for an "integrated safety assessment" of GMOs, linking food safety and environmental considerations. Haslberger AG. Vienna Ecology Center, Department for Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 2, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. alexander.haslberger@univie.ac.at Evidence for substantial environmental influences on health and food safety comes from work with environmental health indicators which show that agroenvironmental practices have direct and indirect effects on human health, concluding that "the quality of the environment influences the quality and safety of foods" [Fennema, O. Environ. Health Perspect. 1990, 86, 229-232). In the field of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Codex principles have been established for the assessment of GM food safety and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety outlines international principles for an environmental assessment of living modified organisms. Both concepts also contain starting points for an assessment of health/food safety effects of GMOs in cases when the environment is involved in the chain of events that could lead to hazards. The environment can act as a route of unintentional entry of GMOs into the food supply, such as in the case of gene flow via pollen or seeds from GM crops, but the environment can also be involved in changes of GMO-induced agricultural practices with relevance for health/food safety. Examples for this include potential regional changes of pesticide uses and reduction in pesticide poisonings resulting from the use of Bt crops or influences on immune responses via cross-reactivity. Clearly, modern methods of biotechnology in breeding are involved in the reasons behind the rapid reduction of local varieties in agrodiversity, which constitute an identified hazard for food safety and food security. The health/food safety assessment of GM foods in cases when the environment is involved needs to be informed by data from environmental assessment. Such data might be especially important for hazard identification and exposure assessment. International organizations working in these areas will very likely be needed to initiate and enable cooperation between those institutions responsible for the different assessments, as well as for exchange and analysis of information. An integrated assessment might help to focus and save capacities in highly technical areas such as molecular characterization or profiling, which are often necessary for both assessments. In the area of establishing international standards for traded foods, such as for the newly created Standards in Trade and Development Facility (STDF), an integrated assessment might help in the consideration of important environmental aspects involved in health and food safety. Furthermore, an established integrated view on GMOs may create greater consumer confidence in the technology. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16637668 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 57: Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2006 Apr;70(4):821-7. Quantification of genetically modified soybeans using a combination of a capillary-type real-time PCR system and a plasmid reference standard. Toyota A, Akiyama H, Sugimura M, Watanabe T, Kikuchi H, Kanamori H, Hino A, Esaka M, Maitani T. Hiroshima Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environment, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan. Because the labeling of grains and feed- and foodstuffs is mandatory if the genetically modified organism (GMO) content exceeds a certain level of approved genetically modified varieties in many countries, there is a need for a rapid and useful method of GMO quantification in food samples. In this study, a rapid detection system was developed for Roundup Ready Soybean (RRS) quantification using a combination of a capillary-type real-time PCR system, a LightCycler real-time PCR system, and plasmid DNA as the reference standard. In addition, we showed for the first time that the plasmid and genomic DNA should be similar in the established detection system because the PCR efficiencies of using plasmid DNA and using genomic DNA were not significantly different. The conversion factor (Cf) to calculate RRS content (%) was further determined from the average value analyzed in three laboratories. The accuracy and reproducibility of this system for RRS quantification at a level of 5.0% were within a range from 4.46 to 5.07% for RRS content and within a range from 2.0% to 7.0% for the relative standard deviation (RSD) value, respectively. This system rapidly monitored the labeling system and had allowable levels of accuracy and precision. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16636447 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 58: Environ Biosafety Res. 2005 Jul-Sep;4(3):179-88. Potential adoption and management of insect-resistant potato in Peru, and implications for genetically engineered potato. Buijs J, Martinet M, de Mendiburu F, Ghislain M. International Potato Center, Apartado 1558, Lima 12, Peru. jasper_buijs25@yahoo.com This paper analyzes some important issues surrounding possible deployment of genetically engineered (GE) insect-resistant potato in Peru, based on a large farmer survey held in Peru in 2003. We found that the formal seed system plays a limited role compared with the informal seed system, especially for smallholder farmers. Although 97% of smallholder farmers would buy seed of an insect-resistant variety, a majority would buy it only once every 2 to 4 years. Survey data show that farmers would be willing to pay a premium of 50% on seed cost for insect resistant varieties. Paying price premiums of 25% to 50%, farmers would still increase their net income, assuming insect resistance is high and pesticide use will be strongly reduced. Of all farmers, 55% indicated preference for insect-resistant potato in varieties other than their current varieties. The survey indicates that smallholder farmers are interested to experiment with new varieties and have a positive perception of improved varieties. Based on these findings, and considering the difficulties implementing existing biosafety regulatory systems such as those in place in the U.S. and E.U., we propose to develop a variety-based segregation system to separate GE from conventionally bred potatoes. In such a system, which would embrace the spread of GE potatoes through informal seed systems, only a limited number of sterile varieties would be introduced that are easily distinguishable from conventional varieties. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16634223 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 59: Sci Cult (Lond). 2005 Dec;14(4):393-410. Asilomar's legacy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Rogers-Hayden T. Centre for Environmental Risk, Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglis, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. T.Rogers-Hayden@uea.ac.uk Publication Types: Historical Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16622954 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 60: Sci Cult (Lond). 2005 Dec;14(4):373-92. Genetic engineering regulation in Australia: an 'archaeology' of expertise and power. Hindmarsh R. Australian School of Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, 4111, Australia. r.hindmarsh@griffith.edu.au Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16622953 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 61: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Feb;47(1):15-27. [Laboratory-performance study of quantitative PCR methods to analyze an approved genetically modified maize (Mon810 Line)] [Article in Japanese] Watanabe T, Kasama K, Kikuchi H, Suzuki T, Tokishita S, Sakata K, Matsuki A, Hino A, Akiyama H, Maitani T. National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. A laboratory-performance study was carried out to investigate factors affecting the reliability of the quantitative PCR method to analyze an approved genetically modified (GM) maize (Mon810 line). Test maize powdered samples were prepared as blind samples containing a high (assigned value; 5.45%) or low (assigned value; 0.35%) concentration of the Mon810 line. After confirmation of their homogeneity, they were provided to 27 laboratories participating in the collaborative study. The data were collected from all laboratories and statistically analyzed. Two laboratories, which used a Roche LightCycler (LC), reported significantly high test values. A further examination showed that the LC method is greatly affected by the equipment itself or PCR reagents, resulting in poor repeatability. On the other hand, some laboratories, which used ABI quantitative PCR equipment, reported erroneous test values. In these laboratories, the errors appeared to have been due to inadequate quality and/or yield of DNA. To identify factors affecting the test values, analysis of the measured values for the taxon-specific gene will be useful. Furthermore, the modified silica-gel membrane DNA extraction method made it possible to extract the required amounts of DNA more easily and in a shorter time than before. Publication Types: English Abstract Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16619852 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 62: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2006 Feb;47(1):9-14. Investigation of false-positive reactions for CBH351 maize in screening PCR analysis. Monma K, Moriuchi R, Sagi N, Ichikawa H, Satoh K, Tobe T, Kamata K. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1, Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan. Examination for CBH351 maize was conducted by the qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in maize grain and maize processed foods obtained in the Tokyo area. The numbers of samples possibly positive in the screening test were 7 of 22 (31.8%) for maize grain samples, 4 of 14 (28.6%) for semi-processed foods, 11 of 30 (36.7%) for canned products, 3 of 30 (10.0%) for maize snacks, 3 of 4 (75%) for tacos and 1 of 3 (33.3%) for tortillas. However, CBH351 maize was not detected in the confirmation test. Therefore, the results of the screening test were false-positive. Since the reaction might have been caused by the base sequences of the 3'-end of primers CaM03-5' and CBH02-3' used in the screening test, a new primer pair was designed. The PCR products obtained with the new primer pair TMC2-5'--TMS2-3' were specific for CBH351 and were not obtained with barley, wheat, rice, RRS, Bt11, or Event176. Thus, the new primer pair shows high specificity. CBH351 maize was detected from samples containing at least 0.05% CBH 351 maize DNA by using this primer pair. PMID: 16619851 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 63: Sci Cult (Lond). 2005 Dec;14(4):355-72. Genetically modified survival: red and green biotechnology in Israel. Prainsack B, Firestine O. Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, Universitaetsstrasse 7, A-1010 Wein, Austria. barbara.prainsack@univie.ac.at PMID: 16619470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 64: Sci Cult (Lond). 2005 Dec;14(4):339-53. The long and winding road from Asilomar to Brussels: science, politics and the public in biotechnology and regulation. Abels G. Institute for Science and Technology Studies, Bielefeld University, P.O. Box 10 01 31, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany. abels@iwt.uni-bielefeld.de Publication Types: Historical Article PMID: 16619469 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 65: Food Nutr Bull. 2005 Dec;26(4):403-52. Proceedings of the Symposium and Workshop on Biotechnology Derived Nutritious Foods: Challenges and Opportunities in Asia. February 29-March 1, 2004, Bali, Indonesia. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Congresses Overall PMID: 16619434 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 66: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Apr 19;54(8):2799-809. Coherence between legal requirements and approaches for detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their derived products. Holst-Jensen A, De Loose M, Van den Eede G. National Veterinary Institute, Ullevaalsveien 68, P.O. Box 8156 Dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway. arne.holst-jensen@vetinst.no Analytical methods for the qualitative and quantitative detection of genetically modified (GM) products may serve multiple purposes. Legal requirements differ among jurisdictions, ranging from no requirements to mandatory use of event-specific quantitation and implementation of production chain traceability. Although efforts have been taken to harmonize the analytical methodology at national, regional, and international levels, no normative international standards have yet been established. Lack of coherence between analytical methodologies and their applicabilities, on the one hand, and legislation, on the other hand, is a major problem. Here, key points where coherence is lacking are discussed. These include the definition of units of measurements, expression of GM material quantities, terminology, and inconsistent legal status of products derived from related but slightly different transformation routes. Finally, recommendations to improve the coherence are brought forward, including guidance to stakeholders for prediction of product-specific GM material quantities from gene ratios in the originating seed. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16608192 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 67: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006 Mar;96(3 Suppl 2):S1-68. Food allergy: a practice parameter. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Publication Types: Practice Guideline PMID: 16597066 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 68: Risk Anal. 2006 Apr;26(2):455-70. Loss of agro-biodiversity, uncertainty, and perceived control: a comparative risk perception study in Austria and China. Schmidt MR, Wei W. University of Vienna, Institute of Risk Research, Vienna, Austria. ms@irf.univie.ac.at The biogeographical centers of origin of important food crops-called Vavilov centers-are considered to be crucial sources of genetic diversity for present and future crop-breeding programs and thus for human food safety worldwide. Global environmental change and more intensified modes of crop production may cause genetic erosion (loss of traditional crop varieties and loss of crop wild relatives), especially in Vavilov centers. The present study focused on how the risk of genetic erosion (or loss of agro-biodiversity) is perceived in comparison to 16 other risk topics by experts and lay people in Austria and China. The most striking result was that genetic erosion was perceived to be an exceptionally unknown and uncertain risk topic, given that only genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were perceived as being even more uncertain. As a consequence of the high uncertainty, the idea of applying the precautionary principle to further prevent genetic erosion is discussed. An unprecedented finding-one that differs from Austrian participants-is that the Chinese have a higher perceived control over all risk topics. The increased perception of controllability in China is discussed in light of the theory of reflexive modernization. This theory strives to explain the increased critical attitude in Western countries such as Austria toward scientific innovations and toward the idea that everything can be calculated and mastered at will. By revealing different notions of risk perception, this research also provides additional scientific input to risk communication efforts for public education. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16573633 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 69: Trends Biotechnol. 2006 May;24(5):206-11. Epub 2006 Mar 29. Global trends in plant transgenic science and technology (1973-2003). Vain P. John Innes Centre, Crop Genetics Department, Norwich Research Park, UK, NR4 7UH. philippe.vain@bbsrc.ac.uk Transgenic science and technology are fundamental to state-of-the-art plant molecular genetics and GM crop improvement. Monitoring the scale and growth of this area of science is important to scientists, national and international research organizations, funding bodies, policy makers and, because of the GM debate, to society as a whole. Literature statistics covering the past 30 years reveal a dramatic increase in plant transgenic science in Asia during the past decade, a sustained expansion in North America and, recently, a slow down in the rest of the world. With the exception of the output of China and India, publications focusing on the development of transgenic technology have been slowing down, worldwide, since the early mid-1990s, a trend that contrasts with the increase in GM crop-related studies. PMID: 16569453 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 70: New Genet Soc. 2005;24(2):139-55. In the democracies of DNA: ontological uncertainty and political order in three states. Jasanoff S. Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, 79 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. sheila_jasanoff@harvard.edu This paper compares the regulation of biotechnology in Britain, Germany and the United States and shows that systematic differences have developed around four issues: abortion, assisted reproduction, stem cells, and genetically modified crops and foods. Policy choices with respect to these issues reflect the capacity of each nation's regulatory institutions to deal with the scientific, social and ethical uncertainties around biotechnology. National regulatory frameworks constitute an apparatus of collective sense-making through which governments and publics interpret biotechnology's risks and promises. Specifically, regulatory choices position the novel ontologies created by biotechnology either on the side of the familiar and manageable or on the side of the unknown and insupportably risky. The comparison shows that public responses to biotechnology are embedded within robust and coherent political cultures and are not ad hoc expressions of concern that very unpredictably from issue to issue. Publication Types: Comparative Study PMID: 16552932 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 71: New Genet Soc. 2005 Apr;24(1):31-56. Attitudes to biotechnology: estimating the opinions of a better-informed public. Sturgis P, Cooper H, Fife-Schaw C. Department of Sociology, School of Human Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK. p.sturgis@surrey.ac.uk Public familiarity with basic scientific concepts and principles has been proposed as essential for effective democratic decision-making (Miller, 1998). Empirical research, however, finds that public 'scientific literacy' is generally low, falling well short of what normative criteria would consider 'acceptable.' This has prompted calls to better engage, educate and inform the public on scientific matters, with the additional, usually implicit assumption that a knowledgeable citizenry should express more supportive and favourable attitudes toward science. Research investigating the notion that 'to know science is to love it' has provided only weak empirical support and has itself been criticised for representing science and technology as a unified and homogenous entity. In practice, it is argued, how knowledge impacts on the favourability of attitudes will depend on a multiplicity of actors, not the least of which is the particular area of science in question and the technologies to which it gives rise (Evans & Durant, 1992). This article uses a new method for examining the knowledge-attitude nexus on a prominent area of 21st century science--biotechnology. The idea that greater scientific knowledge can engender change in the favourability of attitudes toward specific areas of science is investigated using data from the 2000 British Social Attitudes Survey and the 1999 Wellcome Consultative Panel on Gene Therapy. Together the surveys measure public opinion on particular applications of genetic technologies, including gene therapy and the use of genetic data, as well as more general attitudes towards genetic research. We focus our analysis on how two different measures of knowledge impact on these attitudes; one a more general measure of scientific knowledge, the other relating specifically to knowledge of modern genetic science. We investigate what impact these knowledge domains have on attitudes toward biotechnology using a regression-based modelling technique (Bartels, 1996; Althaus, 1998; Sturgis, 2003). Controlling for a range of socio-demographic characteristics, we provide estimates of what collective and individual opinion would look like if everyone were as knowledgeable as the currently best-informed members of the general public on the knowledge domains in question. Our findings demonstrate that scientific knowledge does appear to have an important role in determining individual and group attitudes to genetic science. However, we find no support for a simple 'deficit model' of public understanding, as the nature of the relationship itself depends on the application of biotechnology in question and the social location of the individual. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16552916 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 72: Appetite. 2006 May;46(3):324-31. Epub 2006 Mar 20. Attitudes towards genetically modified and organic foods. Saher M, Lindeman M, Hursti UK. Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland. marieke.saher@helsinke.fi Finnish students (N=3261) filled out a questionnaire on attitudes towards genetically modified and organic food, plus the rational-experiential inventory, the magical thinking about food and health scale, Schwartz's value survey and the behavioural inhibition scale. In addition, they reported their eating of meat. Structural equation modelling of these measures had greater explanatory power for attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) foods than for attitudes towards organic foods (OF). GM attitudes were best predicted by natural science education and magical food and health beliefs, which mediated the influence of thinking styles. Positive attitudes towards organic food, on the other hand, were more directly related to such individual differences as thinking styles and set of values. The results of the study indicate that OF attitudes are rooted in more fundamental personal attributes than GM attitudes, which are embedded in a more complex but also in a more modifiable network of characteristics. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16546293 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 73: Kokuritsu Iyakuhin Shokuhin Eisei Kenkyusho Hokoku. 2005;(123):1-11. [Establishment of standards and specifications for chemical substances in foods and evaluation of exposure to maintain food safety] [Article in Japanese] Maitani T. Division of Foods, National Institute of Health Sciences. maitani@nihs.go.jp Currently, consumers are very anxious about many chemical substances contained in foods. To maintain food safety, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan establishes standards and specifications on toxic chemical substances in foods, establishes analytical methods for surveillance, and investigates the daily dietary intake of food contaminants every year. This paper describes what sorts of standards and specifications for toxic chemical substances in foods have been established and what kinds of research on daily dietary intake have been performed. As the subjects for description, pesticide residues, toxic metals, dioxins, acrylamide, food additives, genetically modified food products, so-called health foods, and food allergens are included. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 16541744 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 74: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2006 Apr;17(2):179-82. Epub 2006 Mar 15. Molecular advances and novel directions in food biotechnology innovation. Kleerebezem M. Publication Types: Editorial Review PMID: 16540309 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 75: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Mar 7;103(10):3546-51. Epub 2006 Feb 28. High-amylose wheat generated by RNA interference improves indices of large-bowel health in rats. Regina A, Bird A, Topping D, Bowden S, Freeman J, Barsby T, Kosar-Hashemi B, Li Z, Rahman S, Morell M. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Food Futures National Research Flagship, P.O. Box 93, North Ryde 1670, NSW, Australia. Foods high in resistant starch have the potential to improve human health and lower the risk of serious noninfectious diseases. RNA interference was used to down-regulate the two different isoforms of starch-branching enzyme (SBE) II (SBEIIa and SBEIIb) in wheat endosperm to raise its amylose content. Suppression of SBEIIb expression alone had no effect on amylose content; however, suppression of both SBEIIa and SBEIIb expression resulted in starch containing >70% amylose. When the >70% amylose wheat grain was fed to rats in a diet as a wholemeal, several indices of large-bowel function, including short-chain fatty acids, were improved relative to standard wholemeal wheat. These results indicate that this high-amylose wheat has a significant potential to improve human health through its resistant starch content. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16537443 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 76: J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2006 Apr;7(4):257-66. Chinese public understanding of the use of agricultural biotechnology--a case study from Zhejiang Province of China. Lu L. Department of Social Sciences, School of Humanities, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China. lulandk27@yahoo.com This study explores the Chinese public's perceptions of, and attitudes to, agriculture and food applications of biotechnology; and investigates the effect of socio-demographic factors on attitudes. A questionnaire survey and interviews were used in an attempt to combine quantitative analysis with qualitative review. The main finding of this study is that the Chinese population has a superficial, optimistic attitude to agricultural biotechnology; and that, in accordance with public attitudes, a cautious policy, with obligatory labelling, should be adopted. The study reveals that education is the factor among socio-demographic variables with the strongest impact on public attitudes. Higher education leads to a more positive evaluation of GM (genetically modified) foods and applications of biotechnology with respect to usefulness, moral acceptability, and suitability for encouragement. In addition, public attitudinal differences depend significantly on area of residence. Compared with their more urban compatriots, members of the public in less developed areas of China have more optimistic attitudes, perceive more benefits, and are more risk tolerant in relation to GM foods and agricultural biotechnology. Finally we obtained a very high rate of "don't know" answers to our survey questions. This suggests that many people do not have settled attitudes, and correspondingly, that the overall public attitude to agricultural biotechnology and GM foods in China is at present somewhat unstable. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16532526 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 77: McGeorge Law Rev. 2000;32(1):89-110. Biotechnology and the creation of ethics. Coletta RR. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, USA. PMID: 16523579 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 78: Allergy. 2006 Apr;61(4):491-7. Allergenicity assessment of transgenic mustard (Brassica juncea) expressing bacterial codA gene. Singh AK, Mehta AK, Sridhara S, Gaur SN, Singh BP, Sarma PU, Arora N. Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India. BACKGROUND: Assessing the allergenicity and toxicity of genetically modified (GM) crops is essential before they become a regular part of our food supply. The present study aimed to assess the allergenicity of Brassica juncea (mustard) expressing choline oxidase (codA) gene from Arthrobacter globiformis that provides resistance against abiotic stresses. METHODS: SDAP, Farrp, and Swiss-Prot databases were used to study allergenicity of choline oxidase. Digestibility of choline oxidase was assessed in simulated gastric fluid (SGF). Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity of native and GM mustard was compared by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and skin tests in respiratory-allergic patients. Allergenicity of GM and native mustard proteins was compared in Balb/c mice. RESULTS: Choline oxidase showed no significant homology with allergenic proteins in SDAP and Farrp databases. Cross-reactive epitope search showed a stretch similar to Hev b 6 having some antigenic properties. Purified choline oxidase showed complete degradation with SGF. Skin prick test of native and GM mustard extract on respiratory allergic patients showed significant correlation (P < 0.05). ELISA with 96 patients' sera showed comparable IgE reactivity. Balb/c mice immunized with native and GM mustard proteins showed low IgE response. Presensitized mice on intravenous challenge with Brassica extract showed no anaphylactic symptoms unlike ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization that showed anaphylactic reaction in mice. Lung histology of OVA-sensitized mice showed narrowing of airway and large eosinophilic infiltration, whereas native and GM Brassica extract showed normal airway. CONCLUSION: Genetically modified mustard with the codA gene possessed allergenicity similar to that of native mustard and no enhancement of IgE binding was observed due to genetic manipulation. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16512812 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 79: J AOAC Int. 2006 Jan-Feb;89(1):232-9. Scoring in genetically modified organism proficiency tests based on log-transformed results. Thompson M, Ellison SL, Owen L, Mathieson K, Powell J, Key P, Wood R, Damant AP. University of London, Birkbeck College, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Malet St, London, United Kingdom. The study considers data from 2 UK-based proficiency schemes and includes data from a total of 29 rounds and 43 test materials over a period of 3 years. The results from the 2 schemes are similar and reinforce each other. The amplification process used in quantitative polymerase chain reaction determinations predicts a mixture of normal, binomial, and lognormal distributions dominated by the latter 2. As predicted, the study results consistently follow a positively skewed distribution. Log-transformation prior to calculating z-scores is effective in establishing near-symmetric distributions that are sufficiently close to normal to justify interpretation on the basis of the normal distribution. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16512253 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 80: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2006 Apr;17(2):130-8. Epub 2006 Feb 28. Metabolic engineering in plants for human health and nutrition. Kinney AJ. Crop Genetics Research, DuPont Experimental Station, Wilmington, DE 19880-0353, USA. anthony.kinney@cgr.dupont.com In many cases, multiple pathway enzymes need to be upregulated to produce a significant yield of a desired product. Technical advances in simultaneously manipulating multiple steps in plant metabolic pathways include the use of transcription factors, such as MYB12. By upregulating the genes of an entire pathway, these factors can greatly simplify multienzyme engineering. Furthermore, synthetic zinc-finger protein transcription factors can now be designed to target specific pathway enzymes, such as tocopherol methyltransferases. When multiple steps in a pathway are upregulated, previously unsuspected facets of the pathway might be revealed, such as the newly uncovered bifunctional substrate preference of the key regulatory enzyme in tocopherol (vitamin E) biosynthesis, homogentisate phytyltransferase. The engineering of desired traits, such as long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, can require entirely new pathways to be introduced into a plant. Recent advances in genomics and gene expression technology have made this type of complex metabolic engineering highly feasible. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16510274 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 81: Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Mar;114(3):A146-7. Comment on: Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Aug;113(8):A526-33. The hazards of genetically engineered foods. Margulis C. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 16507441 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 82: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2006 Apr;17(2):198-203. Epub 2006 Feb 14. Food products and allergy development, prevention and treatment. Zuercher AW, Fritsche R, Corthesy B, Mercenier A. Allergy Group, Nutrition and Health Department, Nestle Research Center, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland. In westernized countries allergic diseases have reached epidemic proportions. Food is frequently a perpetrator of allergy but, in turn, modified food and selected food ingredients can become valuable intervention tools in the fight against allergy. There are two basic approaches towards mitigation of food allergy through nutrition: to reduce the allergenicity of raw food materials by physical, chemical or genetic methods or to influence host immunity towards a non-allergic state using various food ingredients. Dietary intervention for the prevention and therapy of allergy is an emerging field where initial findings from animal studies are now being validated in human trials. Nevertheless, to consolidate the utility of such interventions, more pre-clinical and clinical studies remain necessary. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16481157 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 83: Appetite. 2006 Mar;46(2):144-51. Epub 2006 Feb 15. Awareness, acceptance of and willingness to buy genetically modified foods in Urban China. Huang J, Qiu H, Bai J, Pray C. Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resource Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Jia 11, Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China. jkhuang.ccap@igsnrr.ac.cn There is concern about the extent to which consumers will accept genetically modified (GM) foods if they are commercialized in China. The evidence from the existing literature is mixed and sometimes confusing. The objective of this study is to conduct a large in-depth face-to-face in-house survey that examines the consumers' awareness, acceptance of and willingness to buy GM foods in China. To achieve this objective, a well-designed consumer survey was conducted in 11 cities of five provinces in Eastern China in 2002 and 2003. The results indicate that despite much less information on GM foods available publicly in China, more than two thirds of consumers in urban areas have heard of GM foods. But their knowledge on biotechnology was limited. Chinese consumers' acceptance of and willingness to buy GM foods was much higher than in other countries. Chinese consumers also demonstrated great variance in their acceptance of different GM foods. Information and prices of GM foods were two important factors affecting consumers' attitudes toward GM foods. Based on the findings of this study and given that our sample is in the more developed eastern Urban China, we conclude that the commercialization of GM foods is not likely to receive great resistance from the consumers in China. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16469414 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 84: Toxicology. 2006 Apr 3;221(1):128-33. Epub 2006 Feb 8. cDNA microarray screening in food safety. Roy S, Sen CK. Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and DNA Microarray & Genetics Facility, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. The cDNA microarray technology and related bioinformatics tools presents a wide range of novel application opportunities. The technology may be productively applied to address food safety. In this mini-review article, we present an update highlighting the late breaking discoveries that demonstrate the vitality of cDNA microarray technology as a tool to analyze food safety with reference to microbial pathogens and genetically modified foods. In order to bring the microarray technology to mainstream food safety, it is important to develop robust user-friendly tools that may be applied in a field setting. In addition, there needs to be a standardized process for regulatory agencies to interpret and act upon microarray-based data. The cDNA microarray approach is an emergent technology in diagnostics. Its values lie in being able to provide complimentary molecular insight when employed in addition to traditional tests for food safety, as part of a more comprehensive battery of tests. Publication Types: Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Review PMID: 16466843 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 85: Food Nutr Bull. 2005 Dec;26(4):443-4. Food biotechnology and consumer perceptions in Asia. Cairns G. Asian Food Information Network, Bangkok, Thailand. gcairns@afic.org Publication Types: Review PMID: 16465994 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 86: Food Nutr Bull. 2005 Dec;26(4):436-42. Nutritional and safety assessments of foods and feeds nutritionally improved through biotechnology. Chassy B, Hlywka JJ, Kleter GA, Kok EJ, Kuiper HA, McGloughlin M, Munro IC, Phipps RH, Reid JE, Stein J, Zabik J; Task Force for the International Life Sciences Institutue International Food Biotechnology Committee. University of Illinois, Urbana, USA. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16465993 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 87: Trends Biotechnol. 2006 Mar;24(3):102-4. Epub 2006 Feb 7. Unintended effects in genetically modified crops: revealed by metabolomics? Rischer H, Oksman-Caldentey KM. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, VTT Biotechnology, Tietotie 2, Espoo, FIN-02044 VTT, Finland. In Europe the commercialization of food derived from genetically modified plants has been slow because of the complex regulatory process and the concerns of consumers. Risk assessment is focused on potential adverse effects on humans and the environment, which could result from unintended effects of genetic modifications: unintended effects are connected to changes in metabolite levels in the plants. One of the major challenges is how to analyze the overall metabolite composition of GM plants in comparison to conventional cultivars, and one possible solution is offered by metabolomics. The ultimate aim of metabolomics is the identification and quantification of all small molecules in an organism; however, a single method enabling complete metabolome analysis does not exist. Given a comprehensive extraction method, a hierarchical strategy--starting with global fingerprinting and followed by complementary profiling attempts--is the most logical and economic approach to detect unintended effects in GM crops. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16460820 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 88: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Dec;46(6):270-6. [Laboratory performance study of the quantitative detection method for genetically modified soybeans (roundup ready soybeans 40-3-2)] [Article in Japanese] Kasama K, Watanabe T, Kikuchi H, Suzuki T, Tokishita S, Sakata K, Matsuki A, Hino A, Akiyama H, Maitani T. Hatano Research Institute, Food and Drug Safety Center, 729-5, Ochiai, Hadano, Kanagawa 257-8523, Japan. To investigate important factors affecting the analytical results, a laboratory-performance study was attempted for the Japanese official methods to detect genetically modified (GM) soybeans (40-3-2). Test samples containing 0, 1 and 5% GM soya powder in non-GM soya powder was prepared. A set of 3 test samples was sent to the participating laboratories along with the protocol. The data were collected from all laboratories and statistically analyzed. In the real-time PCR detection method, the average values of the GM 1% and 5% samples were both much lower than the spiked value because the laboratories using a silica-membrane DNA extraction method underestimated the GM value. On the other hand, the laboratories using other extraction methods, such as the CTAB method obtained values close to the spiked value. These results suggest that use of the silica-membrane DNA extraction method may result in underestimation of the GM content in the real-time PCR method. In the ELISA method, the average value of 5% spiked samples appears to be slightly higher than the fortified value. But, overall, it was considered that reported values were close to the spiked level. Publication Types: English Abstract Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16440788 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 89: Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2006 Mar;44(2):136-43. Epub 2006 Jan 9. Lack of cross-reactivity between the Bacillus thuringiensis derived protein Cry1F in maize grain and dust mite Der p7 protein with human sera positive for Der p7-IgE. Ladics GS, Bardina L, Cressman RF, Mattsson JL, Sampson HA. DuPont/Pioneer Crop Genetics Regulatory Science and Registration, Wilmington, DE, USA. gregory.s.ladics@usa.dupont.com Cry1F protein, derived from Bacillus thuringiensis, is effective at controlling lepidopteran pests and a synthetic Cry1F transgene was transferred into maize. For the safety assessment of genetically modified food crops, the allergenic potential of the introduced novel trait(s) is evaluated. Because no single parameter is currently predictive of allergic potential, a 'weight of evidence' approach has been proposed. As part of this assessment, the amino acid (aa) sequence of the Cry1F protein was compared to a database of known allergens using recommended criteria. The Cry1F protein did not show significant similarity or a match of eight contiguous identical aa with any allergen. However, a single six contiguous aa match was identified between Cry1F and the Der p7 protein of the dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. To investigate whether Cry1F was cross-reactive with Der p7, sera from 10 dust mite allergic patients containing Der p 7-specific IgE antibody were used to compare IgE-specific binding. No evidence of cross-reactivity was observed between Cry1F and Der p7. This study provides in vitro IgE sera screening data, that when considered in the context of other bioinformatic data [Hileman R.E., Silvanovich, A., Goodman R.E., Rice E.A., Holleschak G., Astwood J.D., Hefle S.L., 2002. Bioinformatic methods for allergenicity assessment using a comprehensive allergen database. Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. 128, 280-291; Stadler, M.B., Stadler, B.M., 2003. Allergenicity prediction by protein sequence. FASEB J. 17, 1141-1143.], adds further evidence arguing against the use of a six contiguous identical amino acid search to identify potential cross-reactive allergens. Cry1F is heat labile, rapidly hydrolyzed in an in vitro pepsin resistance assay, not glycosylated and not from an allergenic source. Taken together, these data indicate a lack of allergenic concern for Cry1F. PMID: 16406630 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 90: Fitoterapia. 2006 Feb;77(2):67-82. Epub 2006 Jan 6. Grain legume proteins and nutraceutical properties. Duranti M. Department of AgriFood Molecular Sciences, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy. marcello.duranti@unimi.it Grain legumes are a valuable source of food proteins. Their exploitation is expected to grow in relation of a growing world's food needs. Moreover, it is currently taking place a reappraisal of the beneficial effects of legume seed dietary intake, which are the basis for various health claims. Proteins and peptides concur to the observed biological activities of legume seeds, but their effect(s) has(ve) not completely been disclosed. Aims of this review are: to report the most relevant putative positive effects of grain legumes on human health and to give an account of the current knowledge on the demonstrated legume seed protein biological activities. Specific effects on the prevention and treatment of various diseases, mostly of which are typical of the affluent countries, are reported. Examples of studies at molecular level aimed at elucidating of the underlying mechanism(s) are given. The prospects on targeted legume protein exploitation in the nutraceutical area, including the biotechnological approaches, are also considered. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16406359 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 91: Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jan;24(1):2. Genetically modified mush. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 16404374 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 92: Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jan;83(1):59-64. Zinc absorption in Guatemalan schoolchildren fed normal or low-phytate maize. Mazariegos M, Hambidge KM, Krebs NF, Westcott JE, Lei S, Grunwald GK, Campos R, Barahona B, Raboy V, Solomons NW. Center for Studies of Sensory Impairments, Aging, and Metabolism, Guatemala City, Guatemala. manolomazariegos@yahoo.es BACKGROUND: Poor bioavailability of zinc from high-phytate diets is an important contributory factor to zinc deficiency in low-income populations. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of low-phytate maize consumption on zinc absorption. DESIGN: The participants were apparently healthy children from the Central Highlands of Guatemala. Sixty children (20 per group) were randomly assigned to be fed only the low-phytate maize or 1 of 2 control maizes, the isohybrid wild-type maize or a local maize, for a 10-wk period. During the final week, the fractional absorption of zinc for all meals was measured during 1 d with the use of zinc stable isotopes and a dual isotope ratio technique based on urine enrichment data. RESULTS: Mean (+/-SD) phytate intakes for the low-phytate, wild-type, and local maize groups were 1536 +/- 563, 2056 +/- 517, and 2253 +/- 687 mg/d, respectively. Corresponding zinc intakes were 8.6 +/- 2.5, 8.1 +/- 2.0, and 9.7 +/- 2.6 mg/d, and the dietary phytate:zinc molar ratios were 18 +/- 5, 26 +/- 6, and 23 +/- 5. Corresponding fractional absorptions of zinc were 0.32 +/- 0.07, 0.28 +/- 0.07, and 0.29 +/- 0.06. The respective values for total absorbed zinc were 2.72 +/- 0.88, 2.30 +/- 0.96, and 2.78 +/- 1.04 mg/d. No significant differences in either the fractional absorption of zinc or total absorbed zinc were seen between the maize groups. CONCLUSION: Under the conditions of the present study, zinc absorption was not increased by the long-term use of low-phytate maize in children whose major dietary staple is maize. Publication Types: Randomized Controlled Trial Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16400050 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 93: Clin Exp Allergy. 2005 Dec;35(12):1638-44. A mutant of the major apple allergen, Mal d 1, demonstrating hypo-allergenicity in the target organ by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge. Bolhaar ST, Zuidmeer L, Ma Y, Ferreira F, Bruijnzeel-Koomen CA, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, van Ree R, Knulst AC. Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. s.bolhaar@azu.nl BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy for food allergy has been hindered by severe side-effects in the past. Well-characterized hypo-allergenic recombinant food allergens potentially offer a safe solution. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate hypo-allergenicity of a mutated major food allergen from apple, Mal d 1, in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: A mutant of the major apple allergen, Mal d 1, was obtained by site-directed mutagenesis exchanging five amino acid residues. Fourteen patients with combined birch pollen-related apple allergy were included in the study. Hypo-allergenicity of the mutant rMal d 1 (rMal d 1mut) compared with rMal d 1 was assessed by in vitro methods, i.e. RAST (inhibition), immunoblotting and basophil histamine release (BHR) and in vivo by skin prick test and double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC). RESULTS: RAST analysis (n = 14) revealed that IgE reactivity to rMal d 1mut was twofold lower than that of the wild-type molecule (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7-2.4). RAST inhibition (n = 6) showed a 7.8-fold decrease in IgE-binding potency (95% CI: 3.0-12.6). In contrast to this moderate decrease in IgE-binding potency, the biological activity of rMal d 1mut assessed by SPT and BHR decreased 10-200-fold. Hypo-allergenicity was confirmed by DBPCFC (n = 2) with both recombinant molecules. CONCLUSION: A moderate decrease in IgE-binding potency translates into a potent inhibition of biological activity. This is the first study that confirms by DBPCFC that a mutated recombinant major food allergen is clinically hypo-allergenic. This paves the way towards safer immunotherapy for the treatment of food-allergic patients. Publication Types: Randomized Controlled Trial Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16393331 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 94: Science. 2005 Dec 23;310(5756):1908-9. Erratum in: Science. 2006 Mar 3;311(5765):1242. Communication. Social values and the governance of science. Gaskell G, Einsiedel E, Hallman W, Priest SH, Jackson J, Olsthoorn J. Methodology Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2A 2AE, UK. g.gaskell@lse.ac.uk Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16373561 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 95: Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2006 Jan;209(1):81-8. Epub 2005 Sep 29. Detection of genetically modified DNA sequences in milk from the Italian market. Agodi A, Barchitta M, Grillo A, Sciacca S. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia n. 87, 95123 Catania, Italy. agodia@unict.it The possible transfer and accumulation of novel DNA and/or proteins in food for human consumption derived from animals receiving genetically modified (GM) feed is at present the object of scientific dispute. A number of studies failed to identify GM DNA in milk, meat, or eggs derived from livestock receiving GM feed ingredients. The present study was performed in order to: (i) develop a valid protocol by PCR and multicomponent analysis for the detection of specific DNA sequences in milk, focused on GM maize and GM soybean; (ii) assess the stability of transgenic DNA after pasteurization treatment and (iii) determine the presence of GM DNA sequences in milk samples collected from the Italian market. Results from the screening of 60 samples of 12 different milk brands demonstrated the presence of GM maize sequences in 15 (25%) and of GM soybean sequences in 7 samples (11.7%). Our screening methodology shows a very high sensitivity and the use of an automatic identification of the amplified products increases its specificity and reliability. Moreover, we demonstrated that the pasteurization process is not able to degrade the DNA sequences in spiked milk samples. The detection of GM DNA in milk can be interpreted as an indicator of fecal or airborne contamination, respectively, with feed DNA or feed particles, although an alternative source of contamination, possibly recognizable in the natural environment can be suggested. Further studies, performed on a larger number of milk samples, are needed to understand the likely source of contamination of milk collected from the Italian market. PMID: 16373205 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 96: Biomed Environ Sci. 2005 Oct;18(5):321-5. Preparation of monoclonal antibody against HPT and its application to detecting marker protein in genetically modified rice. Yang LC, Zhang SX, Pi GH, Li YH, Zhu Z, Yang XG. National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China. OBJECTIVE: To produce the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against hygromycin B phosphotransferase (HPT) and to develop immunoassay based on mAbs for biosafety assessment of HPT in genetically modified rice (GM rice). METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized with purified recombinant 6His. HPT protein, and the conventional hybridoma technology was used to generate the monoclonal hybridoma cells. ELISA and Western blot were used to analyze the specificity of mAbs recognizing HPT and the cross reaction with other proteins. A double-Ab sandwich ELISA method was established to detect HPT expression level in the sck gene-modified rice plants. RESULTS: Four hybridomas, named F1, D4-2, D4-4, and D4-5, producing the mAbs against HPT were successfully obtained with the titer of ascetic mAbs ranging from 1x10(-4) to 1x10(-5). Identification of subclass showed that all the produced mAbs belonged to IgG1. Western blot showed specific binding reaction between the mAbs to the HPT proteins expressed in the GM rice. A double sandwich ELISA coated with anti-HPT polyclonal antibody was established with mAbs as sandwich antibody, which showed a sensitivity of 30ng/mL and did not crossreact with other proteins. The expression level of HPT in the leaves of sck-transformed lines was detected (80-150ng/mL). But HPT protein in the grain and seed of GM rice could not be detected using this ELISA assay. CONCLUSION: Anti-HPT mAbs prepared herein have a high specificity and can be used for rapid assay of HPT antigen. The expression level of HPT in the GM rice grain and seed is lower than our ELISA detection limit. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16370315 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 97: J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Dec 28;53(26):9971-9. Distortion of genetically modified organism quantification in processed foods: influence of particle size compositions and heat-induced DNA degradation. Moreano F, Busch U, Engel KH. Center of Food and Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Am Forum 2, 85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany. Milling fractions from conventional and transgenic corn were prepared at laboratory scale and used to study the influence of sample composition and heat-induced DNA degradation on the relative quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food products. Particle size distributions of the obtained fractions (coarse grits, regular grits, meal, and flour) were characterized using a laser diffraction system. The application of two DNA isolation protocols revealed a strong correlation between the degree of comminution of the milling fractions and the DNA yield in the extracts. Mixtures of milling fractions from conventional and transgenic material (1%) were prepared and analyzed via real-time polymerase chain reaction. Accurate quantification of the adjusted GMO content was only possible in mixtures containing conventional and transgenic material in the form of analogous milling fractions, whereas mixtures of fractions exhibiting different particle size distributions delivered significantly over- and underestimated GMO contents depending on their compositions. The process of heat-induced nucleic acid degradation was followed by applying two established quantitative assays showing differences between the lengths of the recombinant and reference target sequences (A, deltal(A) = -25 bp; B, deltal(B) = +16 bp; values related to the amplicon length of the reference gene). Data obtained by the application of method A resulted in underestimated recoveries of GMO contents in the samples of heat-treated products, reflecting the favored degradation of the longer target sequence used for the detection of the transgene. In contrast, data yielded by the application of method B resulted in increasingly overestimated recoveries of GMO contents. The results show how commonly used food technological processes may lead to distortions in the results of quantitative GMO analyses. PMID: 16366682 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 98: Pharmacol Ther. 2006 Aug;111(2):374-83. Epub 2005 Dec 20. Genetically modified plants and food hypersensitivity diseases: usage and implications of experimental models for risk assessment. Prescott VE, Hogan SP. Division of Molecular Bioscience, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. The recent advances in biotechnology in the plant industry have led to increasing crop production and yield that in turn has increased the usage of genetically modified (GM) food in the human food chain. The usage of GM foods for human consumption has raised a number of fundamental questions including the ability of GM foods to elicit potentially harmful immunological responses, including allergic hypersensitivity. To assess the safety of foods derived from GM plants including allergenic potential, the US FDA, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO), and the EU have developed approaches for evaluation assessment. One assessment approach that has been a very active area of research and debate is the development and usage of animal models to assess the potential allergenicity of GM foods. A number of specific animal models employing rodents, pigs, and dogs have been developed for allergenicity assessment. However, validation of these models is needed and consideration of the criteria for an appropriate animal model for the assessment of allergenicity in GM plants is required. We have recently employed a BALB/c mouse model to assess the potential allergenicity of GM plants. We have been able to demonstrate that this model is able to detect differences in antigenicity and identify aspects of protein post-translational modifications that can alter antigenicity. Furthermore, this model has also enabled us to examine the usage of GM plants as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of allergic diseases. This review discusses the current approaches to assess the allergenic potential of GM food and particularly focusing on the usage of animal models to determine the potential allergenicity of GM foods and gives an overview of our recent findings and implications of these studies. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 16364445 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 99: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Dec;23(12):1475-6. Reassessing the environmental risks of GM crops. Firbank L, Lonsdale M, Poppy G. Publication Types: Letter PMID: 16333281 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 100: J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2005 Dec 10;68(23-24):2263-76. Multigeneration reproductive and developmental toxicity study of bar gene inserted into genetically modified potato on rats. Rhee GS, Cho DH, Won YH, Seok JH, Kim SS, Kwack SJ, Lee RD, Chae SY, Kim JW, Lee BM, Park KL, Choi KS. Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Toxicological Research, Korea Food and Drug Administration, Seoul. Each specific protein has an individual gene encoding it, and a foreign gene introduced to a plant can be used to synthesize a new protein. The identification of potential reproductive and developmental toxicity from novel proteins produced by genetically modified (GM) crops is a difficult task. A science-based risk assessment is needed in order to use GM crops as a conventional foodstuff. In this study, the specific characteristics of GM food and low-level chronic exposure were examined using a five-generation animal study. In each generation, rats were fed a solid pellet containing 5% GM potato and non-GM potato for 10 wk prior to mating in order to assess the potential reproductive and developmental toxic effects. In the multigeneration animal study, there were no GM potato-related changes in body weight, food consumption, reproductive performance, and organ weight. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out using extracted genomic DNA to examine the possibility of gene persistence in the organ tissues after a long-term exposure to low levels of GM feed. In each generation, the gene responsible for bar was not found in any of the reproductive organs of the GM potato-treated male and female rats, and the litter-related indexes did not show any genetically modified organism (GMO)-related changes. The results suggest that genetically modified crops have no adverse effects on the multigeneration reproductive-developmental ability. PMID: 16326439 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 101: Altern Ther Health Med. 2005 Nov-Dec;11(6):14-7. The world according to Codex. Levy AR. PMID: 16320855 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 102: Vestn Ross Akad Med Nauk. 2005;(10):30-7. [Principles of production of genetically modified food sources] [Article in Russian] Kirpichnikov MP, Tyshko NV. Methods of genetic engineering have given a powerful impulse to the development of fundamental and applied biology and biotechnology of plants. Methods of genetic plant transformation, such as agrobacterium-mediated and microprojectile bombardment-mediated transformation have been used for a long time. These methods allow production of transgenic plants which express the genes of interest. Dozens of transgenic plants have been obtained by now, and their number is steadily increasing. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 16320704 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 103: J Health Commun. 2005 Dec;10(8):751-67. Gene cuisine or Frankenfood? The theory of reasoned action as an audience segmentation strategy for messages about genetically modified foods. Silk KJ, Weiner J, Parrott RL. Department of Communication, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. Genetically modified (GM) foods are currently a controversial topic about which the lay public in the United States knows little. Formative research has demonstrated that the lay public is uncertain and concerned about GM foods. This study (N = 858) extends focus group research by using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to examine attitudes and subjective norms related to GM foods as a theoretical strategy for audience segmentation. A hierarchical cluster analysis revealed four unique audiences based on their attitude and subjective norm toward GM foods (ambivalent-biotech, antibiotech, biotech-normer, and biotech individual). Results are discussed in terms of the theoretical and practical significance for audience segmentation. Publication Types: Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. PMID: 16316937 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 104: Proc Nutr Soc. 2005 Nov;64(4):487-90. Allergenic potential of novel foods. Meredith C. BIBRA International Ltd, Carshalton, Surrey, UK. clivemeredith@btinternet.com Concerns have been expressed that the introduction of novel foods into the diet might lead to the development of new food allergies in consumers. Novel foods can be conveniently divided into GM and non-GM categories. Decision-tree approaches (e.g. International Life Sciences Institute-International Food Biotechnology Council and WHO/FAO) to assess the allergenic potential of GM foods were developed following the discovery, during product development, of the allergenic potential of GM soyabean expressing a gene encoding a storage protein from Brazil nut (Bertolletia excelsa). Within these decision trees considerations include: the source of the transgene; amino acid homology with known allergens; cross-reactivity with IgE from food-allergic individuals; resistance to proteolysis; prediction using animal models of food allergy. Such decision trees are under constant review as new knowledge and improved models emerge, but they provide a useful framework for the assessment of the allergenic potential of GM foods. For novel non-GM foods the assessment of allergenic potential is more subjective; some foods or food ingredients will need no assessment other than a robust protein assay to demonstrate the absence of protein. Where protein is present in the novel non-GM food, hazard and risk assessments need to be made in terms of the quantity of protein that might be consumed, the identity of individual protein components and their relationships to known food allergens. Where necessary, this assessment would extend to serum screening for potential cross-reactivities, skin-prick tests in previously-sensitised individuals and double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16313692 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 105: Proc Nutr Soc. 2005 Nov;64(4):481-6. GM organisms and the EU regulatory environment: allergenicity as a risk component. Davies HV. Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, UK. hdavie@scri.ac.uk The European Food Safety Authority, following a request from the European Commission, has published a guidance document for the risk assessment of GM plants and derived food and feed to assist in the implementation of provisions of Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and Council on GM food and feed. This regulation has applied since 18 April 2004. In principle, hazard identification and characterisation of GM crops is conducted in four steps: characterisation of the parent crop and any hazards associated with it; characterisation of the transformation process and of the inserted recombinant DNA, including an assessment of the possible production of new fusion proteins or allergens; assessment of the introduced proteins (toxicity, allergenicity) and metabolites; identification of any other targetted and unexpected alterations in the GM crop, including changes in the plant metabolism resulting in compositional changes and assessment of their toxicological, allergenic or nutritional impact. In relation to allergenicity specifically, it is clear that this property of a given protein is not intrinsic and fully predictable but is a biological activity requiring an interaction with individuals with a predisposed genetic background. Allergenicity, therefore, depends on the genetic diversity and variability in atopic human subjects. Given this lack of complete predictability it is necessary to obtain, from several steps in the risk-assessment process, a cumulative body of evidence that minimises any uncertainty about the protein(s) in question. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16313691 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 106: Proc Nutr Soc. 2005 Nov;64(4):470-4. Industrial dimensions of food allergy. Crevel R. SEAC Toxicology Laboratory, Unilever Research, Sharnbrook, Bedford, UK. rene.crevel@unilever.com Serious attempts to estimate the impact of allergic reactions to foods on public health did not begin until the 1980s. Until about 15 years ago food allergy was considered a minor aspect of food safety. Two developments probably prompted a radical re-appraisal of that situation. The first was the apparently inexorable rise in the prevalence of atopic diseases, of which food allergy forms a part, with its possible consequences highlighted by some well-publicised severe reactions. The second was the growth of genetic modification technology, manifested by the commercialisation of transgenic crops. Each of these developments impacted on the food industry in distinct ways. On the one hand, consumers with food allergies had to be enabled to avoid specific allergens in products formulated with existing ingredients. Food manufacturers therefore had to identify those specific allergens down to trace amounts in all the ingredients forming the product and label or remove them. On the other hand, the introduction of products using ingredients from novel sources required an assessment of the allergenicity of these ingredients as an integral part of safety assurance. The approaches used by the food industry to protect existing consumers who have food allergies and those at potential risk of sensitisation from novel proteins will be illustrated, emphasising how they need to be built into every stage of the life cycle of a product. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16313689 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 107: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Oct;46(5):J286-8. [Safety assessment of genetically modified foods] [Article in Japanese] Hayakawa T. Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. PMID: 16305183 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 108: Biomed Pharmacother. 2005 Dec;59(10):531-40. Epub 2005 Oct 21. Biological and biomedical aspects of genetically modified food. Celec P, Kukuckova M, Renczesova V, Natarajan S, Palffy R, Gardlik R, Hodosy J, Behuliak M, Vlkova B, Minarik G, Szemes T, Stuchlik S, Turna J. Biomed Research and Publishing Group, Bratislava, Slovakia. petercelec@gmail.com Genetically modified (GM) foods are the product of one of the most progressive fields of science-biotechnology. There are major concerns about GM foods in the public; some of them are reasonable, some of them are not. Biomedical risks of GM foods include problems regarding the potential allergenicity, horizontal gene transfer, but environmental side effects on biodiversity must also be recognized. Numerous methods have been developed to assess the potential risk of every GM food type. Benefits of the first generation of GM foods were oriented towards the production process and companies, the second generation of GM foods offers, on contrary, various advantages and added value for the consumer. This includes improved nutritional composition or even therapeutic effects. Recombinant probiotics and the principle of alternative gene therapy represent the latest approach of using GM organisms for biomedical applications. This article tries to summarize and to explain the problematic topic of GM food. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 16298508 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 109: Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2006 Mar;44(2):125-35. Epub 2005 Nov 18. Statistical analysis used in the nutritional assessment of novel food using the proof of safety. Hothorn LA, Oberdoerfer R. University of Hannover, LG Biostatistics, Herrenhaeuser Str. 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany. The safety assessment of Novel Food, including GM biotechnology-derived crops, starts with the comparison of the Novel Food with a traditional counterpart that is generally accepted as safe based on a history of human food use. Substantial equivalence is established if no meaningful difference from the conventional counterpart was found, leading to the conclusion that the Novel Food is as safe and nutritious as its traditional counterpart. In general, the non-significance of p value is used for the proof of safety. From a statistical perspective, the problems connected with such an approach are demonstrated, namely that quite different component-specific false negative error rates result. As an alternative, the proof of safety is discussed with the inherently related definition of safety thresholds. Moreover, parametric and non-parametric confidence intervals for the difference and the ratio to control (conventional line) are described in detail. Finally, the treatment of multiple components for a global proof of safety is explained. PMID: 16298467 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 110: Appetite. 2006 Jan;46(1):67-74. Epub 2005 Nov 17. Implicit attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) foods: a comparison of context-free and context-dependent evaluations. Spence A, Townsend E. RASPH group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. lpxas@psychology.nottingham.ac.uk Past research on attitudes towards GM food has focused on measuring explicit attitudes. Here we compared implicit attitudes towards GM foods with explicit attitudes towards GM foods. We used the Go No-Go task to investigate context-free implicit evaluations of GM foods and compared these with evaluations made in the context of ordinary and organic foods. Semantic differential scales were used to evaluate explicit attitudes towards GM foods. As expected, explicit attitudes towards GM foods were found to be neutral. However, contrary to our hypotheses, participants were found to hold positive, rather than neutral, implicit attitudes towards GM foods when these were assessed in a context free manner. In addition, neutral implicit attitudes were found when attitudes were assessed in the context of ordinary or organic foods, again contrasting with our hypotheses. These results imply that implicit attitudes towards GM food are more positive than anticipated and may lead to approach behaviour towards such products. Thus, given the choice, consumers are likely to accept GM food although other incentives may be needed if alternative foods are available. Publication Types: Randomized Controlled Trial Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16298018 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 111: Risk Anal. 2005 Oct;25(5):1241-52. Who does the public trust? The case of genetically modified food in the United States. Lang JT, Hallman WK. Department of Sociology and the Food Policy Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. John@Coolclass.com Trust is important for the perception of many types of risk, including those relating to genetically modified (GM) food. Who the public trusts in any given circumstance, however, is not well understood. In this study of public trust regarding GM food, an exploratory factor analysis with Promax rotation reveals public classification of three common institutional types-evaluators, watchdogs, and merchants. The structure of relationships among these stakeholders can act to enable or constrain public support for this new technology. Evaluators-scientists, universities, and medical professionals-are the most trusted. Watchdogs-consumer advocacy organizations, environmental organizations, and media sources-are moderately trusted. Merchants-grocers and grocery stores, industry, and farmers-are least trusted. While the federal government is seen as closest to being an evaluator, it is not highly correlated with any of the factors. The lack of trust in the organizations with the greatest resources and responsibilities for ensuring the safety of GM food should be seen as an important obstacle to the adoption of the technology. Publication Types: Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. PMID: 16297228 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 112: Genewatch. 2005 May-Jun;18(3):3-5, 16. Without a trace: how a lack of U.S. domestic LMO regulations is undermining international control. Bereano P. University of Washington, USA PMID: 16285121 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 113: Transgenic Res. 2005 Oct;14(5):775-84. Assessing the transfer of genetically modified DNA from feed to animal tissues. Mazza R, Soave M, Morlacchini M, Piva G, Marocco A. Instituto di Agronomia generale e Coltivazioni erbacee, Universita Cattolica S. Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, Piacenza 29100, Italy. mazza.raffaele@virgilio.it In Europe, public and scientific concerns about the environmental and food safety of GM (Genetically Modified) crops overshadow the potential benefits offered by crop biotechnology to improve food quality. One of the concerns regarding the use of GM food in human and animal nutrition is the effect that newly introduced sequences may have on the organism. In this paper, we assess the potential transfer of diet-derived DNA to animal tissues after consumption of GM plants. Blood, spleen, liver, kidney and muscle tissues from piglets fed for 35 days with diets containing either GM (MON810) or a conventional maize were investigated for the presence of plant DNA. Only fragments of specific maize genes (Zein, Sh-2) could be detected with different frequencies in all the examined tissues except muscle. A small fragment of the Cry1A(b) transgene was detected in blood, liver, spleen and kidney of the animals raised with the transgenic feed. The intact Cry1A(b) gene or its minimal functional unit were never detected. Statistical analysis of the results showed no difference in recovery of positives for the presence of plant DNA between animals raised with the transgenic feed and animals raised with the conventional feed, indicating that DNA transfer may occur independently from the source and the type of the gene. From the data obtained, we consider it unlikely that the occurrence of genetic transfer associated with GM plants is higher than that from conventional plants. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16245168 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 114: Transgenic Res. 2005 Oct;14(5):749-59. Crop-to-crop gene flow using farm scale sites of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in the UK. Weekes R, Deppe C, Allnutt T, Boffey C, Morgan D, Morgan S, Bilton M, Daniels R, Henry C. Central Science Laboratory, YO41 1LZ Sand Hutton, York, UK. From 2000-2003 a range of Farm Scale Evaluation (FSE) trials were established in the UK to assess the effect of the release and management of herbicide tolerant (HT) crops on the abundance and diversity of farmland wildlife compared with their conventionally managed non-GM-equivalents. The objective of this research project was to investigate gene flow within the winter (WOSR) and spring oilseed rape (SOSR) FSE trials and to develop a statistical model for the prediction of cross-pollination frequency that can be used to evaluate current separation distance guidelines. Seed samples were collected from the non-GM half of the trial sites and were tested for evidence of cross-pollination from the GM HT halves using a quantitative PCR assay specific to the HT (bar) gene. Rates of cross-pollination were found to decrease rapidly with increasing distance from the GM source. The quantitative data were subjected to statistical analysis and a two-step model was found to provide the best fit for the data. Significant differences were found between the results for WOSR, SOSR and varietal association (VA) crops. The model predicted that the %GM content (including upper 95% confidence limits) of a sample taken at a distance of 50 m away from the GM source would be 0.04% (0.84%) for WOSR, 0.02% (0.39%) for SOSR, 0.77% (21.72%) for WOSR VA and 0.37% (5.18%) for SOSR VA. The data and models presented here are discussed in the context of necessary separation distances to meet various possible thresholds for adventitious presence of GM in OSR. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16245166 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 115: Vet Res Commun. 2005 Aug;29 Suppl 2:31-4. Role of the "National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection" in the official control of food and feed. Ciabatti I, Marchesi U, Froiio A, Paterno A, Ruggeri M, Amaddeo D. Department of Virology and Biotechnology, National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio e Toscana, via Appia Nuvoa 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy. iciabatti@rm.izs.it The National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection was established in 2002 within the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio e Toscana, with the aim of providing scientific and technical support to the National Health System and to the Ministry of Health within the scope of the regulation of GMO use in food and feed.The recently adopted EU legislation on GMOs (Regulation CE no. 1829/2003 and no. 1830/2003) introduced more rigorous procedures for the authorisation, labelling and analytical control of food and feed consisting, containing or derived from GMOs. The National Reference Centre, besides its institutional tasks as one of the laboratories of the Italian National Health System, collects and analyses data and results of the national official control of GMOs; carries out scientific research aimed at developing, improving, validating and harmonising detection and quantification methods, in cooperation with other scientific institutions, the Community Reference Laboratory and within the European Network of GMOs laboratories (ENGL); collaborates with the Ministry of Health in the definition of control programmes and promotes educational and training initiatives. Objectives defined for 2004-2006, activities in progress and goals already achieved are presented. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16244921 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 116: Vet Res Commun. 2005 Aug;29 Suppl 2:19-26. Aspects connected with the enforcement of the EU provisions on genetically modified organisms. Marabelli R. General Directorate for Veterinary Health and Food, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy. alimentivet@sanita.it Publication Types: Review PMID: 16244919 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 117: Vet Res Commun. 2005 Aug;29 Suppl 2:7-11. GMO: human health risk assessment. D'Agnolo G. Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscienzes, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy. dagnolo@iss.it Publication Types: Review PMID: 16244917 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 118: Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3. Comment on: Science. 2005 Apr 29;308(5722):688-90. Debate over a GM rice trial in China. Cleveland DA, Soleri D. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 16231407 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 119: Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3. Comment on: Science. 2005 Apr 29;308(5722):688-90. Debate over a GM rice trial in China. Sze PC, Cotter J. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 16231406 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 120: Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3. Comment on: Science. 2005 Apr 29;308(5722):688-90. Debate over a GM rice trial in China. Heong KL, Chen YH, Johnson DE, Jahn GC, Hossain M, Hamilton RS. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 16224002 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 121: Eur J Histochem. 2005 Jul-Sep;49(3):237-42. Reversibility of hepatocyte nuclear modifications in mice fed on genetically modified soybean. Malatesta M, Tiberi C, Baldelli B, Battistelli S, Manuali E, Biggiogera M. Istituto di Istologia e Analisi di Laboratorio, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, via Zeppi s.n., 61029 Urbino, Italy. malatesta@uniurb.it In the literature, the reports on the effects of a genetically modified (GM) diet are scanty and heterogeneous; in particular, no direct evidence has so far been reported that GM food may affect human or animal health. Hepatocytes represent a suitable model for monitoring the effects of a GM diet, the liver potentially being a primary target. In a previous study, we demonstrated that some modifications occur in hepatocyte nuclei of mice fed on GM soybean. In order to elucidate whether such modifications can be reversed, in the present study, 3 months old mice fed on GM soybean since their weaning were submitted to a diet containing wild type soybean, for one month. In parallel, to investigate the influence of GM soybean on adult individuals, mice fed on wild type soybean were changed to a GM diet, for the same time. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we demonstrated that a one-month diet reversion can influence some nuclear features in adult mice, restoring typical characteristics of controls in GM-fed animals, and inducing in control mice modifications similar to those observed in animals fed on GM soybean from weaning. This suggests that the modifications related to GM soybean are potentially reversible, but also that some modifications are inducible in adult organisms in a short time. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16216809 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 122: Environ Biosafety Res. 2005 Jan-Mar;4(1):13-27. A conceptual framework for the design of environmental post-market monitoring of genetically modified plants. Sanvido O, Widmer F, Winzeler M, Bigler F. Agroscope FAL Reckenholz, Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, CH-8046 Zurich, Switzerland. olivier.sanvido@fal.admin.ch Genetically modified plants (GMPs) may soon be cultivated commercially in several member countries of the European Union (EU). According to EU Directive 2001/18/EC, post-market monitoring (PMM) for commercial GMP cultivation must be implemented, in order to detect and prevent adverse effects on human health and the environment. However, no general PMM strategies for GMP cultivation have been established so far. We present a conceptual framework for the design of environmental PMM for GMP cultivation based on current EU legislation and common risk analysis procedures. We have established a comprehensive structure of the GMP approval process, consisting of pre-market risk assessment (PMRA) as well as PMM. Both programs can be distinguished conceptually due to principles inherent to risk analysis procedures. The design of PMM programs should take into account the knowledge gained during approval for commercialization of a specific GMP and the decisions made in the environmental risk assessments (ERAs). PMM is composed of case-specific monitoring (CSM) and general surveillance. CSM focuses on anticipated effects of a specific GMP. Selection of case-specific indicators for detection of ecological exposure and effects, as well as definition of effect sizes, are important for CSM. General surveillance is designed to detect unanticipated effects on general safeguard subjects, such as natural resources, which must not be adversely affected by human activities like GMP cultivation. We have identified clear conceptual differences between CSM and general surveillance, and propose to adopt separate frameworks when developing either of the two programs. Common to both programs is the need to put a value on possible ecological effects of GMP cultivation. The structure of PMM presented here will be of assistance to industry, researchers, and regulators, when assessing GMPs during commercialization. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16209133 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 123: Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2006 Feb;44(1):43-8. Epub 2005 Sep 26. Science, politics, and the GM debate in Europe. Tencalla F. Monsanto Europe S.A., Avenue de Tervuren 270-272, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium. francesca.tencalla@monsanto.com Europe today stands at a crossroad, facing challenges but also opportunities. In its intent to make Europe a leading technology-based economy by 2010, the European Commission has identified biotechnology and genomics as fields for future growth, crucial for supporting the agricultural and food processing industry. Since first commercialization in 1996, GM crop areas have grown at double-digit rates, making this one of the most rapidly adopted technologies in agriculture. However, in contrast to other world areas and despite European Commission support, Europe has found itself 'bogged-down' in a polemic between opponents and supporters of plant biotechnology. As a result, planted areas have remained small. This stalemate is due to a lack of political leadership, especially at the Member State level, all the more surprising in light of European early development and competitive advantage with crop biotechnology. This situation proves once again that, for cutting-edge innovations, a solid science base alone is not sufficient. Acceptance or rejection of new technologies depends on interlinked political, economic, and societal factors that create a favorable or unfavorable situation at a given time. This article will look at GM crops in Europe and the role science and politics have played in the introduction of crop biotechnology. PMID: 16188360 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 124: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Aug;46(4):J223-7. [Polymerase chain reaction technology for detection of unapproved genetically modified maize line (Bt10 line)] [Article in Japanese] Watanabe T. National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16180689 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 125: New Sci. 2005 Jun 11-17;186(2503):21. Making the world better? Bruce D. Science, Religion and Technology Project, Church of Scotland, UK. PMID: 16178099 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 126: Anal Biochem. 2005 Nov 1;346(1):90-100. Epub 2005 Aug 25. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction and ligation detection reaction/universal array technology for the traceability of genetically modified organisms in foods. Peano C, Bordoni R, Gulli M, Mezzelani A, Samson MC, Bellis GD, Marmiroli N. Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, Segrate, Milano 20090, Italy. clelia.peano@itb.cnr.it A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system was developed for the simultaneous detection of target sequences in genetically modified soybean (Roundup Ready) and maize (MON810, Bt176, Bt11, and GA21). Primer pairs were designed to amplify the junction regions of the transgenic constructs analyzed and the endogenous genes of soybean (lectin) and maize (zein) were included as internal control targets to assess the efficiency of all reactions. This multiplex PCR has constituted the basis for an efficient platform for genetically modified organism traceability based on microarray technology. In particular, the ligation detection reaction combined to a universal array approach, using the multiplex PCR as target, was applied. High specificity and sensitivity were obtained. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16169511 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 127: Appetite. 2005 Dec;45(3):242-9. Epub 2005 Sep 12. Unpacking atitudes towards genetically modified food. de Liver Y, van der Pligt J, Wigboldus D. Social Psychology Program, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.n.deliver@uva.nl The present study investigates the structure of attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) food. A total of 431 respondents completed a questionnaire measuring their overall attitude, cognition and affect towards GM food. A model with distinct positive and negative, affective and cognitive components and a separate factor for perceived risk and worry best accounted for the data. Negative--but not positive--components directly affected behavioural intentions. Implications of these findings for our understanding of attitudes towards GM food and their impact on behaviour are discussed. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16154663 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 128: World J Gastroenterol. 2005 Sep 14;11(34):5381-4. Studies on BN rats model to determine the potential allergenicity of proteins from genetically modified foods. Jia XD, Li N, Wu YN, Yang XG. National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nanwei Road, Beijing 100050, China. AIM: To develop a Brown Norway (BN) rat model to determine the potential allergenicity of novel proteins in genetically modified food. METHODS: The allergenicity of different proteins were compared, including ovalbumin (OVA), a potent respiratory and food allergen, bovine serum albumin (BSA), a protein that is considered to have a lesser allergenic potential, and potato acid phosphatase (PAP), a non-allergenic protein when administered to BN rats via different routes of exposure (intraperitoneally or by gavage). IgG and IgE antibody responses were determined by ELISA and PCA, respectively. An immunoassay kit was used to determine the plasma histamine level. In addition, possible systemic effect of allergens was investigated by monitoring blood pressure. RESULTS: OVA provoked very vigorous protein-specific IgG and IgE responses, low grade protein-specific IgG and IgE responses were elicited by BSA, while by neither route did PAP elicit anything. In either routes of exposure, plasma histamine level in BN rats sensitized with OVA was higher than that of BSA or PAP. In addition, an oral challenge with BSA and PAP did not induce any effect on blood pressure, while a temporary drop in systolic blood pressure in few animals of each routes of exposure was found by an oral challenge with OVA. CONCLUSION: BN rat model might be a useful and predictive animal model to study the potential allergenicity of novel food proteins. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16149151 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 129: Science. 2005 Sep 2;309(5740):1471. European politics. Germany poised to elect first scientist-chancellor. Vogel G. Publication Types: News PMID: 16141035 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 130: Allergy Asthma Proc. 2005 May-Jun;26(3):210-6. Genetically modified and wild soybeans: an immunologic comparison. Yum HY, Lee SY, Lee KE, Sohn MH, Kim KE. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Pochon, Korea. Most traits introduced into genetically engineered crops result from the expression of new proteins. As the first step toward assessing the allergenic potential of genetically modified organism (GMO) food, immunologic and physicochemical characterizations are needed. We prepared crude extract from GMO soybeans, wild soybeans, curd, and soy milk and then performed sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). After acidification with HCl, the samples were separated to globulin and whey. To evaluate changes in protein composition, either the samples were heated or pepsin was added. Polymerase chain reaction with primer encoding the 35S-promotor and the 3-enol-pyruvyl-shikimat-5-phosphat-synthase gene were performed, respectively, to detect the GMO component. SDS-PAGE results showed definite protein bands at 80 kDa in GMO soybean, 50 kDa in wild soybean, and a similar distribution of protein bands was noticed below 40 kDa. It was difficult to observe protein distribution because of modifications that occurred during processing in soybean-processed products. After heating, proteins of GMO and wild soybeans showed similar distributions and no distinct bands were detected at 50 and 80 kDa. Although SDS-PAGE analyses of raw GMO and wild soybeans differed, the same protein bands of 68, 37, and 20 kDa were observed in the globulin fraction after acidification. After adding pepsin, 20- and 68-kDa bands were found preserved in GMO and wild soybeans. The polymerase chain reaction procedures with primers specific to GMO soybeans showed that GMO soybeans and some curd samples included a GMO component. The skin test results of 49 patients showed 13 positive results to wild soybeans and 8 positive results to GMO soybeans. One patient had a positive skin test result to GMO soybeans only. Sera from nine patients with positive skin tests to the crude extract and a positive capsulated allergen product test to the soybean antigen were used for the immunoblotting of GMO and wild soybeans. GMO soybeans revealed a unique strong immunoglobulin E binding band at 25 kDa in some patients and wild soybeans showed a strong immunoglobulin E binding band at 30-36 kDa. To assess the allergenicity of GMO food, more research, including a selection of controlled sample materials and immunoassays of qualified sera, is needed. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16119037 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 131: Rev Sci Tech. 2005 Apr;24(1):231-42. Traceability of biotech-derived animals: application of DNA technology. Loftus R. IdentiGEN Ltd, Unit 9, Trinity Enterprise Centre, Pearse Street, Dublin 02, Ireland. Traceability is increasingly becoming standard across the agri-food industry, largely driven by recent food crises and the consequent demands for transparency within the food chain. This is leading to the development of a range of traceability concepts and technologies adapted to different industry needs. Experience with genetically modified plants has shown that traceability can play a role in increasing public confidence in biotechnology, and might similarly help allay concerns relating to the development of animal biotechnology. Traceability also forms an essential component of any risk management strategy and is a key requirement for post-marketing surveillance. Given the diversity of traceability concepts and technologies available, consideration needs to be given to the scope and precision of traceability systems for animal biotechnology. Experience to date has shown that conventional tagging and labelling systems can incorporate levels of error and may not have sufficient precision for biotech-derived animals. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology can overcome these difficulties by tracing animals and animal by-products through their DNA code rather than an associated label. This offers the possibility of tracing some by-products of animal biotechnology through the supply chain back to source animals, offering unprecedented levels of traceability. Developments in both DNA sampling and analysis technology are making large-scale applications of DNA traceability increasingly cost effective and feasible, and are likely to lead to a broader uptake of DNA traceability concepts. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16110891 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 132: Rev Sci Tech. 2005 Apr;24(1):149-57. Public perceptions of transgenic animals. Einsiedel EF. Communication Studies Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada. The field of animal biotechnology has been rapidly expanding and the development of transgenic animals has been part of this research expansion. How the public perceives such developments is an important component of policy considerations. In general, biotechnology applications have been judged with evident hierarchies of acceptability. There appearto be hierarchies in terms of the type of organism being modified, the purpose of the application, the means to attain particular ends, and the nature of the benefits obtained. While general awareness of biotechnology and its specific applications remains low to moderate, this article presents data regarding public acceptance of a variety of applications. These range from the use of animals as disease models and as sources for tissues and organs, to the use of transgenic animals for disease control, for food, and for the production of pharmaceutical and industrial products. Case-by-case judgments are evident, but at the same time, the application of criteria such as the nature of the organism being modified, the animal welfare aspects and the ethical-moral concerns are additional criteria for public judgments. These findings are discussed in the context of their implications for public policy. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 16110885 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 133: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Aug 30;102(35):12338-43. Epub 2005 Aug 10. Erratum in: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Dec 13;102(50):18242. Comment in: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Sep 13;102(37):13003-4. Absence of detectable transgenes in local landraces of maize in Oaxaca, Mexico (2003-2004). Ortiz-Garcia S, Ezcurra E, Schoel B, Acevedo F, Soberon J, Snow AA. Instituto Nacional de Ecologia, Secretaria del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Colonia Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Delegacion Coyoacan, 04530 Mexico D.F., Mexico. In 2000, transgenes were detected in local maize varieties (landraces) in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico [Quist, D. & Chapela, I. H. (2001) Nature 414, 541-543]. This region is part of the Mesoamerican center of origin for maize (Zea mays L.), and the genetic diversity that is maintained in open-pollinated landraces is recognized as an important genetic resource of great cultural value. The presence of transgenes in landraces was significant because transgenic maize has never been approved for cultivation in Mexico. Here we provide a systematic survey of the frequency of transgenes in currently grown landraces. We sampled maize seeds from 870 plants in 125 fields and 18 localities in the state of Oaxaca during 2003 and 2004. We then screened 153,746 sampled seeds for the presence of two transgene elements from the 35S promoter of the cauliflower mosaic virus and the nopaline synthase gene (nopaline synthase terminator) from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. One or both of these transgene elements are present in all transgenic commercial varieties of maize. No transgenic sequences were detected with highly sensitive PCR-based markers, appropriate positive and negative controls, and duplicate samples for DNA extraction. We conclude that transgenic maize seeds were absent or extremely rare in the sampled fields. This study provides a much-needed preliminary baseline for understanding the biological, socioeconomic, and ethical implications of the inadvertent dispersal of transgenes from the United States and elsewhere to local landraces of maize in Mexico. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16093316 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 134: Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2005 Jul;117(13-14):437-9. [In vitro tests for the determination of allergenic potency of "novel foods' and genetically modified organisms: relevance in vivo?] [Article in German] Jensen-Jarolim E, Untersmayr E. Institut fur Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Medizinische Universitat Wien, Wien, Osterreich. erika. jensen-jarolim@meduniwien.ac.at Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16091867 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 135: Perspect Biol Med. 2005 Summer;48(3):328-43. Ethical issues in animal cloning. Fiester A. University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. fiester@mail.med.upenn.edu The issue of human reproductive cloning has recently received a great deal attention in public discourse. Bioethicists, policy makers, and the media have been quick to identify the key ethical issues involved in human reproductive cloning and to argue, almost unanimously, for an international ban on such attempts. Meanwhile, scientists have proceeded with extensive research agendas in the cloning of animals. Despite this research, there has been little public discussion of the ethical issues raised by animal cloning projects. Polling data show that the public is decidedly against the cloning of animals. To understand the public's reaction and fill the void of reasoned debate about the issue, we need to review the possible objections to animal cloning and assess the merits of the anti-animal cloning stance. Some objections to animal cloning (e.g., the impact of cloning on the population of unwanted animals) can be easily addressed, while others (e.g., the health of cloned animals) require more serious attention by the public and policy makers. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16085991 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 136: Food Chem Toxicol. 2006 Feb;44(2):147-60. Epub 2005 Aug 9. Results of a 90-day safety assurance study with rats fed grain from corn rootworm-protected corn. Hammond B, Lemen J, Dudek R, Ward D, Jiang C, Nemeth M, Burns J. Monsanto Company, 800 North Lindbergh Blvd., St Louis, MO 63167, USA. bruce.g.hammond@monsanto.com The results of a 90-day rat feeding study with YieldGard (YieldGard Rootworm Corn is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology, LLC.) Rootworm corn (MON 863) grain that is protected against feeding damage caused by corn rootworm larvae are presented. Corn rootworm-protection was accomplished through the introduction of a cry3Bb1 coding sequence into the corn genome for in planta production of a modified Cry3Bb1 protein from Bacillus thuringiensis. Grain from MON 863 and its near isogenic control were separately formulated into rodent diets at levels of 11% and 33% (w/w) by Purina Mills, Inc. Additionally, six groups of rats were fed diets containing grain from different conventional (non-biotechnology-derived) reference varieties. The responses of rats fed diets containing MON 863 were compared to those of rats fed grain from conventional corn varieties. All diets were nutritionally balanced and conformed to Purina Mills, Inc. specifications for Certified LabDiet 5002. There were a total of 400 rats in the study divided into 10 groups of 20 rats/sex/group. Overall health, body weight gain, food consumption, clinical pathology parameters (hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis), organ weights, gross and microscopic appearance of tissues were comparable between groups fed diets containing MON 863 and conventional corn varieties. This study complements extensive agronomic, compositional and farm animal feeding studies with MON 863 grain, confirming that it is as safe and nutritious as existing conventional corn varieties. PMID: 16084637 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 137: Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2005 Sep;8(5):516-22. A perspective on DNA microarray technology in food and nutritional science. Kato H, Saito K, Kimura T. Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. akatoq@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The functions of nutrients and other foods have been revealed at the level of gene regulation. The advent of DNA microarray technology has enabled us to analyze the body's response to these factors in a much more holistic manner than before. This review is intended to overview the present status of this DNA microarray technology, hoping to provide food and nutrition scientists, especially those who are planning to introduce this technology, with hints and suggestions. RECENT FINDINGS: The number of papers examining transcriptomics analysis in food and nutrition science has expanded over the last few years. The effects of some dietary conditions and administration of specific nutrients or food factors are studied in various animal models and cultured cells. The target food components range from macronutrients and micronutrients to other functional food factors. Such studies have already yielded fruitful results, which include discovery of novel functions of a food, uncovering hitherto unknown mechanisms of action, and analyses of food safety. SUMMARY: The potency of DNA microarray technology in food and nutrition science is broadly recognized. This technique will surely continue to provide researchers and the public with valuable information on the beneficial and adverse effects of food factors. It should also be acknowledged, however, that there remain problems such as standardization of the data and sharing of the results among researchers in this field. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16079622 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 138: Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Aug;113(8):A526-33. Comment in: Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Mar;114(3):A146-7. Genetically modified foods: breeding uncertainty. Schmidt CW. Publication Types: News PMID: 16079054 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 139: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Jun;46(3):J203-7. [Consideration of detection method and identification for genetically modified foods] [Article in Japanese] Akiyama H, Matsuda R. National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16042304 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 140: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Jun;46(3):J193-7. [Standardization of the detection methods for genetically modified organisms in ISO] [Article in Japanese] Futo S. FASMAC Co., Ltd.: 5-1-3, Midorigaoka, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0041, Japan. PMID: 16042302 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 141: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Jun;46(3):79-85. Detection of genetically modified organisms in foreign-made processed foods containing corn and potato. Monma K, Araki R, Sagi N, Satoh M, Ichikawa H, Satoh K, Tobe T, Kamata K, Hino A, Saito K. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health: 3-24-1, Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Investigations of the validity of labeling regarding genetically modified (GM) products were conducted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for foreign-made processed foods made from corn and potato purchased in the Tokyo area and in the USA. Several kinds of GM crops were detected in 12 of 32 samples of processed corn samples. More than two GM events for which safety reviews have been completed in Japan were simultaneously detected in 10 samples. GM events MON810 and Bt11 were most frequently detected in the samples by qualitative PCR methods. MON810 was detected in 11 of the 12 samples, and Bt11 was detected in 6 of the 12 samples. In addition, Roundup Ready soy was detected in one of the 12 samples. On the other hand, CBH351, for which the safety assessment was withdrawn in Japan, was not detected in any of the 12 samples. A trial quantitative analysis was performed on six of the GM maize qualitatively positive samples. The estimated amounts of GM maize in these samples ranged from 0.2 to 2.8%, except for one sample, which contained 24.1%. For this sample, the total amount found by event-specific quantitative analysis was 23.8%. Additionally, Roundup Ready soy was detected in one sample of 21 potato-processed foods, although GM potatoes were not detected in any sample. PMID: 16042293 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 142: Nature. 2005 Jul 21;436(7049):328. Comment on: Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561. Unlike climate science, GM is full of uncertainties. Parr D. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 16034396 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 143: Nature. 2005 Jul 21;436(7049):328. Comment on: Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561. Leave GM analysis to the relevant scientists. Couvet D. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 16034395 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 144: Nutr Rev. 2005 Jun;63(6 Pt 1):210-23. Science, law, and politics in FDA's genetically engineered foods policy: scientific concerns and uncertainties. Pelletier DL. Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 378 MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. dlp5@cornell.edu The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) 1992 policy statement granted genetically engineered foods presumptive GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status. Since then, divergent views have been expressed concerning the scientific support for this policy. This paper examines four sources to better understand the basis for these claims: 1) internal FDA correspondence; 2) reports from the National Academy of Sciences; 3) research funded by US Department of Agriculture from 1981 to 2002; and 4) FDA's proposed rules issued in 2001. These sources reveal that little research has been conducted on unintended compositional changes from genetic engineering. Profiling techniques now make this feasible, but the new debate centers on the functional meaning of compositional changes. Publication Types: Review PMID: 16028565 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 145: Genet Med. 2005 Jul-Aug;7(6):454-5. Genetic testing, biotechnology, and GMOs: A snapshot of public opinion, 2003 through 2004. Alford RL, Morris KE, Rives CM, Scherer SE, Weinstock G, Gibbs RA, Ghonima K, Belcher M, Valdes H, Sumners C, Law C, Reiff P. Publication Types: Letter Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. PMID: 16024979 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 146: Appetite. 2005 Aug;45(1):40-6. Food and the relation between values and attitude characteristics. Dreezens E, Martijn C, Tenbult P, Kok G, de Vries NK. Department of Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. e.dreezens@psychology.unimaas.nl This survey showed that the values power (dominance over nature and resources) and universalism (respect for people and for nature) are related to attitudes toward genetically modified food (GMF) and organically grown food (OGF). Furthermore, these values have an influence on the centrality, commitment and ambivalence of these attitudes. Values that are positively related to an attitude influence how central this attitude is to a person. However, values that are negatively related to an attitude have a larger effect on the commitment of this attitude. No such pattern of effects was found for the relationship between ambivalence and values. These data suggest that centrality, commitment, and ambivalence are structurally different constructs that have a distinct relationship with specific values. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16018906 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 147: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Apr;46(2):55-7. [Study on positive control for GM papaya (55-1) detection method by GUS (beta-glucuronidase) assay] [Article in Japanese] Takahashi K, Horie M. Saitama Institute of Public Health: 639-1 Kamiokubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama 338-0824, Japan. A suitable positive control was investigated for histochemical assay (GUS-examining method) to detect genetically modified (GM) papaya (55-1), currently undergoing a safety assessment in Japan. Six different kinds of test papers were soaked with beta-glucuronidase solution and examined for GUS activity. The test papers made of nylon and glass fiber turned blue, and were stable for fifteen months at -20 degrees C. They are concluded to be useful as positive controls in the GUS-examining method for inspection of GM papaya (55-1). Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 16018592 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 148: Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2004 Oct-Dec;108(4):838-42. [Genetically modified foods. Advantages and human health risks] [Article in Romanian] Filip L, Miere D, Indrei LL. Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Iuliu Hatieganu Cluj-Napoca Facultatea de Farmacie, Disciplina de Chimie sanitara. One of the most important issue with which the mankind is confronting now is related to the quantitatively as well as qualitatively assurance of the food supply necessary for human species existence. In this context, by means of genetic engineering, modified genetic organisms were obtained. In the first stage, plant crops with high productivity and resistant against diseases and pests were obtained. After that, food products having modified organoleptic properties and high nutrition values were produced. The main problem concerning the long-term consumption of these products is their toxicity, which until now was not confirmed or denied. For this reason, tests are necessary to be made in order to stipulate and prevent these effects. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 16004228 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 149: J AOAC Int. 2005 May-Jun;88(3):814-22. Real-time polymerase chain reaction detection of cauliflower mosaic virus to complement the 35S screening assay for genetically modified organisms. Cankar K, Ravnikar M, Zel J, Gruden K, Toplak N. National Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Vecna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. katja.cankar@nib.si Labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is now in place in many countries, including the European Union, in order to guarantee the consumer's choice between GM and non-GM products. Screening of samples is performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of regulatory sequences frequently introduced into genetically modified plants. Primers for the 35S promoter from Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) are those most frequently used. In virus-infected plants or in samples contaminated with plant material carrying the virus, false-positive results can consequently occur. A system for real-time PCR using a TaqMan minor groove binder probe was designed that allows recognition of virus coat protein in the sample, thus allowing differentiation between transgenic and virus-infected samples. We measured the efficiency of PCR amplification, limits of detection and quantification, range of linearity, and repeatability of the assay in order to assess the applicability of the assay for routine analysis. The specificity of the detection system was tested on various virus isolates and plant species. All 8 CaMV isolates were successfully amplified using the designed system. No cross-reactivity was detected with DNA from 3 isolates of the closely related Carnation etched ring virus. Primers do not amplify plant DNA from available genetically modified maize and soybean lines or from different species of Brassicaceae or Solanaceae that are natural hosts for CaMV. We evaluated the assay for different food matrixes by spiking CaMV DNA into DNA from food samples and have successfully amplified CaMV from all samples. The assay was tested on rapeseed samples from routine GMO testing that were positive in the 35S screening assay, and the presence of the virus was confirmed. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 16001857 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 150: BMJ. 2005 Jul 2;331(7507):11. Developing countries may not get benefits of GM food. Brettingham M. Publication Types: News PMID: 15994680 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 151: J Environ Health. 2005 Jun;67(10):44-9. Health professionals hold positive attitudes toward biotechnology and genetically engineered foods. Schmidt J, Vickery CE, Cotugna NA, Snider OS. Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Sudlersville, MD 21668, USA. jenhans@dmv.com Few biotechnology processes have elicited the degree of controversy that genetic manipulation of food through recombinant DNA technology has. Research has shown that consumers turn to health professionals for answers to questions regarding health and nutrition. This study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of physicians (MDs/DOs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and registered dietitians (RDs) toward food biotechnology and genetic engineering (GE). Six hundred three-part, self-administered surveys were sent to health professionals holding active professional licenses. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance with Tukey's HSD and Scheffe's post hoc tests. Attitudes toward GE were positive. MDs held more positive attitudes than NPs or RDs (p = .000). MDs and NPs supported the use of GE to improve plant resistance to pests; RDs tended to support nutritional-improvement technology. All groups supported the use of GE to produce human medicines and the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling policy. No profession was more knowledgeable than another. Biotechnology holds the potential to positively affect human health. All health professionals can facilitate or diminish this process through their understanding of the technology and their ability to communicate effectively about the science and issues associated with biotechnology. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15991684 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 152: Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2005 Sep 1;207(2 Suppl):19-27. What determines the acceptability of genetically modified food that can improve human nutrition? Purchase IF. University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. It has been predicted that by 2025 there will be an annual shortfall of cereals for feeding the human population of 68.5 million tonnes. One possible solution is the use of genetically modified (GM) crops, which are already grown extensively (59 million ha of GM crops were planted in 2002) in the USA, South America, Africa and China. Nevertheless, there is considerable disagreement about the advisability of using such crops, particularly in Europe. Obviously, the safety of the food derived from the GM crops is a primary consideration. Safety assessment relies on establishing that the food is substantially equivalent to its non-GM counterpart and specific testing for allergenicity of proteins and toxicity of metabolites and the whole food. There appears to be international agreement on the principles of safety assessment. Safety to the environment is equally important, but will not be covered in this presentation. The public's perception of the risk of new technology is critical to its acceptance. Perception of risk, in turn, depends on the credibility of the source of the information and trust in the regulatory process. In many countries, the public appears to have lost its trust in the scientists and government dealing with GM food, making the acceptability of GM crops uncertain. Of equal importance are the socio-economic factors that impinge on the viability of GM produce. These include intellectual property protection, trade liberalisation (through subsidy and tariff barriers in developed countries) and the intensity of bio safety regulations. The socio-economic interests of developed and developing countries may diverge and may even be contradictory in any one country. Acceptance of GM crops will thus depend on detailed issues surrounding particular crops and economies. PMID: 15982686 [PubMed - in process] 153: Nutr Rev. 2005 May;63(5):171-81. Science, law, and politics in the Food and Drug Administration's genetically engineered foods policy: FDA's 1992 policy statement. Pelletier DL. Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 378 MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. dlp5@cornell.edu The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) 1992 policy statement was developed in the context of critical gaps in scientific knowledge concerning the compositional effects of genetic transformation and severe limitations in methods for safety testing. FDA acknowledged that pleiotropy and insertional mutagenesis may cause unintended changes, but it was unknown whether this happens to a greater extent in genetic engineering compared with traditional breeding. Moreover, the agency was not able to identify methods by which producers could screen for unintended allergens and toxicants. Despite these uncertainties, FDA granted genetically engineered foods the presumption of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and recommended that producers use voluntary consultations before marketing them. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15971412 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 154: Sci Cult (Lond). 2002 Dec;11(4):459-79. Selling the life sciences: promises of a better future in biotechnology advertisements. Hellstein I. Universiteit van Amsterdam, ASCoR (Amsterdam School of Communications Research), Kloveniersburgwal 48, NL-1012CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. hellsten@pscw.uva.nl Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15971365 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 155: Sci Cult (Lond). 2001 Dec;10(4):445-81. Creating public alienation: expert cultures of risk and ethics on GMOs. Wynne B. CSEC, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1, UK. B.Wynne@Lancaster.ac.uk PMID: 15971363 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 156: J Fish Dis. 2005 Jun;28(6):317-30. An examination of the intestinal tract of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr fed different varieties of soy and maize. Sanden M, Berntssen MH, Krogdahl A, Hemre GI, Bakke-McKellep AM. National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), Bergen, Norway. monica.sanden@nifes.no This study was conducted to investigate the long-term effects of feeding plant products from both traditional breeding and from biotechnology on intestinal somatic indices, histology and cell proliferation in first-feeding Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. (initial weight 0.21 +/- 0.02 g). A standard fishmeal diet (standard fishmeal) was formulated to contain fishmeal as the sole protein source and suprex maize as the main starch source. Six experimental diets were then developed: two in which some of the fishmeal was replaced with commercially available, genetically modified Roundup Ready full-fat soybean meal (GM-soy) or commercially available, non-GM full-fat soybean meal (nGM-soy) at a level of 12.5% of the total diet, and four diets in which the suprex maize was replaced with two lines of GM-maize (Dekalb 1; D1 and Pioneer 1; P1), both products of event MON810, and their half-sibling non-GM counterparts (Dekalb 2; D2 and Pioneer 2; P2), at a level of 12.1% of total diet. Each diet was fed to fish in triplicate tanks and the experiment lasted for 8 months, during which the fish reached a final weight of 101-116 g. There was no significant effect of diet on the intestinal indices, nor were histological changes observed in the pyloric caeca or mid intestine. In the distal intestine, one of nine sampled fish fed nGM-soy showed moderate changes, two of nine sampled fish fed GM-soy showed changes, one with moderate and one with severe changes, and two of nine fish fed nGM-maize D2 had moderate changes. Using a monoclonal antibody against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cell proliferative responses to the experimental diets were assessed. In fish fed both soy diets, a significantly higher (P < 0.05) cell proliferation response was observed in the distal intestine concomitant with an increased localization of PCNA positive cells along the whole distal intestinal folds. The PCNA response among the nGM-soy group was significantly higher compared with all the other diet groups. In contrast, for fish exposed to dietary maize (type D) compared with fish fed the standard fishmeal, the soy-diets (GM-soy and nGM-soy) and maize (type P), a significantly lower (P < 0.05) cell proliferation response was observed in the distal intestine. Results indicated that the GM plant products investigated in this study, at about 12% inclusion level, were as safe as commercially available non-GM products, at least in terms of their effect on indices and histological parameters of the Atlantic salmon intestinal tract. Publication Types: Comparative Study PMID: 15960655 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 157: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3b):631-4. Extraction and PCR analysis of soy DNA in chocolate. Supli K, Gryson N, Messens K, De Loose M, Dewettinck K. AgriFing, Centre for Applied Research and Services, Hogeschool Gent, Voskenslaan 270, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. The manner in which to discriminate between genetically modified (GM) versus non-modified foodstuffs is based on the presence of newly introduced genes at the protein or DNA level. Current available methods are almost exclusively based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These methods consist of three steps: DNA isolation, amplification of the desired DNA fragment and visualisation of the obtained amplification products. The first and crucial step is the DNA isolation. In this study three different methods are described for the isolation of DNA from chocolate, two of which are commercial kits. The results indicate that both kits, in contrast with the non-commercial method, are suitable for the isolation of DNA from chocolate, provided that the adapted PCR conditions are applied. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15954670 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 158: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3b):469-72. Use of cloned DNA fragments as reference materials for event specific quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Taverniers I, Van Bockstaele E, De Loose M. Department for Plant Genetics and Breeding, CLO-Gent, Caritasstraat 21, B-9090 Melle, Belgium. For the quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in foods and feeds, real-time PCR is currently the most widely applied technique. To obtain a % of GMO, a GMO-specific target sequence is quantified relatively to a species-specific sequence. The correctness and reliability of the obtained quantitative results fully depend on the reference materials used as standards for setting up external calibration curves. We introduced a completely new type of standards for quantification of GMOs, based on cloned plasmid DNA solutions with well-known amounts of the sequences of interest, expressed as copy numbers. Moreover, the junction sequence between inserted DNA and plant DNA was used as 'unique identifier'. In this study, the model was applied for Roundup Ready soybean. PMID: 15954640 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 159: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3b):435-6. Improvement of sorghum transformation efficiency for increasing nutritional quality. Chakraborty R, Jacobs M, Angenon G. Laboratory of Plant Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Paadenstraat 65, B-1640 Genesius Rode, Belgium. PMID: 15954630 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 160: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3b):417-24. Refining of soy bean oil: detection of DNA. Gryson N, Ronsse F, Messens K, De Loose M, Verleyen T, Dewettinck K. AgriFing, Centre for Applied Research and Services, Hogeschool Gent, Voskenslaan 270, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15954627 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 161: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(3a):31-7. Biotechnology and the consumer. Debeuckelaere W. Test-Aankoop, Hollandstraat 13, 1060 Brussel, Belgium. PMID: 15954560 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 162: Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet. 2001;66(4):335-9. Consumers and GM food: a divergent relation. Verdurme A. Ghent University, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences Department of Agricultural Economics, Division of Agro-marketing, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Annelies.Verdurme@rug.ac.be Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15954315 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 163: Trends Biotechnol. 2005 Aug;23(8):386-7. Comment on: Trends Biotechnol. 2004 Mar;22(3):107-9. Consumer acceptance of biotechnology and the role of second generation technologies in the USA and Europe. Lusk JL, Rozan A. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 15953650 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 164: Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2005 Mar;34(2):244-8. [Strategies for safety assessment of genetically modified crops: current and future development] [Article in Chinese] Zhuo Q, Yang XG. National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China. Gene recombinant technologies supply agriculture product with great vitality. But the risk of genetically modified crops cannot be ignored. The international organizations such as WHO, FAO and OECD have reached common agreement: the safety of transgenic crops should be thoroughly evaluated based on "substantial equivalence"principle. The relevant strategies including: substantial equivalent analysis, toxic tests, protein allergenic study, nutritional assessment, etc. With the development of new technologies, the approaches of genomic, proteomics, metabolomics would be applied to detect the unintended effects. The EU recently adopted legislation on the cultivation GM crops requiring the post market surveillance for any unanticipated adverse effects in the long term. In conclusion, the strategies of the safety assessment of GM crop are very strict and likely development. Publication Types: English Abstract Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 15952675 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 165: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):153-66. Epub 2005 Jun 8. Comment in: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):151-2. Assessing genetically modified crops to minimize the risk of increased food allergy: a review. Goodman RE, Hefle SL, Taylor SL, van Ree R. Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0955, USA. rgoodman2@unlnotes.unl.edu The first genetically modified (GM) crops approved for food use (tomato and soybean) were evaluated for safety by the United States Food and Drug Administration prior to commercial production. Among other factors, those products and all additional GM crops that have been grown commercially have been evaluated for potential increases in allergenic properties using methods that are consistent with the current understanding of food allergens and knowledge regarding the prediction of allergenic activity. Although there have been refinements, the key aspects of the evaluation have not changed. The allergenic properties of the gene donor and the host (recipient) organisms are considered in determining the appropriate testing strategy. The amino acid sequence of the encoded protein is compared to all known allergens to determine whether the protein is a known allergen or is sufficiently similar to any known allergen to indicate an increased probability of allergic cross-reactivity. Stability of the protein in the presence of acid with the stomach protease pepsin is tested as a risk factor for food allergenicity. In vitro or in vivo human IgE binding are tested when appropriate, if the gene donor is an allergen or the sequence of the protein is similar to an allergen. Serum donors and skin test subjects are selected based on their proven allergic responses to the gene donor or to material containing the allergen that was matched in sequence. While some scientists and regulators have suggested using animal models, performing broadly targeted serum IgE testing or extensive pre- or post-market clinical tests, current evidence does not support these tests as being predictive or practical. Based on the evidence to date, the current assessment process has worked well to prevent the unintended introduction of allergens in commercial GM crops. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15947471 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 166: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):151-2. Epub 2005 Jun 8. Comment on: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):153-66. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005 Jun;137(2):167-80. Can we predict or avoid the allergenic potential of genetically modified organisms? Obermeyer G, Ferreira F. Publication Types: Comment Editorial PMID: 15947470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 167: Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561. Comment on: Nature. 2005 Apr 14;434(7035):807. Ampicillin threat leads to wider transgene concern. Azeez G. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 15931193 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 168: Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561. Comment in: Nature. 2005 Jul 21;436(7049):328. Nature. 2005 Jul 21;436(7049):328. Comment on: Nature. 2005 Mar 31;434(7033):559. Activists should accept mainstream view of GM. Dennis DT. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 15931192 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 169: J Environ Manage. 2005 Aug;76(3):210-20. Regulating insect resistance management: the case of non-Bt corn refuges in the US. Bourguet D, Desquilbet M, Lemarie S. Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations, UMR INRA/IRD/CIRAD/ENSA.M, Campus International de Baillarguet, CS 30 016, 34 988 Montferrier/Lez, France. bourguet@ensam.inra.fr In this paper, we analyze the insect resistance management (IRM) plan put in place by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to delay the evolution of resistance to Bt corn in natural populations of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner. This IRM plan is the most impressive mandatory IRM system ever developed. It forms a coherent whole and includes mandatory refuges, actions to increase growers' compliance and a program for monitoring the evolution of resistance. However, our analysis suggests that two components of this IRM plan are not entirely satisfactory: growers' compliance and monitoring of the evolution of resistance. Moreover, the implementation of these two components of IRM has been required of the registrants, whose incentives for IRM are probably lower than the social optimum. Our analysis suggests that alternatives to the IRM plan currently in place could improve these two components. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 15922504 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 170: Lancet Infect Dis. 2005 Jun;5(6):330. Scoring at the wrong end. Dixon B. dixonadams@blueyonder.co.uk PMID: 15919619 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 171: Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2005 Mar-Apr;79(2):271-82. [Genetically modified organisms: a new threat to food safety] [Article in Spanish] Spendeler L. Amigos de la Tierra Espana, Madrid. transgenicos@tierra.org This article analyzes all of the food safety-related aspects related to the use of genetically modified organisms into agriculture and food. A discussion is provided as to the uncertainties related to the insertion of foreign genes into organisms, providing examples of unforeseen, undesirable effects and of instabilities of the organisms thus artificially fabricated. Data is then provided from both official agencies as well as existing literature questioning the accuracy and reliability of the risk analyses as to these organisms being harmless to health and discusses the almost total lack of scientific studies analyzing the health safety/dangerousness of transgenic foods. Given all these unknowns, other factors must be taken into account, particularly genetic contamination of the non-genetically modified crops, which is now starting to become widespread in some parts of the world. Not being able of reversing the situation in the even of problems is irresponsible. Other major aspects are the impacts on the environment (such as insects building up resistances, the loss of biodiversity, the increase in chemical products employed) with indirect repercussions on health and/or future food production. Lastly, thoughts for discussion are added concerning food safety in terms of food availability and food sovereignty, given that the transgenic seed and related agrochemicals market is currently cornered by five large-scale transnational companies. The conclusion entails an analysis of biotechnological agriculture's contribution to sustainability. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 15913060 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 172: Appetite. 2005 Aug;45(1):47-50. Perceived naturalness and acceptance of genetically modified food. Tenbult P, de Vries NK, Dreezens E, Martijn C. Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. p.tenbult@gvo.unimaas.nl This study examines people's acceptance of genetically modified (GM) food. Results suggest that GM acceptance depends most on how natural the genetically modified product is perceived and not directly on how natural the non-GM product is seen. A GM product that is perceived as more natural is more likely to be accepted than a GM product that is perceived as less natural. The extent to which GM affects the perceived naturalness of a product partly depends on the kind of product. PMID: 15896875 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 173: Kennedy Inst Ethics J. 2005 Mar;15(1):57-76. Germ-line enhancement of humans and non-humans. Loftis JR. Department of Philosophy, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, USA. The current difference in attitude toward germ-line enhancement in humans and nonhumans is unjustified. Society should be more cautious in modifying the genes of nonhumans and more bold in thinking about modifying our own genome. I identify four classes of arguments pertaining to germ-line enhancement: safety arguments, justice arguments, trust arguments, and naturalness arguments. The first three types are compelling, but do not distinguish between human and nonhuman cases. The final class of argument would justify a distinction between human and nonhuman germ-line enhancement; however, this type of argument fails and, therefore, the discrepancy in attitude toward human and nonhuman germ-line enhancement is unjustified. PMID: 15881796 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 174: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Feb;46(1):J4-7. Current status of regulation on GM food in Korea. Park SH. Korea Foof and Drug Administration: 5, Nokbun-dong, Eunpyung-gu, Seoul, Korea. PMID: 15881254 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 175: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Feb;46(1):J1-3. [The present condition and a view of the food inspection using the invader method] [Article in Japanese] Hanazawa R, Yamaguchi T. BML Food Science, Inc.: 1491, Matoba, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama 350-1101, Japan. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15881253 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 176: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2005 Feb;46(1):21-7. [Laboratory-performance study of the notified methods to detect genetically modified papaya (55-1)] [Article in Japanese] Kikuchi H, Watanabe T, Kasama K, Wakui C, Matsuki A, Akiyama H, Maitani T. National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. To investigate important factors affecting the reliability of the analytical results, proficiency tests were attempted for the histochemical method (GUS method) and the qualitative PCR method (PCR method) to detect genetically modified papaya (55-1) in the Japanease official method. The test samples were distributed to twenty-three laboratories that participated in the study and were examined according to the protocol. All the data collected from participating laboratories were statistically analyzed. In the PCR method, one negative sample was detected as positive using detection primers in one laboratory, though the sample was negative when checked using confirmation primers. Contamination might have occurred in the step of the preparation of the PCR sample solution using detection primers. In the GUS method, all the test samples were identified as expected. Thus, all the laboratories reported correct results overall. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 15881251 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 177: Risk Anal. 2005 Apr;25(2):467-79. Using surveys in public participation processes for risk decision making: the case of the 2003 British GM Nation? Public debate. Pidgeon NF, Poortinga W, Rowe G, Jones TH, Walls J, O'Riordan T. Centre for Environmental Risk, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. n.pidgeon@uea.ac.uk This article takes as its case study the "GM Nation?" public debate, a major participation process on the commercialization of agricultural biotechnology, which occurred in Britain during the summer of 2003. We investigate possible self-selection biases in over 36,000 open questionnaire responses on the risks and benefits of genetically modified crops and food obtained during GM Nation? A comparison sample of equivalent responses from a statistically representative sample (n = 1,363) of the British general public obtained shortly after the conclusion of the debate is reported. This comparison shows that the GM Nation? open responses were indeed not fully representative of British "public opinion" regarding agricultural biotechnology. Rather, such opinion is not a unitary whole, but fragmented, with considerable ambivalence coexisting alongside outright opposition to GM agriculture. The methodological implications for multistage participation processes are discussed: in particular, the need to anticipate outcomes of complex design decisions, and to include representative public surveys as standard where measures of broader public attitudes to risk are an important objective. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15876218 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 178: Nature. 2005 May 5;435(7038):3. Pesticide results help China edge transgenic rice towards market. Cyranoski D. Publication Types: News PMID: 15874979 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 179: Trends Biotechnol. 2005 May;23(5):222-4. Genetically modified organisms and the EU. Jank B, Rath J, Spok A. Publication Types: Letter PMID: 15865998 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 180: J AOAC Int. 2005 Mar-Apr;88(2):654-64. Detection of genetically modified corn (Bt176) in spiked cow blood samples by polymerase chain reaction and immunoassay methods. Petit L, Baraige F, Bertheau Y, Brunschwig P, Diolez A, Duhem K, Duplan MN, Fach P, Kobilinsky A, Lamart S, Schattner A, Martin P. Agence Francaise de Securite Sanitaire des Aliments, Unite d'Etude Moleculaire des Contaminants Biologiques Alimentaires (EBA), 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France. l.petit@afssa.fr The fate of DNA and protein transgenic sequences in products derived from animals fed transgenic crops has recently raised public interest. Sensitive molecular tests targeting the Bt176 genetic construct and the transgenic Cry1Ab protein were developed to determine whether plant sequences, especially transgenic sequences, are present in animal products. A protocol for total DNA extraction and purification from cow whole blood samples was first drawn up and assessed by spiking with known amounts of DNA from Bt176 maize. The limit of detection for transgenic sequences (35S promoter and Bt176-specific junction sequence) was determined by both the polymerase chain reaction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) and the 5'-nuclease PCR assay. Four additional PCR systems were built to substantiate the results. The first detects a mono-copy maize-specific sequence (ADH promoter). Two others target multi-copy sequences from plant nucleus (26S rRNA gene) and chloroplast (psaB gene). The last one, used as a positive control, targets a mono-copy animal sequence (alpha(s1)-casein gene). Both methods detected a minimum spiking at 25 copies of Bt176 maize/mL in 10 mL whole blood samples. The sandwich ELISA kit used detected down to 1 ng transgenic Cry1Ab protein/mL spiked whole blood. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15861534 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 181: Science. 2005 Apr 29;308(5722):688-90. Comment in: Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3. Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3. Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):231-3; author reply 231-3. Insect-resistant GM rice in farmers' fields: assessing productivity and health effects in China. Huang J, Hu R, Rozelle S, Pray C. Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resource Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jia 11, Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China. jkhuang.ccap@igsnrr.ac.cn Although no country to date has released a major genetically modified (GM) food grain crop, China is on the threshold of commercializing GM rice. This paper studies two of the four GM varieties that are now in farm-level preproduction trials, the last step before commercialization. Farm surveys of randomly selected farm households that are cultivating the insect-resistant GM rice varieties, without the aid of experimental station technicians, demonstrate that when compared with households cultivating non-GM rice, small and poor farm households benefit from adopting GM rice by both higher crop yields and reduced use of pesticides, which also contribute to improved health. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15860626 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 182: J AOAC Int. 2005 Mar-Apr;88(2):536-46. Characterization and event specific-detection by quantitative real-time PCR of T25 maize insert. Collonnier C, Schattner A, Berthier G, Boyer F, Coue-Philippe G, Diolez A, Duplan MN, Fernandez S, Kebdani N, Kobilinsky A, Romaniuk M, de Beuckeleer M, de Loose M, Windels P, Bertheau Y. Laboratoire de Methodologies de la Detection des OGM, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Route de Saint Cyr, Versailles, France. T25 is one of the 4 maize transformation events from which commercial lines have so far been authorized in Europe. It was created by polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation using a construct bearing one copy of the synthetic pat gene associated with both promoter and terminator of the 35S ribosomal gene from cauliflower mosaic virus. In this article, we report the sequencing of the whole T25 insert and the characterization of its integration site by using a genome walking strategy. Our results confirmed that one intact copy of the initial construct had been integrated in the plant genome. They also revealed, at the 5' junction of the insert, the presence of a second truncated 35S promoter, probably resulting from rearrangements which may have occurred before or during integration of the plasmid DNA. The analysis of the junction fragments showed that the integration site of the insert presented high homologies with the Huck retrotransposon family. By using one primer annealing in the maize genome and the other in the 5' end of the integrated DNA, we developed a reliable event-specific detection system for T25 maize. To provide means to comply with the European regulation, a real-time PCR test was designed for specific quantitation of T25 event by using Taqman chemistry. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15859082 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 183: Genewatch. 2005 Jan-Feb;18(1):12-4, 18. The genetic bill of rights: advancing a rights platform in biotechnology. Krimksy S, Shorett P. Council for Responsible Genetics (CRG) Board, USA. PMID: 15838997 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 184: Nature. 2005 Apr 14;434(7035):807. Comment in: Nature. 2005 Jun 2;435(7042):561. Don't rely on Uncle Sam. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 15829921 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 185: J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Apr 20;53(8):3041-52. Event-specific plasmid standards and real-time PCR methods for transgenic Bt11, Bt176, and GA21 maize and transgenic GT73 canola. Taverniers I, Windels P, Vaitilingom M, Milcamps A, Van Bockstaele E, Van den Eede G, De Loose M. Department for Plant Genetics and Breeding, Centre for Agricultural Research, Caritasstraat 21, B-9090 Melle, Belgium. i.taverniers@clo.fgov.be Since the 18th of April 2004, two new regulations, EC/1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed products and EC/1830/2003 on traceability and labeling of GMOs, are in force in the EU. This new, comprehensive regulatory framework emphasizes the need of an adequate tracing system. Unique identifiers, such as the transgene genome junction region or a specific rearrangement within the transgene DNA, should form the basis of such a tracing system. In this study, we describe the development of event-specific tracing systems for transgenic maize lines Bt11, Bt176, and GA21 and for canola event GT73. Molecular characterization of the transgene loci enabled us to clone an event-specific sequence into a plasmid vector, to be used as a marker, and to develop line-specific primers. Primer specificity was tested through qualitative PCRs and dissociation curve analysis in SYBR Green I real-time PCRs. The primers were then combined with event-specific TaqMan probes in quantitative real-time PCRs. Calibration curves were set up both with genomic DNA samples and the newly synthesized plasmid DNA markers. It is shown that cloned plasmid GMO target sequences are perfectly suitable as unique identifiers and quantitative calibrators. Together with an event-specific primer pair and a highly specific TaqMan probe, the plasmid markers form crucial components of a unique and straighforward tracing system for Bt11, Bt176, and GA21 maize and GT73 canola events. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15826057 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 186: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Apr;23(4):403. Monsanto branches out into fruits and vegetables. Herrera S. Publication Types: News PMID: 15815653 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 187: Allergy. 2005 May;60(5):559-64. Risks of allergic reactions to biotech proteins in foods: perception and reality. Lehrer SB, Bannon GA. Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. In recent years, significant attention has been paid to the use of biotechnology to improve the quality and quantity of the food supply due in part to the projected growth in the world population, plus limited options available for increasing the amount of land under cultivation. Alterations in the food supply induced by classical breeding and selection methods typically involve the movement of large portions of genomic DNA between different plant varieties to obtain the desired trait. This is in contrast to techniques of genetic engineering which allows the selection and transfers specific genes from one species to another. The primary allergy risk to consumers from genetically modified crops may be placed into one of three categories. The first represents the highest risk to the allergic consumer is the transfer of known allergen or cross-reacting allergen into a food crop. The second category, representing an intermediate risk to the consumer, is the potential for replacing the endogenous allergenicity of a genetically-modified crop. The last category involves expression of novel proteins that may become allergens in man and generally represents a relatively low risk to the consumer, although this possibility has received attention of late. In order to mitigate the three categories of potential allergy risk associated with biotech crops, all genes introduced into food crops undergo a series of tests designed to determine if the biotech protein exhibits properties of known food allergens. The result of this risk assessment process to date is that no biotech proteins in foods have been documented to cause allergic reactions. These results indicate that the current assessment process is robust, although as science of allergy and allergens evolves, new information and new technology should help further the assessment process for potential allergenicity. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 15813800 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 188: Nature. 2005 Mar 31;434(7033):548. Stray seeds had antibiotic-resistance genes. Macilwain C. Publication Types: News PMID: 15800583 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 189: Nature. 2005 Mar 24;434(7032):423. US launches probe into sales of unapproved transgenic corn. Macilwain C. Publication Types: News PMID: 15791213 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 190: Risk Anal. 2005 Feb;25(1):199-209. Trust in risk regulation: cause or consequence of the acceptability of GM food? Poortinga W, Pidgeon NF. Centre for Environmental Risk, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. w.poortinga@uea.ac.uk Although there is ample empirical evidence that trust in risk regulation is strongly related to the perception and acceptability of risk, it is less clear what the direction of this relationship is. This article explores the nature of the relationship, using three separate data sets on perceptions of genetically modified (GM) food among the British public. The article has two discrete but closely interrelated objectives. First, it compares two models of trust. More specifically, it investigates whether trust is the cause (causal chain account) or the consequence (associationist view) of the acceptability of GM food. Second, this study explores whether the affect heuristic can be applied to a wider number of risk-relevant concepts than just perceived risk and benefit. The results suggest that, rather than a determinant, trust is an expression or indicator of the acceptability of GM food. In addition, and as predicted, "affect" accounts for a large portion of the variance between perceived risk, perceived benefit, trust in risk regulation, and acceptability. Overall, the results support the associationist view that specific risk judgments are driven by more general evaluative judgments The implications of these results for risk communication and policy are discussed. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15787769 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 191: J Chromatogr A. 2005 Feb 11;1065(1):107-13. Detection of processed genetically modified food using CIM monolithic columns for DNA isolation. Jerman S, Podgornik A, Cankar K, Cadet N, Skrt M, Zel J, Raspor P. Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, S-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. The availability of sufficient quantities of DNA of adequate quality is crucial in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for genetically modified food detection. In this work, the suitability of anion-exchange CIM (Convective Interaction Media; BIA Separations, Ljubljana, Slovenia) monolithic columns for isolation of DNA from food was studied. Maize and its derivates corn meal and thermally pretreated corn meal were chosen as model food. Two commercially available CIM disk columns were tested: DEAE (diethylaminoethyl) and QA (quaternary amine). Preliminary separations were performed with standard solution of salmon DNA at different pH values and different NaCl concentrations in mobile phase. DEAE groups and pH 8 were chosen for further isolations of DNA from a complex matrix-food extract. The quality and quantity of isolated DNA were tested on agarose gel electrophoresis, with UV-scanning spectrophotometry, and by amplification with real-time PCR. DNA isolated in this way was of suitable quality for further PCR analyses. The described method is also applicable for DNA isolation from processed foods with decreased DNA content. Furthermore, it is more effective and less time-consuming in comparison with the existing proposed methods for isolation of DNA from plant-derived foods. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15782956 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 192: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2005;12(1):56. Understanding Western Australian consumers' views: acceptance of food produced using gene technology. A case of herbicide tolerant canola (Brassica napus L.). Baumann A, Osman M, Burton M, Lumley S. School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia. eilif@gmx.net PMID: 15768741 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 193: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Mar;23(3):283-5. Erratum in: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Apr;23(4):488. Clone on the range: What animal biotech is bringing to the table. Dove AW. Publication Types: News PMID: 15765075 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 194: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Mar;23(3):281. Agbio keeps on growing. Lawrence S. PMID: 15765074 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 195: J AOAC Int. 2005 Jan-Feb;88(1):136-55. Polymerase chain reaction technology as analytical tool in agricultural biotechnology. Lipp M, Shillito R, Giroux R, Spiegelhalter F, Charlton S, Pinero D, Song P. Monsanto Co., 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63167, USA. markus.lipp@monsanto.com The agricultural biotechnology industry applies polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology at numerous points in product development. Commodity and food companies as well as third-party diagnostic testing companies also rely on PCR technology for a number of purposes. The primary use of the technology is to verify the presence or absence of genetically modified (GM) material in a product or to quantify the amount of GM material present in a product. This article describes the fundamental elements of PCR analysis and its application to the testing of grains. The document highlights the many areas to which attention must be paid in order to produce reliable test results. These include sample preparation, method validation, choice of appropriate reference materials, and biological and instrumental sources of error. The article also discusses issues related to the analysis of different matrixes and the effect they may have on the accuracy of the PCR analytical results. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15759736 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 196: Riv Biol. 2004 Aug-Dec;97(3):379-408. Functional dynamics of living systems and genetic engineering. Buiatti M. Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, Firenze (Italy). The discussion on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) has been centred mainly on the nature and effects on economy, human health, environment, of the few transgenic plant lines present in the market in the last eight years. On the contrary, the present paper starts with a discussion of some of the relevant changes in our basic knowledge of the structure and dynamics of living systems in the last twenty years. Contemporary Biology is then compared with what may be called the "modern paradigm" of life sciences on which present day GMO's are conceptually based. Technical, environmental, social and economic problems deriving from the unexpected, persistent prevalence of the old fashioned modern vision of life in the "spirit of time" will be thoroughly discussed with a particular attention to the virtualisation process of GMO's and the effects of the prevalence over economic, social, environmental reality of their symbolic values. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15754592 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 197: J Agric Environ Ethics. 1999;11(3):197-217. Ethical issues in livestock cloning. Thompson PB. Department of Philosophy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1360, USA. pault@purdue.edu Although cloning may eventually become an important technology for livestock production, four ethical issues must be addressed before the practice becomes widespread. First, researchers must establish that the procedure is not detrimental to the health or well-being of affected animals. Second, animal research institutions should evaluate the net social benefits to livestock producers by weighing the benefits to producers against the opportunity cost of research capacity lost to biomedical projects. Third, scientists should consider the indirect effects of cloning research on the larger ethical issues surrounding human cloning. Finally, the market structure for products of cloned animals should protect individual choice, and should recognize that many individuals find the prospect of cloning (or consuming cloned animals) repugnant. Analysis of these four issues is complicated by spurious arguments alleging that cloning will have a negative impact on environment and genetic diversity. PMID: 15719505 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 198: Eur J Histochem. 2004 Oct-Dec;48(4):448-54. Ultrastructural analysis of testes from mice fed on genetically modified soybean. Vecchio L, Cisterna B, Malatesta M, Martin TE, Biggiogera M. We have considered the possible effects of a diet containing genetically modified (GM) soybean on mouse testis. This organ, in fact, is a well known bioindicator and it has already been utilized, for instance, to monitor pollution by heavy metals. In this preliminary study, we have focussed our attention on Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes by means of immunoelectron microscopy. Our results point out that the immunolabelling for Sm antigen, hnRNPs, SC35 and RNA Polymerase II is decreased in 2 and 5 month-old GM-fed mice, and is restored to normal at 8 months. In GM-fed mice of all ages considered, the number of perichromatin granules is higher and the nuclear pore density lower. Moreover, we found enlargements in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in GM-fed mice Sertoli cells. A possible role played by traces of the herbicide to which the soybean is resistant is discussed. Publication Types: Letter Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15718213 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 199: McGeorge Law Rev. 2000 Fall;32(1):89-110. Biotechnology and the creation of ethics. Coletta RR. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, USA. PMID: 15709268 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 200: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Feb;23(2):170. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Dec;22(12):1503-5. Pharmacrops and bioterror. Wuerthele S. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 15696140 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 201: Public Health. 2005 Feb;119(2):75-6. Future imperfect. Mackie P, Sim F. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 15694953 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 202: Biotechnol Adv. 2005 Mar;23(2):93-6. Is the battle over genetically modified foods finally over? Saleh-Lakha S, Glick BR. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 15694121 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 203: Przegl Lek. 2004;61 Suppl 3:22-4. [Genetically modified food and allergy] [Article in Polish] Wiackowski SK. Katedra Ekologii i Ochrony Srodowiska, Akademia Swietokrzyska, Kielce. skwiack@wp.pl Author discusses both successes and threats related with introduction of new organisms to the natural environment. Attention was sacrificed not only profits but also different threat influencing environment and human health. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 15682936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 204: J AOAC Int. 2004 Nov-Dec;87(6):1466-74. Effects of chemical, physical, and technological processes on the nature of food allergens. Poms RE, Anklam E. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg, 2440 Geel, Belgium. A review is presented of studies of different processing techniques and their effect on the allergenicity and antigenicity of certain allergenic foods. An overview of investigated technologies is given with regard to their impact on the protein structure and their potential application in the production of hypoallergenic foods. The use of physical processes (such as heating, high pressure, microparticulation, ultrafiltration, and irradiation), chemical processes (such as proteolysis, fermentation, and refining by extraction), and biotechnological approaches, as well as the effects of these processes on individual allergenic foods, are included. Additionally, the implications of food processing for food allergen analysis with respect to food safety assessment and industrial quality control are briefly discussed. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15675460 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 205: J AOAC Int. 2004 Nov-Dec;87(6):1423-32. Assessing the allergenicity of proteins introduced into genetically modified crops using specific human IgE assays. Goodman RE, Leach JN. Monsanto Co, St Louis, MO 63167, USA. rgoodman2@unlnotes.unl.edu Global commercial production of genetically modified (GM) crops has grown to over 67 million hectares annually, primarily of herbicide-tolerant and insect protection crop varieties. GM crops are produced by the insertion of specific genes that either encode a protein, or a regulatory RNA sequence. A comprehensive safety evaluation is conducted for each new commercial GM crop, including an assessment of the potential allergenicity of any newly introduced protein. If the gene was derived from an allergenic organism, or the protein sequence is highly similar to a known allergen, immunoassays, e.g., Western blot assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests, are performed to identify protein-specific IgE binding by sera of individuals allergic to the gene source, or the source of the sequence-matched allergen. Although such assays are commonly used to identify previously unknown allergens, criteria have not been established to demonstrate that a protein is unlikely to cause allergic reactions. This review discusses factors that affect the predictive value of these tests, including clinical selection criteria for serum donors, selection of blocking reagents to reduce nonspecific antibody binding, inhibition assays to verify specificity of binding, and scientifically justified limits of detection (sensitivity) in the absence of information regarding biological thresholds. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 15675455 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 206: Transgenic Res. 2004 Dec;13(6):583-91. Re-interpreting some common objections to three transgenic applications: GM foods, xenotransplantation and germ line gene modification (GLGM). Carter L. Office of Public Policy and Ethics, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Australia. l.carter@imb.uq.edu.au Concerns about safety to the individual, the wider community and the potential impact on the environment are typical consequentialist objections to transgenesis that feature prominently in public debates about its ethical acceptability. I consider some of these claims with respect to their motivation, validity and their overall influence on public policy using three well-discussed applications of transgenesis: GM foods, xenotransplantation and germ line gene modification (GLGM). Publication Types: Review PMID: 15672839 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 207: Risk Anal. 2004 Dec;24(6):1515-27. Elicitation of expert judgments of uncertainty in the risk assessment of herbicide-tolerant oilseed crops. Krayer von Krauss MP, Casman EA, Small MJ. Department of Environment and Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark. mkk@er.dtu.dk One of the lay public's concerns about genetically modified (GM) organisms (GMO) and related emerging technologies is that not all the important risks are evaluated or even identified yet--and that ignorance of the unanticipated risks could lead to severe environmental or public health consequences. To some degree, even the scientists who participated in the analysis of the risks from GMOs (arguably the people most qualified to critique these analyses) share some of this concern. To formally explore the uncertainty in the risk assessment of a GM crop, we conducted detailed interviews of seven leading experts on GM oilseed crops to obtain qualitative and quantitative information on their understanding of the uncertainties associated with the risks to agriculture from GM oilseed crops (canola or rapeseed). The results of these elicitations revealed three issues of potential concern that are currently left outside the scope of risk assessments. These are (1) the potential loss of the agronomic and environmental benefits of glyphosate (a herbicide widely used in no-till agriculture) due to the combined problems of glyphosate-tolerant canola and wheat volunteer plants, (2) the growing problem of seed lot contamination, and (3) the potential market impacts. The elicitations also identified two areas where knowledge is insufficient. These are: the occurrence of hybridization between canola and wild relatives and the ability of the hybrids to perpetuate themselves in nature, and the fate of the herbicide-tolerance genes in soil and their interaction with soil microfauna and -flora. The methodological contribution of this work is a formal approach to analyzing the uncertainty surrounding complex problems. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15660608 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 208: Risk Anal. 2004 Dec;24(6):1475-86. Trust, the asymmetry principle, and the role of prior beliefs. Poortinga W, Pidgeon NF. Centre for Environmental Risk, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. w.poortinga@uea.ac.uk Within the risk literature there is an ongoing debate on whether trust is vulnerable or enduring. Previous research on nuclear energy by Slovic in 1993 has shown that negative events have much greater impact on self-reported trust than do positive events. Slovic attributes this to the asymmetry principle: specifically, that trust is much easier to destroy than to create. In a questionnaire survey concerning genetically modified (GM) food in Britain (n= 396) we similarly find that negative events have a greater impact on trust than positive events. Because public opinion in Britain is skewed in the direction of opposition toward GM food, the pattern of results could either be caused by the fact that negative information is more informative than positive information (a negativity bias) or reflect the influence of people's prior attitudes toward the issue (a confirmatory bias). The results were largely in line with the confirmatory bias hypothesis: participants with clear positive or negative beliefs interpreted events in line with their existing attitude position. However, for participants with intermediate attitudes, negative items still had greater impact than the positive. This latter finding suggests that, congruent with the negativity bias hypothesis, negative information may still be more informative than positive information for undecided people. The study also identified the labeling of GM products, consulting the public, making biotechnology companies liable for any damage, and making a test available to detect GM produce as being particularly important preconditions for maintaining trust in the regulation of agricultural biotechnology. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15660605 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 209: Soc Sci Med. 2005 Apr;60(7):1603-12. Psychosocial and cultural factors affecting the perceived risk of genetically modified food: an overview of the literature. Finucane ML, Holup JL. Center for Health Research, Hawai'i Kaiser Permanente Hawai'i, 501 Alakawa Street, Suite 201, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96817, USA. melissa.l.finucane@kp.org The rapid globalization of the world economy has increased the need for an astute understanding of cultural differences in perceptions, values, and ways of thinking about new food technologies. In this paper, we describe how socio-psychological and cultural factors may affect public perceptions of the risk of genetically modified (GM) food. We present psychological, sociological, and anthropological research on risk perception as a framework for understanding cross-national differences in reactions to GM food. Differences in the cultural values and circumstances of people in the US, European countries, and the developing world are examined. The implications of cultural theory for risk communication and decision making about GM food are discussed and directions for future research highlighted. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Review PMID: 15652691 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 210: J Sep Sci. 2004 Dec;27(17-18):1551-6. DNA separation by capillary electrophoresis with hydrophilic substituted celluloses as coating and sieving polymers. Application to the analysis of genetically modified meals. Giovannoli C, Anfossi L, Tozzi C, Giraudi G, Vanni A. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Via P Giuria 5, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy. cristina.giovannoli@unito.it A coating procedure based on the physical adsorption of hydroxypropyl cellulose onto the wall of a capillary column has been successfully used for the separation of DNA fragments up to 500 bp. The method uses a running Tris-phosphate-EDTA buffer containing 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose as sieving polymer. The separation procedure shows good reproducibility (measured as RSD%) for consecutive runs (<0.64), for different days (< 1.15) and capillaries (<2.15), short analysis times, and a long coating lifetime. Good reproducibility and efficiency are even achieved by performing the separation in the presence of additives such as ethidium bromide and mannitol. The method is applied to the detection of GMOs in soybean and maize meals with an accurate evaluation of the length of DNA sequences, previously amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15638166 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 211: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Jan;23(1):27-33. Erratum in: Nat Biotechnol. 2005 Mar;23(3):366. Poorer nations turn to publicly developed GM crops. Cohen JI. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Environment and Production Technology Division, 2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC, USA. j.cohen@cgiar.org Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15637614 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 212: Trends Biotechnol. 2005 Jan;23(1):17-21. Transgenes for tea? Heritage J. School of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. j.heritage@leeds.ac.uk So far, no compelling scientific evidence has been found to suggest that the consumption of transgenic or genetically modified (GM) plants by animals or humans is more likely to cause harm than is the consumption of their conventional counterparts. Despite this lack of scientific evidence, the economic prospects for GM plants are probably limited in the short term and there is public opposition to the technology. Now is a good time to address several issues concerning GM plants, including the potential for transgenes to migrate from GM plants to gut microbes or to animal or human tissues, the consequences of consuming GM crops, either as fresh plants or as silage, and the problems caused by current legislation on GM labelling and beyond. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15629853 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 213: Med Mal Infect. 2004 Nov;34(11):522-9. [Impact of genetic modifications on infectious diseases] [Article in French] Houdebine LM. INRA, UMR Biologie du developpement et de la reproduction, 78312 Jouy-en-Josas, France. houdebine@jouy.inra.fr Genetic engineering offers the theoretical possibility to transfer any natural or modified gene into any living organism. This generates new and diverse situations which may contribute to the spreading of infectious diseases or on the contrary to control them. Problems may theoretically come from uncontrolled genes providing resistance to antibiotics, from the activation of genomic retroviral sequences, from enhanced sensitivity of the organism to pathogens, as well as from the generation of mutated microorganisms with a higher pathogenecity. On the contrary, various genetic modifications may create organisms resistant to infectious diseases, generate safe and efficient recombinant vaccines, or provide patients with proteins which stimulate their defense mechanisms. The major impacts of genetic modifications in the development of infectious diseases or on the contrary in their eradication are analyzed in this article. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 15620056 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 214: Anal Bioanal Chem. 2005 Jan;381(1):72-4. Reliable GMO analysis. Trapmann S, Emons H. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Retieseweg 111, Geel 2440, Belgium. stefanie.trapmann@cec.eu.int PMID: 15616785 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 215: Genet Mol Res. 2004 Sep 30;3(3):432-40. Reduction of non-digestible oligosaccharides in soymilk: application of engineered lactic acid bacteria that produce alpha-galactosidase. LeBlanc JG, Silvestroni A, Connes C, Juillard V, de Giori GS, Piard JC, Sesma F. Centro de Referencias para Lactobacilos (CERELA - CONICET), Chacabuco 145, (4000) Tucuman, Argentina. Human consumption of soy-derived products has been limited by the presence of non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDO), such as the alpha-galactooligosaccharides raffinose and stachyose. Most mammals, including man, lack pancreatic alpha-galactosidase (alpha-Gal), which is necessary for the hydrolysis of these sugars. However, such NDO can be fermented by gas-producing microorganisms present in the cecum and large intestine, which in turn can induce flatulence and other gastrointestinal disorders in sensitive individuals.The use of microorganisms expressing alpha-Gal is a promising solution to the elimination of NDO before they reach the large intestine. In the present study, lactic acid bacteria engineered to degrade NDO have been constructed and are being used as a tool to evaluate this solution. The alpha-Gal structural genes from Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014 (previously characterized in our laboratory) and from guar have been cloned and expressed in Lactococcus lactis. The gene products were directed to different bacterial compartments to optimize their possible applications. The alpha-Gal-producing strains are being evaluated for their efficiency in degrading raffinose and stachyose: i) in soymilk fermentation when used as starters and ii) in situ in the upper gastrointestinal tract when administered to animals orally, as probiotic preparations. The expected outcomes and possible complications of this project are discussed. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15614733 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 216: Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2004 Sep;33(5):565-9. [Safety assessment of GM yeast feed additive with cecropin CAD gene] [Article in Chinese] Deng P, Fang S, Yang D, Jiang L, Yu X, Huang Y, Huang Z. Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518020, China. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of GM yeast feed additive with cecropin CAD and to study and set up a model of Safety assessment for GM feed and detecting method. METHODS: To ensure the safety of the GM products, it has been done that to detect and value the safety of receptor organisms and expression products of extrinsic gene, the genetic stability of biologic properties of genomic modified yeast feed and condition of transfer and cumulation of anti-bacterial peptide and its products in circumstance and the feeded animals. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The receptor animals and expression products of extrinic gene are safe, and the genomic modified products have steady genetic characters. The cectopin CAD neither cumulates in feeded animal nor releases into environment. The genomic modified feed additive is safe. Publication Types: English Abstract Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15612481 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 217: Appetite. 2005 Feb;44(1):115-22. Food and values: an examination of values underlying attitudes toward genetically modified- and organically grown food products. Dreezens E, Martijn C, Tenbult P, Kok G, de Vries NK. Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. e.dreezens@psychology.unimaas.nl This study addresses which specific values play a role in predicting participants' attitudes toward genetically modified food (GMF) and organically grown food (OGF). The first central question is whether the attitudes towards GMF and OGF are influenced by specific values and beliefs. The second central question is whether the attitudes towards GMF and OGF are related to each other, and whether the specific values underlying these two attitudes are also related to each other. A total of 100 participants responded to the Schwartz Value Survey and two questionnaires about GMF and organically grown food. When respondents scored high on the value power (dominance, submission), they rated GMF positively and OGF more negatively. Respondents who rated the value universalism (welfare for all people and protection of nature) high, rated OGF as positive. Furthermore, the relationship between attitudes and values was mediated by beliefs. These findings imply a meaningful relationship between specific values, beliefs, and these food-related attitudes, and suggest that values might play a role in explaining attitudes toward GMF and OGF products. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15604038 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 218: Nature. 2004 Dec 16;432(7019):799. Comment on: Nature. 2004 Oct 21;431(7011):883. Media affect opinions less than they would like. Melchett P. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 15602522 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 219: J Polit Philos. 2000 Jun;8(2):154-75. Rights to life? On nature, property and biotechnology. Meyer JM. Goverment and Politics, Humboldt State University, USA. PMID: 15586933 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 220: Sci Eng Ethics. 2004 Oct;10(4):705-16. How Japanese students reason about agricultural biotechnology. Maekawa F, Macer D. Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan. Many have claimed that education of the ethical issues raised by biotechnology is essential in universities, but there is little knowledge of its effectiveness. The focus of this paper is to investigate how university students assess the information given in class to make their own value judgments and decisions relating to issues of agricultural biotechnology, especially over genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Analysis of homework reports related with agricultural biotechnology after identification of key concepts and ideas in each student report is presented. The ideas were sorted into different categories. The ideas were compared with those in the reading materials using the same categories. These categories included: concern about affects on humans, affects on the environment, developing countries and starvation, trust in industry, responsibility of scientists, risk perception, media influence, need for (international) organizations or third parties, and information dissemination. What was consistent through the different years was that more than half of the students took a "neutral" position. A report was scored as "neutral" when the report included both the positive and negative side of an issue, or when the student could not make a definite decision about the use of GMOs and GM food. While it may be more difficult to defend a strong ''for" or "against" position, some students used logical arguments successfully in doing so. Sample comments are presented to depict how Japanese students see agricultural technology, and how they value its application, with comparisons to the general social attitudes towards biotechnology. PMID: 15586729 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 221: Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2004 Nov;55(4):301-12. [Genetically modified organisms in food--production, detection and risks] [Article in Croatian] Zeljezic D. Institut za medicinska istrazivanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb. dzeljezi@imi.hr The first genetically modified plant (GMP) was a tobacco resistant to antibiotics in 1983. In 1996, the first genetically altered crop, a delayed-ripening tomato was commercially released. In the year 2003, the estimated global area of GM crops for was 67.7 million hectares. To produce such a plant a gene of interest has to be isolated from the donor. Together with a promoter, terminator sequence and marker gene it has to be introduced into the plant cell which is then stimulated to generate a whole GMP expressing new characteristics (herbicide/insect resistance, delayed ripening). The last few months have seen a strong public debate over genetically modified organisms which has raised scientific, economic, political, and ethical issues. Some questions concerning the safety of GMPs are still to be answered, and decisions about their future should be based on scientifically validated information. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 15584557 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 222: Med Ethics (Burlingt, Mass). 2001 Fall;:6-7. Reason and repugnance. Callahan D, Magnus D. The Hastings Center, Garrison, NY, USA. PMID: 15584188 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 223: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Dec;22(12):1501; discussion 1501. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Sep;22(9):1055. No Munich on GM crops. Malvoisin P, Grausz JD. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 15583648 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 224: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2004 Aug;45(4):207-11. [Examination of DNA extract from kernels and processed foods using silica-base resin] [Article in Japanese] Nakama A, Morishita F. Nutrition College, Osaka Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences: 8-34, Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0026, Japan. A rapid and simple DNA extraction method is needed to detect genetically modified recombinant DNA in soybean kernels and processed foods. However, since various kernels and processed foods differ greatly in form, a uniform DNA extraction method has proved elusive. The silica-base resin DNA extraction method does not use any organic solvent, and the operation is simple and the cost per extraction is low, although the frequency of its use is very low and few domestic reports exist. We therefore studied suitable conditions for a silica-base resin method. We also developed the method to get more pure DNA from soybean kernels. The silica-base resin method was found to be adequate for extracting DNA from various processed foods for PCR amplification with endogenous gene primers. In the case of DNA extraction from soybean kernels, pure DNA could be efficiently extracted after pre-heating the soybean suspension in TNE buffer. The extracted DNA showed higher ratios of absorption at 260 nm/280 nm and 260 nm/230 nm than those for samples obtained with previous methods. Moreover, our observations suggested that the extraction time could be reduced to within 30 min for processed foods such as tofu. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 15568472 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 225: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2004 Aug;45(4):184-90. [Detection of genetically modified organisms obtained from food samples ] [Article in Japanese] Monma K, Araki R, Ichikawa H, Sato M, Uno N, Sato K, Tobe T, Kuribara H, Matsuoka T, Hino A, Saito K. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health: 3-24-1, Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan. Genetially modified organisms (GMOs) were explored in food samples obtained from November 2000 to March 2003 in the Tokyo area by using PCR and real-time PCR techniques. The existence of Roundup Ready Soybean (RRS) was surveyed in processed foods derived from soybeans, such as tofu, boiled soybean, kinako, nama-age, abura-age, natto, miso, soymilk and yuba. RRS was detected in 3 of 37 tofu, 2 of 3 nama-age, 2 of 3 yuba and 3 of 3 abura-age samples. The CBH351 in 70 processed corn foods, NewLeaf Plus and NewLeaf Y in 50 processed potato foods, and 55-1 papaya in 16 papayas were surveyed. These GMOs were not detected among the samples. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of RRS and genetically modified (GM) corn were performed in soybean, corn and semi-processed corn products such as corn meal, corn flour and corn grits. RRS was detected in 42 of 178 soybean samples, and the amount of RRS in RRS-positive samples was determined. The content was in the range of 0.1-1.4% in identity-preserved soybeans (non-GMO), and 49.8-78.8% in non-segregated soybeans. On the other hand, GM corns were detected in 8 of 26 samples. The amount of GM corn in GM corn-positive samples was in the range of 0.1-2.0%. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 15568468 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 226: Science. 2004 Nov 26;306(5701):1458-9. Agriculture. China could be first nation to approve sale of GM rice. Lei X. Publication Types: News PMID: 15567824 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 227: Risk Anal. 2004 Oct;24(5):1385-93. Psychological determinants of willingness to taste and purchase genetically modified food. Townsend E, Campbell S. Institute for the Study of Genetics, Biorisks and Society and Department of Philosophy, University of Nottingham, UK. Ellen.Townsend@nottingham.ac.uk Decreasing acceptance of biotechnologies over time has been reported in Europe. Studies claim that attitudes are negative, even hostile, and that people are very worried about genetic engineering in food and medicine. However, such studies are mostly based on surveys and these have significant methodological problems, such as low response rates, which may indicate that only those with strong views respond, thus biasing the sample. Here an alternative method, involving "topic-blind" recruitment of participants and a behavioral measure (food tasting), was used. We show that in a topic-blind sample of 100 individuals, 93% willingly tasted and ate what they believed to be genetically modified (GM) food in an experimental setting, and 48% said they would buy GM food in the future, results that are surprising in the context of other reports about attitudes and intentions toward GM food. Purchasers and nonpurchasers differed in their attitudes toward GM food on key risk-related scales (particularly on a dread-not dread scale--a measure of integral affect--and an ethical-unethical scale). Despite these differences, however, and despite their negative attitude, most nonpurchasers (85.7%) still tasted the GM apple. Incidental affect (state stress and trait worry) was not found to influence risk-related judgments about GM food. Integral affect (dread of GM plants and animals used for food) and concerns about the future risks of GM animals in food were found to be key predictors of willingness to purchase GM food. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15563302 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 228: Risk Anal. 2004 Oct;24(5):1369-84. Effects of context and feelings on perceptions of genetically modified food. Townsend E, Clarke DD, Travis B. Institute of Genetics, Biorisks and Society and School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK. Ellen.Townsend@nottingham.ac.uk Recently, there has been a surge of interest in the role of feelings in framing perceptions and decisions about risk, yet no study has specifically examined the impact of feelings on perceptions/judgments about biotechnology. This exploratory study investigated current perceptions of genetically modified (GM) food to examine (1) the effects of context (making judgments about GM food at the same time as rating other current areas of concern), and (2) the effect of feelings of dread (integral affect) and background feelings of stress (negative incidental affect) on risk judgments about GM food. An established psychometric method (semantic differential task) used with a sample of 126 adults (recruited "topic-blind," mostly from a student population) showed that, when rated in the context of other current concerns such as human cloning and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), there was less concern about GM food than might have been anticipated. Participants were recruited "topic-blind" in order to ensure that they were unaware that the focus of the research was on GM food specifically (and thus preventing biased recruitment to the study). Relative to 19 other current concerns GM food was "not dreaded," not viewed as "unethical," was judged as "controllable," and was seen as the least "risky" of all the issues studied. GM food was viewed as a "hot topic," a new risk, and as relatively unnatural (although it was not the highest rated concern on this scale). Ratings of risks across concerns by individuals experiencing high levels of negative incidental affect (stress) did not differ significantly from those reporting low stress. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15563301 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 229: Risk Anal. 2004 Oct;24(5):1311-21. Reactions to genetically modified food crops and how perception of risks and benefits influences consumers' information gathering. Wilson C, Evans G, Leppard P, Syrette J. CSIRO, Health Sciences and Nutrition, PO Box 10041, Adelaide BC SA 5000. Carlene.Wilson@csiro.au Previous research has reported strong consumer perception that genetically modified (GM) food crops may lead to adverse outcomes in a number of different areas. This is despite the widespread promulgation of the potential benefits and opportunities ascribed to the same technology by many scientists and other experts. A computer-based information gathering and evaluation task was completed by 198 adults to assess the extent to which their initial focus on the dangers or opportunities of genetic modification, or both, could be ascribed to the manner in which they gathered information on the topic (heuristically vs. systematically). Results did not confirm the hypothesis that initial focus (risks, benefits, or both) predicted ongoing information gathering and evaluation behavior. Moreover, also contrary to prediction, most participants primarily used systematic strategies when deriving their initial position, regardless of that opinion. Participants found it difficult to achieve a balanced perspective on GM food crop, even though balanced argument, as measured by order of story selection and time spent reading, was preferred as the source of information. Perceived importance is probably the most influential variable determining information gathering about issues or events to which a level of risk is attached. PMID: 15563297 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 230: Risk Anal. 2004 Oct;24(5):1289-99. Expert and public perception of risk from biotechnology. Savadori L, Savio S, Nicotra E, Rumiati R, Finucane M, Slovic P. Dipartimento di Scienze della Cognizione e della Formazione, University of Trento, Italy. savadori@form.unitn.it Risk perceptions of a series of biotechnology applications were examined in a public (nonexpert) sample and an expert sample. Compared with the experts, the public perceived all biotechnology applications as more risky. Both groups perceived food-related applications to be riskier than medical applications. Compared with the public, experts perceived both food and medical applications as less harmful and more useful. Experts also judged the risks posed from medical biotechnology applications as more familiar and acknowledged by people and science. Lay estimates of the risk of food applications were predicted by potential harm, potential benefits, science knowledge, and familiarity; experts' estimates were predicted only by harm and benefits. Lay estimates of the risk of medical applications were predicted by potential harm; experts' estimates were predicted by potential benefits, number and type of people exposed, and science knowledge. We discuss the implications of the results for risk communication about and management of different types of biotechnologies. Publication Types: Comparative Study PMID: 15563295 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 231: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2004 Nov;93(5 Suppl 3):S19-25. Genetic modification of food allergens. Lehrer SB. Department of Medicine, Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA. sblehrer@tulane.edu OBJECTIVE: To review allergen risk evaluation for genetically modified foods and our ability to predict protein allergenicity, methods that are being used to develop foods with reduced allergenic activity, and clinical aspects relative to assessing potentially allergic patients. DATA SOURCES: Information was identified using the MEDLINE database for governmental, international, and industry organizations that have considered possible unintended health effects such as food allergy and how they can be avoided. DATA SELECTION: The author's knowledge of the field was used to select articles for inclusion in this review. RESULTS: Organizations have created a decision process that has generally been successful in avoiding development of products that cause allergic reactions. Since some proteins expressed do not have any history of human exposure, risk evaluation may be more of a challenge for them. Biotechnology has also been used to try to develop foods with reduced allergenicity, and in future years such products should yield safer foods. CONCLUSIONS: Allergy risk evaluation for known allergens and genetically modified foods appears to be reasonable and provides assurance of food safety. Allergenicity evaluation of novel proteins is a more complicated process that needs to be and will be improved as our knowledge of food allergens increases. Biotechnology can be used to produce safer and healthier foods; for example, allergenicity of some foods may be reduced through biotechnology. The role of the health care professional in assessing allergic reactions to genetically modified foods is essential and should play a greater role in the interaction of consumers, industry, and regulators. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15562870 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 232: Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2004;44(5):361-7. Health benefits of soy isoflavonoids and strategies for enhancement: a review. McCue P, Shetty K. Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA. Soybean consumption has been linked to a reduced risk for certain cancers and diseases of old age. The health benefits associated with soybean consumption have been linked to the action of isoflavonoids, the major phenolic phytochemicals found in soybean. Isoflavonoids possess numerous biological activities that may support chemoprevention through the promotion of apoptosis in diseased cells. In this study, we discuss the current state of knowledge concerning soybean isoflavonoids, their chemopreventive actions against postmenopausal health problems, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, and also biotechnology approaches toward the enrichment of soybean for isoflavonoid content. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15540649 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 233: Science. 2004 Nov 12;306(5699):1101. What's on the label? Krebs J. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 15539567 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 234: Nature. 2004 Nov 11;432(7014):222-5. Environmental biosafety and transgenic potato in a centre of diversity for this crop. Celis C, Scurrah M, Cowgill S, Chumbiauca S, Green J, Franco J, Main G, Kiezebrink D, Visser RG, Atkinson HJ. Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Wageningen University, PO Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, The Netherlands. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics suggests that introgression of genetic material into related species in centres of crop biodiversity is an insufficient justification to bar the use of genetically modified crops in the developing world. They consider that a precautionary approach to forgo the possible benefits invokes the fallacy of thinking that doing nothing is itself without risk to the poor. Here we report findings relevant to this and other aspects of environmental biosafety for genetically modified potato in its main centre of biodiversity, the central Andes. We studied genetically modified potato clones that provide resistance to nematodes, principal pests of Andean potato crops. We show that there is no harm to many non-target organisms, but gene flow occurs to wild relatives growing near potato crops. If stable introgression were to result, the fitness of these wild species could be altered. We therefore transformed the male sterile cultivar Revolucion to provide a genetically modified nematode-resistant potato to evaluate the benefits that this provides until the possibility of stable introgression to wild relatives is determined. Thus, scientific progress is possible without compromise to the precautionary principle. Publication Types: Evaluation Studies Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15538370 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 235: EMBO Rep. 2004 Nov;5(11):1031-4. GM plants for your health. The acceptance of GM crops in Europe might grow as soon as the first products to offer direct benefits for consumer health become available. Breithaupt H. PMID: 15520803 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 236: Int J Toxicol. 2004;23(5):279-80. Genetically modified foods: why the public frenzy? Role of mainstream news media. Mehendale HM. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 15513828 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 237: J Med Philos. 2004 Jun;29(3):333-50. The precautionary principle and the regulation of U.S. food and drug safety. Soule E. The McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA. ed.soule@msb.edu This article probes the advisability of regulating U.S. food and drug safety according to the precautionary principle. To do so, a precautionary regulatory regime is formulated on the basis of the beliefs that motivate most proponents of this initiative. That hypothetical regime is critically analyzed on the basis of an actual instantiation of a similarly stylized initiative. It will be argued that the precautionary principle entails regulatory constraints that are apt to violate basis tenets of political legitimacy. The modifications that would change this finding would also change precautionary regulation to the point that it would be indistinguishable from orthodox safety protocols. It is concluded on the basis of its impoverished content that the precautionary principle should not be taken seriously as a formal approach to the regulation of U.S. food and drug safety. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15512976 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 238: Biotechnol Annu Rev. 2004;10:85-122. Public health issues related with the consumption of food obtained from genetically modified organisms. Paparini A, Romano-Spica V. University of Rome Foro Italico (IUSM), Rome, Italy. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are a fact of modern agriculture and a major field of discussion in biotechnology. As science incessantly achieves innovative and unexpected breakthroughs, new medical, political, ethical and religious debates arise over the production and consumption of transgenic organisms. Despite no described medical condition being directly associated with a diet including approved GM crops in large exposed populations such as 300,000,000 Americans and a billion Chinese, public opinion seems to look at this new technology with either growing concern or even disapproval. It is generally recognized that a high level of vigilance is necessary and highly desirable, but it should also be considered that GMOs are a promising new challenge for the III Millennium societies, with remarkable impact on many disciplines and fields related to biotechnology. To acquire a basic knowledge on GMO production, GM-food consumption, GMO interaction with humans and environment is of primary importance for risk assessment. It requires availability of clear data and results from rigorous experiments. This review will focus on public health risks related with a GMO-containing diet. The objective is to summarize state of the art research, provide fundamental technical information, point out problems and perspectives, and make available essential tools for further research. Are GMO based industries and GMO-derived foods safe to human health? Can we consider both social, ethical and public health issues by means of a constant and effective monitoring of the food chain and by a clear, informative labeling of the products? Which are the so far characterized or alleged hazards of GMOs? And, most importantly, are these hazards actual, potential or merely contrived? Several questions remain open; answers and solutions belong to science, to politics and to the personal opinion of each social subject. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15504704 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 239: Nurs Outlook. 2004 Sep-Oct;52(5):262-6. "This food may contain ..." What nurses should know about genetically engineered foods. Whitney SL, Maltby HJ, Carr JM. College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, 220 Rowell, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Stuart.Whitney@uvm.edu Genetic engineering has been in existence since 1973. The process involves placing genetic DNA from one organism into another. Genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) are the name given to such new species of plants created through this process. Proponents of GEOs assert that foods we are now able to produce have greater nutritional value, longer shelf life, better appearance, taste and smell. There are positive benefits to genetic engineering of plants and animals. A growing concern for the health safety of genetically engineered plants and foods is developing among the cautious. The purpose of this article is to define genetic engineering, present benefits and risks, describe the impact on human health, and address implications for nursing. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15499316 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 240: Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2004 Nov;6(6):468-76. Dietary fats and oils: technologies for improving cardiovascular health. Flickinger BD, Huth PJ. ADM Reserach, James R. Randall Research Center, Decatur, IL 62521, USA. flickinger@admworld.com The role of dietary lipids in the etiology of coronary heart disease (CHD) continues to evolve as we gain a better understanding of the metabolic effects of individual fatty acids and their impact on surrogate markers of risk. A recent meta-analysis of 60 human studies suggests that for each 1% energy replacement of carbohydrates in the diet with saturated fat or trans fat, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations increase by 0.032 (1.23 mg/dL) and 0.04 mmol/L (1.54 mg/dL), respectively. Current dietary recommendations to keep saturated fat and trans fat intake as low as possible, and to increase the intake of cis mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as growing recognition of these recommendations by consumers and food regulatory agencies in the United States, have been major driving forces for the edible oil industry and food manufacturers to develop alternative fats and oils with nutritionally improved fatty acid compositions. As solutions for use of trans fatty acids are being sought, oilseeds with modified fatty acid compositions are being viewed as a means to provide such solutions. Additionally, oilseeds with modified fatty acid composition, such as enhanced content of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids or conjugated linoleic acid, have been developed as a way to increase delivery of these fatty acids directly into the food supply or indirectly as use for feed ingredients for livestock. New processing technologies are being utilized around the world to create dietary fats and oils with specific physiologic functions relevant to risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15485593 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 241: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Oct;22(10):1207-8. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jul;22(7):811-2. Putting Cartagena into practice. Watanabe KN, Taeb M, Okusu H. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 15470448 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 242: Tradition. 2003 Summer;37(2):66-87. Survey of recent halakhic periodical literature: genetic engineering. Bleich JD. PMID: 15468505 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 243: Not Polit. 2001;17(62):51-76. Expert discourses of risk and ethics on genetically manipulated organisms: the weaving of public alienation. Wynne B. CSEC, Lancaster University, UK. PMID: 15468486 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 244: Not Polit. 2001;17(62):22-33. Knowledge and the governance of biotechnology. Doubleday R. Harvard University, USA. PMID: 15468484 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 245: Tijdschr Diergeneeskd. 2004 Sep 1;129(17):553. [Do consumers trust their food?] [Article in Dutch] [No authors listed] PMID: 15461373 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 246: Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2004 Sep;47(9):826-33. [Genetically modified plants and food safety. State of the art and discussion in the European Union] [Article in German] Schauzu M. Bundesinstitut fur Risikobewertung, Berlin. m.schauzu@bfr.bund.de Placing genetically modified (GM) plants and derived products on the European Union's (EU) market has been regulated by a Community Directive since 1990. This directive was complemented by a regulation specific for genetically modified and other novel foods in 1997. Specific labelling requirements have been applicable for GM foods since 1998. The law requires a pre-market safety assessment for which criteria have been elaborated and continuously adapted in accordance with the state of the art by national and international bodies and organisations. Consequently, only genetically modified products that have been demonstrated to be as safe as their conventional counterparts can be commercialized. However, the poor acceptance of genetically modified foods has led to a de facto moratorium since 1998. It is based on the lack of a qualified majority of EU member states necessary for authorization to place genetically modified plants and derived foods on the market. New Community Regulations are intended to end this moratorium by providing a harmonized and transparent safety assessment, a centralised authorization procedure, extended labelling provisions and a traceability system for genetically modified organisms (GMO) and derived food and feed. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 15378169 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 247: Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2003 Mar;37(2):133-5. [Assessment of the allergenic potential of genetically modified food] [Article in Chinese] Xu M. School of Food and Biologic engineering, Hangzhou Collage of Commercial, Hangzhou 310035, China Publication Types: Review PMID: 15376370 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 248: BMC Bioinformatics. 2004 Sep 16;5:133. Allermatch, a webtool for the prediction of potential allergenicity according to current FAO/WHO Codex alimentarius guidelines. Fiers MW, Kleter GA, Nijland H, Peijnenburg AA, Nap JP, van Ham RC. BACKGROUND: Novel proteins entering the food chain, for example by genetic modification of plants, have to be tested for allergenicity. Allermatch http://allermatch.org is a webtool for the efficient and standardized prediction of potential allergenicity of proteins and peptides according to the current recommendations of the FAO/WHO Expert Consultation, as outlined in the Codex alimentarius. DESCRIPTION: A query amino acid sequence is compared with all known allergenic proteins retrieved from the protein databases using a sliding window approach. This identifies stretches of 80 amino acids with more than 35% similarity or small identical stretches of at least six amino acids. The outcome of the analysis is presented in a concise format. The predictive performance of the FAO/WHO criteria is evaluated by screening sets of allergens and non-allergens against the Allermatch databases. Besides correct predictions, both methods are shown to generate false positive and false negative hits and the outcomes should therefore be combined with other methods of allergenicity assessment, as advised by the FAO/WHO. CONCLUSIONS: Allermatch provides an accessible, efficient, and useful webtool for analysis of potential allergenicity of proteins introduced in genetically modified food prior to market release that complies with current FAO/WHO guidelines. PMID: 15373946 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 249: Nature. 2004 Sep 16;431(7006):238-43. Comment in: Nature. 2004 Nov 25;432(7016):439. Head to head: Bush vs Kerry. Macilwain C, Bush GW, Kerry J. Publication Types: Interview News PMID: 15372001 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 250: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Sep;22(9):1062. NAS issues mixed message on unintended effects of GM food. Fox JL. Publication Types: News PMID: 15340456 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 251: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Sep;22(9):1055. Comment in: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Dec;22(12):1501; discussion 1501. Orphans at the window. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 15340451 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 252: Ceylon Med J. 2004 Jun;49(2):44-6. Genetically modified food: friend or foe? Perera BJ. Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Sri Lanka. bjcp@sltnet.lk Publication Types: Review PMID: 15334797 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 253: Indian J Dent Res. 2003 Oct-Dec;14(4):284-8. Genetic engineering and dental caries. Agarwal S, Pandit IK, Srivastava N, Gugnani N. Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, DAVO Dental College and Hospital, Yamunanagar, Haryana--135001. Dental caries, a multifactorial disease requires four principle factor: the host, the microflora, the substrate & time for its occurrence and can be prevented or managed by elimination/modification of either of the above factors. The conventional preventive measure being followed for long time for the dental caries are not successful to the desirable extent due to their non avaibailaballity in the rural areas, lack of awareness & inaccessibility of dental services. Therefore, the focus has now been shifted to submicroscopic level to ensure that these measures can be reached to the farthest areas & each & every member of the population is benefitted. Few of the measures taken are. i) Genetically modifying the S. Mutans: ii) Searching The antagonist peptides to work against the specific enzyme system (Glucosyltransferase) of S. Mutans. iii) Changing the oral environment by those Genetically modified organisms that will produce bases (instead of acids) & these bases provides a milieu favoring remineralization. This paper discusses various ways in which genetically modified strains of microogranisms or genetically modified strains of microogranisms of genetically modified foods can help in the prevention of caries. PMID: 15328998 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 254: Public Underst Sci. 2004 Apr;13(2):155-75. Dynamics of list-server discussion on genetically modified foods. Triunfol ML, Hines PJ. Associate editor at the American Assocation for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). mtriunfo@aaas.org Computer-mediated discussion lists, or list-servers, are popular tools in settings ranging from professional to personal to educational. A discussion list on genetically modified food (GMF) was created in September 2000 as part of the Forum on Genetically Modified Food developed by Science Controversies: Online Partnerships in Education (SCOPE), an educational project that uses computer resources to aid research and learning around unresolved scientific questions. The discussion list "GMF-Science" was actively supported from January 2001 to May 2002. The GMF-Science list welcomed anyone interested in discussing the controversies surrounding GMF. Here, we analyze the dynamics of the discussions and how the GMF-Science list may contribute to learning. Activity on the GMF-Science discussion list reflected some but not all the controversies that were appearing in more traditional publication formats, broached other topics not well represented in the published literature, and tended to leave undiscussed the more technical research developments. Publication Types: Historical Article PMID: 15323060 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 255: Curr Med Chem Cardiovasc Hematol Agents. 2003 Jun;1(2):197-202. Design of a genetically modified soybean protein preventing hypertension based on an anti-hypertensive peptide derived from ovalbumin. Matoba N, Yamada Y, Yoshikawa M. Division of Food Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan. Food proteins can be a source of various bioactive peptides including such possessing anti-hypertensive activity. While most orally active anti-hypertensive peptides derived from food proteins inhibit the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), ovokinin (2-7) (RADHPF), a peptide isolated from a chymotryptic digest of ovalbumin, has been shown to induce nitric oxide-dependent vasorelaxation in an isolated mesenteric artery as well as anti-hypertensive effect after oral administration in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Rational amino acid replacement lead to the ovokinin (2-7) analog, RPLKPW, which had the highest anti-hypertensive activity among the tested peptides. Furthermore, oral administration (0.1 mg/kg) of the peptide lowered the blood pressure of SHR but not of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. In order to develop a novel use of this potent anti-hypertensive peptide for prevention of hypertension, RPLKPW has been genetically introduced into the homologous sequences in soybean beta-conglycinin alpha' subunit by site-directed mutagenesis. The recombinant RPLKPW-incorporated alpha' subunit expressed in E. coil has been shown to exert anti-hypertensive activity after oral administration in SHR. Thus, RPLKPW-incorporated alpha' subunit is the first example of a genetically modified food protein possessing physiological activity based on a bioactive peptide. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15320699 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 256: Public Underst Sci. 2004 Apr;13(2):131-53. Preferences need no inferences, once again: germinal elements in the public perceptions of genetically modified foods in Colombia. Parales-Quenza CJ. Universidad del Rosario, Calle 14 6-25 Bogota D.C., Colombia. cparales@urosario.edu.co This paper explores the public perceptions of genetically modified foods in Colombia in a phase considered germinal: the topic was too novel at the time of research. The analysis covers media, informal conversations, and the word associations made by a sample of residents in the city of Bogota. The results show that the public capability of associating with the topic, even intuitively, is due to the availability of culture themes, the primary categories that help conceptual elaborations, and the construction of common-sense theories. Three themes are proposed: natural/artificial, tradition/change, and health/disease. It is argued that cultural themes are not only cognitive, but also affectively laden entities, which explains the evaluative force expressed by social beliefs. Acknowledging the relevance of the non-attitude thesis, the author suggests that people associate novel objects with latent cultural meanings, explaining why words, images, and metaphors are readily available in elaborating social knowledge. Publication Types: Historical Article PMID: 15320334 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 257: J Biotechnol. 2004 Sep 9;112(3):255-66. Use of quantitative real-time and conventional PCR to assess the stability of the cp4 epsps transgene from Roundup Ready canola in the intestinal, ruminal, and fecal contents of sheep. Alexander TW, Sharma R, Deng MY, Whetsell AJ, Jennings JC, Wang Y, Okine E, Damgaard D, McAllister TA. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, P.O. Box 3000, Lethbridge, Alta., Canada T1J 4B1. The stability of transgenic DNA encoding the synthetic cp4 epsps protein in a diet containing Roundup Ready (RR) canola meal was determined in duodenal fluid (DF) batch cultures from sheep. A real-time TaqMan PCR assay was designed to quantify the degradation of cp4 epsps DNA during incubation in DF at pH 5 or 7. The copy number of cp4 epsps DNA in the diet declined more rapidly (P < 0.05) in DF at pH 5 as compared to pH 7. The decrease was attributed mainly to microbial activity at pH 7 and perhaps to plant endogenous enzymes at pH 5. The 62-bp fragment of cp4 epsps DNA detected by real-time PCR reached a maximum of approximately 1600 copies in the aqueous phase of DF at pH 7, whereas less than 20 copies were detected during incubations in DF at pH 5. A 1363-bp sequence of cp4 epsps DNA was never detected in the aqueous fraction of DF. Additionally, genomic DNA isolated from RR canola seed was used to test the persistence of fragments of free DNA in DF at pH 3.2, 5, and 7, as well as in ruminal fluid and feces. Primers spanning the cp4 epsps DNA coding region amplified sequences ranging in size from 300 to 1363 bp. Free transgenic DNA was least stable in DF at pH 7 where fragments less than 527 bp were detected for up to 2 min and fragments as large as 1363 bp were detected for 0.5 min. This study shows that digestion of plant material and release of transgenic DNA can occur in the ovine small intestine. However, free DNA is rapidly degraded at neutral pH in DF, thus reducing the likelihood that intact transgenic DNA would be available for absorption through the Peyer's Patches in the distal ileum. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15313003 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 258: Methods Mol Biol. 2005;286:377-98. Transgenic crops: the current and next generations. Dunwell JM. Department of Agricultural Botany, School of Plant Science, The University of Reading, UK. This chapter describes the present status and future prospects for transgenic (genetically modified) crops. It concentrates on the most recent data obtained from patent databases and field trial applications, as well as the usual scientific literature. By these means, it is possible to obtain a useful perspective into future commercial products and international trends. The various research areas are subdivided on the basis of those associated with input (agronomic) traits and those concerned with output (e.g., food quality) characteristics. Among the former group are new methods of improving stress resistance, and among the latter are many examples of producing pharmaceutical compounds in plants. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15310935 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 259: J AOAC Int. 2004 Jul-Aug;87(4):927-36. The modular analytical procedure and validation approach and the units of measurement for genetically modified materials in foods and feeds. Holst-Jensen A, Berdal KG. National Veterinary Institute, Dep., Oslo, Norway. arne.holst-jensen@vetinst.no Food and feed analysts are confronted with a number of common problems, irrespective of the analytical target. The analytical procedure can be described as a series of successive steps: sampling, sample processing, analyte extraction, and ending, finally, in interpretation of an analytical result produced with, e.g., real-time polymerase chain reaction. The final analytical result is dependent on proper method selection and execution and is only valid if valid methods (modules) are used throughout the analytical procedure. The final step is easy to validate-the measurement uncertainty added from this step is relatively limited and can be estimated with a high degree of precision. In contrast, the front-end sampling and processing steps have not evolved much, and the corresponding methods are rarely or never experimentally validated according to internationally harmonized protocols. In this paper, we outlined a strategy for modular validation of the entire analytical procedure, using an upstream validation approach, illustrated with methods for genetically modified materials that may partially apply also to other areas of food and feed analyses. We have also discussed some implications and consequences of this approach in relation to reference materials, measurement units, and thresholds for labelling and enforcement, and for application of the validated methods (modules) in routine food and feed analysis. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 15295887 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 260: J AOAC Int. 2004 May-Jun;87(3):639-46. Suitability of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for cry9C detection in Mexican corn tortillas: fate of DNA and protein after alkaline cooking. Quirasco M, Schoel B, Plasencia J, Fagan J, Galvez A. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnologia, Facultad de Quimica, 04510, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Alkaline-cooked corn, called nixtamal, is the basis for many traditional corn products such as tortillas, chips, and taco shells that are used widely in Mexico and Central America and in the preparation of snack foods that are consumed globally. To assess the effects of alkaline and thermal treatments on the detectability of DNA and protein for the presence of genetically modified sequences, various nixtamalized products were prepared from blends of conventional white corn containing 0.1, 1.0, and 10% transgenic corn (event CBH 351, StarLink). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions (RTQ-PCR) and immunoassays were used to determine the cry9C gene and protein, respectively, in unprocessed corn kernels, freshly prepared alkaline-cooked and ground corn (masa), masa flour, tortillas prepared from masa by heat treatment, chips prepared from damp masa dough by deep frying, and from tortillas processed at high (200 degrees C) and low temperatures (70 degrees C). In spite of progressive degradation of genomic DNA during processing, RTQ-PCR genetic analysis allowed detection and quantification of the cry9C gene in all products prepared from 10, 1, and 0.1% StarLink corn, except deep-fried chips containing 0.1% StarLink. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays readily detected <1 ppm cry9C protein in all blends of unprocessed corn (10, 1, and 0.1% StarLink) as well as in nonfried tortilla and masa products. This technique was not suitable for thermally treated nixtamalized products containing <1% transgenic corn. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15287662 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 261: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Aug;22(8):943. Negative fallout from public sentiment in Japan. Watanabe KN, Fujimura T, Shimamoto K, Hashimoto T, Koizumi N, Fukuda H, Naito S, Nakamura K, Mimura T, Ohhashi Y, Shimazaki K, Terashima I, Uchimiya H, Yamaya T. Publication Types: Letter PMID: 15286637 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 262: IEEE Eng Med Biol Mag. 2004 Mar-Apr;23(2):52-4. A European perspective on animal cloning and government regulation. Galli C, Duchi R, Lagutina I, Lazzari G. Laboratorio di Tecnologie della Riproduzione, Consorzio per l'Incremento Zootecnico, Associazione Italiana Allevatori, Cremona, Italy. cesare@galli2.191.it PMID: 15264470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 263: Appetite. 2004 Aug;43(1):75-83. Willingness to try new foods as predicted by social representations and attitude and trait scales. Backstrom A, Pirttila-Backman AM, Tuorila H. Department of Food Technology, P.O. Box 66 (Agnes Sjobergin katu 2), University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland. anna.backstrom@helsinki.fi The structure and predictive ability of social representation of new foods were investigated and compared with instruments measuring relevant attitudes and traits using a questionnaire quantifying these aspects, completed by 743 respondents. Based on their rated willingness to try, new foods were categorized as modified dairy products, genetically modified (GM), organic, and ethnic products (two examples, snails and passion fruit, were treated separately). The social representation (SR) consisted of five dimensions: suspicion of novelties, adherence to technology, adherence to natural food, eating as an enjoyment, and eating as a necessity. The SR dimensions were strong predictors of willingness to try GM foods (predicted by adherence to technology) and organic foods (predicted by adherence to natural foods). Low food neophobia predicted the rated willingness to try snails and passion fruit. Thus, different constructs predicted willingness to try different categories of new foods, and as a whole, SR dimensions markedly improved the prediction. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15262020 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 264: Genewatch. 2003 Nov-Dec;16(6):12-4. Leveling the field: answers to frequently asked questions about the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol. Freeman L. Harvard Divinity School, USA. PMID: 15255003 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 265: Trends Biotechnol. 2004 Jul;22(7):331-6. Is confidence in the monitoring of GE foods justified? Heinemann JA, Sparrow AD, Traavik T. New Zealand Institute of Gene Ecology, and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8020, New Zealand. jack.heinemann@canterbury.ac.nz Often the limits of detection of genetically engineered organisms (GEOs, LMOs, GMOs) determine what legislation sets as thresholds of allowable contamination of the human food chain with GEOs. Many countries have legislation that is triggered by certain thresholds of contamination. Importantly, international trade in food and animal feed is becoming increasingly vulnerable to interruptions caused by the ambiguity GEOs can create when shipments are monitored at the border. We examine the tools available for detection. Four key error-generating stages are identified with the aim of prompting a higher uniform standard of routine analysis at export and import points. Contamination of the New Zealand corn crop with GEOs is used as a case study for the application of monitoring tools and vulnerability to errors. These tools fail to meet emerging food safety requirements, but some improvements are in development. Publication Types: Comparative Study Evaluation Studies PMID: 15245904 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 266: World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Jul 15;10(14):2063-6. Effects of fucosylated milk of goat and mouse on Helicobacter pylori binding to Lewis b antigen. Xu HT, Zhao YF, Lian ZX, Fan BL, Zhao ZH, Yu SY, Dai YP, Wang LL, Niu HL, Li N, Hammarstrom L, Boren T, Sjostrom R. State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, China Agriculture University, Beijing 100094, China. AIM: To evaluate the effects of animal milk containing fucosylated antigens on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) binding to Lewis b antigen. METHODS: A mammary gland expression vector containing human alpha1-3/4-fucosyltransferase cDNA sequences was constructed. Transient expression of human alpha1-3/4-fucosyltransferase cDNA in goat mammary cell and establishment of transgenic mice were performed. The adhesion inhibitory properties of milk samples were analyzed by using H. pylori. RESULTS: Goat milk samples were found to inhibit bacterial binding to Lewis b antigen. The highest inhibition was observed 42 h after injection of the plasmid. The binding activity of H. pylori to Lewis b antigen reduced mostly, by 83%, however milk samples from transgenic mice did not inhibit H. pylori binding to Lewis b antigen. CONCLUSION: The use of "humanized" animal milk produced by the transgenic introduction of fucosylated antigen can perhaps provide an alternative therapy and preventive measure for H. pylori infection. PMID: 15237435 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 267: Mol Ther. 2004 Jul;10(1):1. Agbiotech: success depends on trust. Verma IM. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 15233936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 268: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jul;22(7):791. Agbiotech firms realign product focus. Fox JL. Publication Types: News PMID: 15229525 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 269: Anal Bioanal Chem. 2004 Mar;378(6):1616-23. Analysis and interpretation of data from real-time PCR trace detection methods using quantitation of GM soya as a model system. Burns MJ, Valdivia H, Harris N. BioAnalytical Innovation Team, LGC Limited, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 OLY, UK. Malcolm.Burns@lgc.co.uk Recent years have seen an increased interest in DNA trace detection methods involved in many areas of bioanalytical research, such as quantitation of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in food products. There is little in the way of standardisation of data handling from these methods, and the data generated needs to be analysed appropriately if the results are to be interpreted correctly. This paper describes particular aspects of real-time PCR trace detection methods in order to increase the understanding of data generated using this bioanalytical technique. Using the specific example of GM soya detection and quantitation, it focuses on the production of calibration curves based on the mean and individual data values, the interpretation of correlation coefficients, regression techniques, and discusses suitable data analysis arising from simple and more complex experimental designs following transformation. By using the approaches outlined in this paper, more accurate analysis of data from real-time PCR and GM trace detection methods could be achieved. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15214425 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 270: Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2004;17(1):47-57. The Precautionary Principle: implications for risk management strategies. Saltelli A, Funtowicz S. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen, Ispra, VA, Italy. andrea.saltelli@jrc.it The European Commission has published a Communication on the Precautionary Principle and a White Book on Governance. These provide us (as research civil servants of the Commission) an institutional framework for handling scientific information that is often incomplete, uncertain, and contested. But, although the Precautionary Principle is intuitively straightforward to understand, there is no agreed way of applying it to real decision-making. To meet this perceived need, researchers have proposed a vast number of taxonomies. These include ignorance auditing, type one-two-three errors, a combination of uncertainty and decision stakes through post-normal science and the plotting of ignorance of probabilities against ignorance of consequences. Any of these could be used to define a precautionary principle region inside a multidimensional space and to position an issue within that region. The role of anticipatory research is clearly critical but scientific input is only part of the picture. It is difficult to imagine an issue where the application of the Precautionary Principle would be non-contentious. From genetically-modified food to electro-smog, from climate change to hormone growth in meat, it is clear that: 1) risk and cost-benefit are only part of the picture; 2) there are ethical issues involved; 3) there is a plurality of interests and perspectives that are often in conflict; 4) there will be losers and winners whatever decision is made. Operationalization of the Precautionary Principle must preserve transparency. Only in this way will the incommensurable costs and benefits associated with different stakeholders be registered. A typical decision will include the following sorts of considerations: 1) the commercial interests of companies and the communities that depend on them; 2) the worldviews of those who might want a greener, less consumerist society and/or who believe in the sanctity of human or animal life; 3) potential benefits such as enabling the world's poor to improve farming; 4) risks such as pollution, gene-flow, or the effects of climate change. In this paper we will discuss the use of a combination of methods on which we have worked and that we consider useful to frame the debate and facilitate the dialogue among stakeholders on where and how to apply the Precautionary Principle. Publication Types: Comparative Study Review PMID: 15212206 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 271: Risk Anal. 2004 Jun;24(3):727-35. Using risk assessment, benefit-cost analysis, and real options to implement a precautionary principle. Farrow S. scott.farrow@verizon.net Risk assessment is an established methodology for environmental and public health issues. However, economists' core approach to both risk assessment and risk management, benefit-cost analysis, often fails to transparently evaluate variability in a way that is a trademark of quantitative risk assessment. Concurrently, environmental advocates are proposing new management criteria based on a vaguely framed "Precautionary Principle." This manuscript demonstrates how risk assessment techniques for characterizing variability, benefit-cost analysis, and decision-making criteria under uncertainty and irreversibility can be combined. The result is a quantifiable, case-specific, and risk-dependent "precautionary" threshold for action compared to standard benefit-cost approaches. The Clean Air Act and the regulation of genetically modified corn provide applications. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15209941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 272: Risk Anal. 2004 Jun;24(3):715-26. Explaining public resistance to genetically modified corn: an analysis of the distribution of benefits and risks. Wu F. Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Genetically modified (GM) crops have met with widespread approval among scientists and policy makers in the United States, but public approval of GM crops, both domestically and abroad, is progressing much more slowly. An underlying cause of public wariness may be that both nations and individual consumers do not perceive significant benefits to themselves from GM crops, while fearing the risks they may incur. In this study, an economic analysis is conducted to determine whether the benefits of one type of GM corn, Bt corn (genetically modified to resist damage from the ECB and Southwestern corn borer), outweigh the potential risks; and who the "winners" and "losers" are among stakeholder groups that may be affected by Bt corn. It is found that Bt corn growers, consumers, and industry all benefit from Bt corn adoption, though the purported health and environmental benefits of reducing chemical pesticide usage through Bt corn are negligible. Though the aggregated public benefit is large, the welfare gain to individual consumers is small and may not make up for perceived risks. While environmental and health risks of Bt corn are unlikely, the potential market risks-impacting both the organic corn market and total U.S. corn exports-are found to be significant. Currently, distributional analysis is not a part of regulatory decision making of Bt corn in the United States; yet it may help to explain why decision makers at both the government and individual-consumer levels have failed to embrace Bt corn and other GM crops. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. PMID: 15209940 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 273: Clin Lab. 2004;50(5-6):380-1. Consumer protection from an EU regulation on the mandatory labelling of genetically modified food. [No authors listed] On the 7. November 2003 a new regulation was enforced in the states of the EU to govern the authorisation and labelling of genetically modified food in standardized and legally binding form. Raw materials from GM crops now have to feature in the list of ingredients of the end products. The consumer is free to choose whether or not he accepts gene technology in his food purchases. PMID: 15209444 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 274: J Exp Bot. 2004 Jul;55(402):1445-54. Epub 2004 Jun 18. Real-time PCR: what relevance to plant studies? Gachon C, Mingam A, Charrier B. Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes, UMR CNRS 8618, Universite Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay cedex, France. The appearance of genetically modified organisms on the food market a few years ago, and the demand for more precise and reliable techniques to detect foreign (transgenic or pathogenic) DNA in edible plants, have been the driving force for the introduction of real-time PCR techniques in plant research. This was followed by numerous fundamental research applications aiming to study the expression profiles of endogenous genes and multigene families. Since then, the interest in this technique in the plant scientist community has increased exponentially. This review describes the technical features of quantitative real-time PCR that are especially relevant to plant research, and summarizes its present and future applications. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15208338 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 275: Int J Toxicol. 2004 Mar-Apr;23(2):79-80. Genetically modified foods get bad rap. Mehendale HM. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 15204724 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 276: EMBO Rep. 2004 May;5(5):432-6. GM food and crops: what went wrong in the UK? Many of the public's concerns have little to do with science. Burke D. UK Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. dcb27@cam.ac.uk PMID: 15184970 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 277: Nature. 2004 Jun 3;429(6991 Suppl):10-3. Farmers to pharmas. Collis B. PMID: 15175705 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 278: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jun;22(6):680-2. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jun;22(6):739-45. From alpha to omega-producing essential fatty acids in plants. Green AG. Food Futures, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, ACT, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia. allan.green@csiro.au Publication Types: Comment News PMID: 15175687 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 279: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jun;22(6):654-5. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Feb;22(2):204-9. Chasing 'transgenic' shadows. Miller HI, Conko G. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 15175675 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 280: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jun;22(6):642. China ramps up efforts to commercialize GM rice. Jia H, Jayaraman KS, Louet S. Publication Types: News PMID: 15175669 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 281: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jun;22(6):637. Playing catch-up. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 15175666 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 282: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2004 Feb;45(1):19-24. A histochemical method using a substrate of beta-glucuronidase for detection of genetically modified papaya. Wakui C, Akiyama H, Watanabe T, Fitch MM, Uchikawa S, Ki M, Takahashi K, Chiba R, Fujii A, Hino A, Maitani T. National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. A histochemical assay for detecting genetically modified (GM) papaya (derived from Line 55-1) is described. GM papaya, currently undergoing a safety assessment in Japan, was developed using a construct that included a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene linked to a virus coat protein (CP) gene. Histochemical assay was used to visualize the blue GUS reaction product from transgenic seed embryos. Twelve embryos per fruit were extracted from the papaya seeds using a surgical knife. The embryos were incubated with the substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronide (X-Gluc) in a 96-well microtiter plate for 10-15 hours at 37 degrees C. Seventy-five percent of GM papaya embryos should turn blue theoretically. The histochemical assay results were completely consistent with those from a qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method developed by this laboratory. Furthermore, the method was validated in a five-laboratory study. The method for detection of GM papaya is rapid and simple, and does not require use of specialized equipment. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15168556 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 283: Nature. 2004 May 27;429(6990):330. Monsanto wins seven-year court battle for seed patent. Spurgeon D. Publication Types: News PMID: 15164024 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 284: Trends Biotechnol. 2004 Jun;22(6):286-94. The contribution of farm animals to human health. Kues WA, Niemann H. Department of Biotechnology, Institut fur Tierzucht, Mariensee, D-31535 Neustadt, Germany. Farm animals and their products have a longstanding and successful history of providing significant contributions to human nutrition, clothing, facilitation of labour, research, development and medicine and have thus been essential in improving life expectancy and human health. With the advent of transgenic technologies the potential of farm animals for improving human health is growing and many areas remain to be explored. Recent breakthroughs in reproductive technologies, such as somatic cloning and in vitro embryo production, and their merger with molecular genetic tools, will further advance progress in this field. Here, we have summarized the contribution of farm animals to human health, covering the production of antimicrobial peptides, dietary supplements or functional foods, animals used as disease models and the contribution of animals to solving urgent environmental problems and challenges in medicine such as the shortage of human cells, tissues and organs and therapeutic proteins. Some of these areas have already reached the level of preclinical testing or commercial application, others will be further advanced only when the genomes of the animals concerned have been sequenced and annotated. Provided the necessary precautions are being taken, the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans can be avoided to provide adequate security. Overall, the promising perspectives of farm animals and their products warrant further research and development in this field. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15158058 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 285: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 May;113(5):1003-4; author reply 1004-5. Comment in: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Jul;114(1):127-30. Comment on: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Nov;112(5):1011-2. Starlink genetically modified corn and allergenicity in an individual. Siruguri V, Sesikeran B, Bhat RV. Publication Types: Case Reports Comment Letter PMID: 15148966 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 286: Nahrung. 2004 Apr;48(2):149-55. Sensory and rheological properties of transgenically and chemically modified starch ingredients as evaluated in a food product model. Ahmt T, Wischmann B, Blennow A, Madsen F, Bandsholm O, Thomsen J. Biotechnological Institute, Dept. of Perception & Functionality, Holbergsvej 10, DK-6000 Kolding, Denmark. tina.ahmt@teknologisk.dk Starches derived from five genetically modified potato lines, two chemically modified potato starches and two native starches from potato and maize were subjected to physical and chemical analyses and their functionality evaluated in a milk-based food product model. The transgenic starches were specifically modified with respect to amylopectin chain length and phosphorous content by suppression of the starch branching enzyme and overexpression of glycogen branching enzyme. Transgenic starches with long amylopectin chains and high phosphorous content had increased gelatinisation temperatures, produced gels with a higher tendency to retrograde and a low freeze/thaw stability as compared to starches with shorter amylopectin chains and lower phosphorous content. The textural properties of the food product model prepared from genetically and chemically modified starches were characterised by sensory and rheological analyses. To clearly visualise the effects of the modifications, data was evaluated by radar plots and multiple regression analysis (chemometrics). Genetically modified potato starches with longer amylopectin chains and increased phosphorous content gave a more gelled and a shorter texture as compared to starches with shorter amylopectin chains and decreased phosphorous content. Acetylated and hydroxypropylated potato starches gave sticky and stringy textures. Correlations between rheology parameters and sensory parameters were found. The sensory parameter stringy/long could be predicted from the rheological data. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15146974 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 287: Clin Med. 2004 Mar-Apr;4(2):193-4. GM foods: is rational public debate possible? [No authors listed] Publication Types: Interview PMID: 15139747 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 288: Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Jul;42(7):1195-202. Safety assessment, detection and traceability, and societal aspects of genetically modified foods. European Network on Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Food Crops (ENTRANSFOOD). Concluding remarks. Kuiper HA, Konig A, Kleter GA, Hammes WP, Knudsen I; European Network on Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Food Crops (ENTRANSFOOD). RIKILT-Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen University & Research Centre, Bornsesteeg 45, PO Box 230, NL-6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands. harry.kuiper@wur.nl The most important results from the EU-sponsored ENTRANSFOOD Thematic Network project are reviewed, including the design of a detailed step-wise procedure for the risk assessment of foods derived from genetically modified crops based on the latest scientific developments, evaluation of topical risk assessment issues, and the formulation of proposals for improved risk management and public involvement in the risk analysis process. Copyright 2004 Elsevier Ltd. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15123387 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 289: Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Jul;42(7):1181-93. Societal aspects of genetically modified foods. Frewer L, Lassen J, Kettlitz B, Scholderer J, Beekman V, Berdal KG. Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group, University of Wageningen, Wageningen University & Research Centre, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands. lynn.frewer@wur.nl This paper aims to examine some of the reasons behind public controversy associated with the introduction of genetically modified foods in Europe the 1990s. The historical background to the controversy is provided to give context. The issue of public acceptance of genetically modified foods, and indeed the emerging biosciences more generally, is considered in the context of risk perceptions and attitudes, public trust in regulatory institutions, scientists, and industry, and the need to develop communication strategies that explicitly include public concerns rather than exclude them. Increased public participation has been promoted as a way of increasing trust in institutional practices associated with the biosciences, although questions still arise as to how to best utilise the outputs of such exercises in policy development. This issue will become more of a priority as decision-making systems become more transparent and open to public scrutiny. The results are discussed in the context of risk assessment and risk management, and recommendations for future research are made. In particular, it is recommended that new methods are developed in order to integrate public values more efficaciously into risk analysis processes, specifically with respect to the biosciences and to technology implementation in general. Copryright 2004 Elsevier Ltd. Publication Types: Multicenter Study Review PMID: 15123386 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 290: Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Jul;42(7):1157-80. Detection and traceability of genetically modified organisms in the food production chain. Miraglia M, Berdal KG, Brera C, Corbisier P, Holst-Jensen A, Kok EJ, Marvin HJ, Schimmel H, Rentsch J, van Rie JP, Zagon J. Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Section of Cereal Chemistry, Laboratory of Food, Viale Regina Elena 299, I-00161 Rome, Italy. Both labelling and traceability of genetically modified organisms are current issues that are considered in trade and regulation. Currently, labelling of genetically modified foods containing detectable transgenic material is required by EU legislation. A proposed package of legislation would extend this labelling to foods without any traces of transgenics. These new legislations would also impose labelling and a traceability system based on documentation throughout the food and feed manufacture system. The regulatory issues of risk analysis and labelling are currently harmonised by Codex Alimentarius. The implementation and maintenance of the regulations necessitates sampling protocols and analytical methodologies that allow for accurate determination of the content of genetically modified organisms within a food and feed sample. Current methodologies for the analysis of genetically modified organisms are focused on either one of two targets, the transgenic DNA inserted- or the novel protein(s) expressed- in a genetically modified product. For most DNA-based detection methods, the polymerase chain reaction is employed. Items that need consideration in the use of DNA-based detection methods include the specificity, sensitivity, matrix effects, internal reference DNA, availability of external reference materials, hemizygosity versus homozygosity, extrachromosomal DNA, and international harmonisation. For most protein-based methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with antibodies binding the novel protein are employed. Consideration should be given to the selection of the antigen bound by the antibody, accuracy, validation, and matrix effects. Currently, validation of detection methods for analysis of genetically modified organisms is taking place. In addition, new methodologies are developed, including the use of microarrays, mass spectrometry, and surface plasmon resonance. Challenges for GMO detection include the detection of transgenic material in materials with varying chromosome numbers. The existing and proposed regulatory EU requirements for traceability of genetically modified products fit within a broader tendency towards traceability of foods in general and, commercially, towards products that can be distinguished from each other. Traceability systems document the history of a product and may serve the purpose of both marketing and health protection. In this framework, segregation and identity preservation systems allow for the separation of genetically modified and non-modified products from "farm to fork". Implementation of these systems comes with specific technical requirements for each particular step of the food processing chain. In addition, the feasibility of traceability systems depends on a number of factors, including unique identifiers for each genetically modified product, detection methods, permissible levels of contamination, and financial costs. In conclusion, progress has been achieved in the field of sampling, detection, and traceability of genetically modified products, while some issues remain to be solved. For success, much will depend on the threshold level for adventitious contamination set by legislation. Copryright 2004 Elsevier Ltd. Publication Types: Multicenter Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 15123385 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 291: Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Jul;42(7):1089-125. Unintended effects and their detection in genetically modified crops. Cellini F, Chesson A, Colquhoun I, Constable A, Davies HV, Engel KH, Gatehouse AM, Karenlampi S, Kok EJ, Leguay JJ, Lehesranta S, Noteborn HP, Pedersen J, Smith M. Metapontum Agrobios, SS Jonica Km 448.2, I-75010 Metaponto Matera, Italy. The commercialisation of GM crops in Europe is practically non-existent at the present time. The European Commission has instigated changes to the regulatory process to address the concerns of consumers and member states and to pave the way for removing the current moratorium. With regard to the safety of GM crops and products, the current risk assessment process pays particular attention to potential adverse effects on human and animal health and the environment. This document deals with the concept of unintended effects in GM crops and products, i.e. effects that go beyond that of the original modification and that might impact primarily on health. The document first deals with the potential for unintended effects caused by the processes of transgene insertion (DNA rearrangements) and makes comparisons with genetic recombination events and DNA rearrangements in traditional breeding. The document then focuses on the potential value of evolving "profiling" or "omics" technologies as non-targeted, unbiased approaches, to detect unintended effects. These technologies include metabolomics (parallel analysis of a range of primary and secondary metabolites), proteomics (analysis of polypeptide complement) and transcriptomics (parallel analysis of gene expression). The technologies are described, together with their current limitations. Importantly, the significance of unintended effects on consumer health are discussed and conclusions and recommendations presented on the various approaches outlined. Copryright 2004 Elsevier Ltd. Publication Types: Multicenter Study Review PMID: 15123383 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 292: Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Jul;42(7):1047-88. Assessment of the safety of foods derived from genetically modified (GM) crops. Konig A, Cockburn A, Crevel RW, Debruyne E, Grafstroem R, Hammerling U, Kimber I, Knudsen I, Kuiper HA, Peijnenburg AA, Penninks AH, Poulsen M, Schauzu M, Wal JM. Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, 718 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. ariane_koenig@harvard.edu This paper provides guidance on how to assess the safety of foods derived from genetically modified crops (GM crops); it summarises conclusions and recommendations of Working Group 1 of the ENTRANSFOOD project. The paper provides an approach for adapting the test strategy to the characteristics of the modified crop and the introduced trait, and assessing potential unintended effects from the genetic modification. The proposed approach to safety assessment starts with the comparison of the new GM crop with a traditional counterpart that is generally accepted as safe based on a history of human food use (the concept of substantial equivalence). This case-focused approach ensures that foods derived from GM crops that have passed this extensive test-regime are as safe and nutritious as currently consumed plant-derived foods. The approach is suitable for current and future GM crops with more complex modifications. First, the paper reviews test methods developed for the risk assessment of chemicals, including food additives and pesticides, discussing which of these methods are suitable for the assessment of recombinant proteins and whole foods. Second, the paper presents a systematic approach to combine test methods for the safety assessment of foods derived from a specific GM crop. Third, the paper provides an overview on developments in this area that may prove of use in the safety assessment of GM crops, and recommendations for research priorities. It is concluded that the combination of existing test methods provides a sound test-regime to assess the safety of GM crops. Advances in our understanding of molecular biology, biochemistry, and nutrition may in future allow further improvement of test methods that will over time render the safety assessment of foods even more effective and informative. Copryright 2004 Elsevier Ltd. Publication Types: Multicenter Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 15123382 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 293: Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Jun;42(6):1003-14. Results of a 13 week safety assurance study with rats fed grain from glyphosate tolerant corn. Hammond B, Dudek R, Lemen J, Nemeth M. Monsanto Company, 800 N. Lindbergh, St Louis, MO 63167, USA. bruce.g.hammond@monsanto.com The current study presents the results of a 13 week feeding study in rats with grain from Roundup Ready corn which is tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate. Herbicide tolerance was accomplished through the introduction of cp4 epsps coding sequences into the corn genome for in planta production of CP4 EPSPS enzymes. Unlike related corn EPSPS enzymes, CP4 EPSPS enzymes are not inhibited by the herbicide glyphosate. Purina TestDiets formulated Roundup Ready corn grain into rodent diets at levels of 11 and 33% (w/w). The responses of rats fed diets containing Roundup Ready corn grain were compared to that of rats fed diets containing non-transgenic grain (controls). All diets were nutritionally balanced and conformed to Purina Mills, Inc. specifications for Certified LabDiet 5002. There were 400 rats in the study divided into 10 groups of 20 rats/sex/group. Overall health, body weight, food consumption, clinical pathology parameters (hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis), organ weights, gross and microscopic appearance of tissues were comparable between groups fed diets containing Roundup Ready and control corn grain. This study complements extensive agronomic, compositional and farm animal feeding studies with Roundup Ready corn grain, confirming it is as safe and nutritious as existing commercial corn hybrids. Publication Types: Comparative Study PMID: 15110110 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 294: Nature. 2004 Apr 22;428(6985):788. Labelling laws for transgenic food come into effect. Nelson L. Publication Types: News PMID: 15103341 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 295: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2004 Apr;15(2):162-5. The nutritional fortification of cereals. Poletti S, Gruissem W, Sautter C. Institute of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Universitatstrasse 2, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland. The low micronutrient content of cereals requires the fortification of food and biofortification of plants. Many laboratories are currently pursuing biofortification using breeding and genetic modification, but progress is challenged by technical hurdles and our understanding of physiological processes. Recent studies have largely been confined to the improvement of levels of iron, zinc, some vitamins and a variety of essential amino acids. Progress has been made in the accumulation of iron, zinc, and vitamins A and E in genetically modified plants. For future success in this area, many more studies will be required on the physiology of ion uptake and on the transport of vitamin precursors. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15081056 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 296: Toxicol Lett. 2004 Apr 15;150(1):29-42. DNA microarray technology in nutraceutical and food safety. Liu-Stratton Y, Roy S, Sen CK. Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and DNA Microarray & Genetics Facility, Department of Surgery, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Medical Center, 473 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. The quality and quantity of diet is a key determinant of health and disease. Molecular diagnostics may play a key role in food safety related to genetically modified foods, food-borne pathogens and novel nutraceuticals. Functional outcomes in biology are determined, for the most part, by net balance between sets of genes related to the specific outcome in question. The DNA microarray technology offers a new dimension of strength in molecular diagnostics by permitting the simultaneous analysis of large sets of genes. Automation of assay and novel bioinformatics tools make DNA microarrays a robust technology for diagnostics. Since its development a few years ago, this technology has been used for the applications of toxicogenomics, pharmacogenomics, cell biology, and clinical investigations addressing the prevention and intervention of diseases. Optimization of this technology to specifically address food safety is a vast resource that remains to be mined. Efforts to develop diagnostic custom arrays and simplified bioinformatics tools for field use are warranted. Publication Types: Review PMID: 15068823 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 297: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Apr;22(4):383-4. Flies in the soup--European GM labeling legislation. Craddock N. Neville Craddock Associates, Tun House, 28 High Street, Bletchingley, Surrey RH1 4PA, UK. nevillecraddock@tunhouse28.fsnet.co.uk PMID: 15060547 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 298: Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2003;54(4):345-53. [Detection of genetic modification in maize and maize products by ELISA-test] [Article in Polish] Urbanek-Karlowska B, Sawilska-Rautenstrauch D, Jedra M, Badowski P. Zaklad Badania Zywnosci i Przedmiotow Uzytku, Panstwowy Zaklad Higieny, 00-791 Warszawa, ul. Chocimska 24. Enzyme immunoassay methods--TRAIT Test--was applied for detection of genetic modification in maize seeds and foodstuffs, which have been produced from this crop. TRAIT Test is based on the identification GMO protein Cry 1Ab produced by a gene derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) incorporated into insect resistant corn grain. The experiment was carried out on maize standards and foodstuffs from Warsaw market. The positive result was obtained for one maize product, which was not labelled as GMO. The presence of GMO material was approximately equal to 1%. In conclusion, this test is proper for fast routine qualitative (yes/no) determination GMO material in maize seeds and unprocessed food products. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 15052732 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 299: Trends Biotechnol. 2004 Mar;22(3):107-9. Comment in: Trends Biotechnol. 2005 Aug;23(8):386-7. How can genetically modified foods be made publicly acceptable? Rowe G. Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK. gene.rowe@bbsrc.ac.uk A recent study by Lusk suggests that consumers might voluntarily pay more for a genetically modified (GM) food than a non-GM equivalent if made aware of the possible health benefits. However, other research indicates that the acceptability of novel hazards is affected by a variety of factors, in addition to benefits, and that making agricultural biotechnology publicly acceptable will be more complex than indicated by the results from Lusk's study. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 15043045 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 300: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2003 Dec;44(6):281-8. [Laboratory-performance study of the notified methods to detect genetically modified maize (CBH351) and potato (NewLeaf Plus and NewLeaf Y)] [Article in Japanese] Watanabe T, Kasama K, Wakui C, Shibuya M, Matsuki A, Akiyama H, Maitani T. National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. To investigate the key factors affecting the reliability of the analytical results, a laboratory-performance study was attempted for the notified methods to detect genetically modified (GM) maize (CBH351) and GM potato (NewLeaf Plus and NewLeaf Y). The test samples were designed as three pairs of blind duplicates, which included 0%, 0.1% and 1.0% GM maize (CBH351) or GM potato (NewLeaf Plus or NewLeaf Y). Fourteen laboratories participated in the study. The test samples were sent to the participating laboratories along with the protocol. The data were collected from all laboratories and statistically analyzed. For the 0% sample of the CBH351 maize, one laboratory reported a false-positive result. It was considered that contamination could have occurred via the common use of equipment or tools for the test. For the 0.1% samples of the NewLeaf Plus potato or NewLeaf Y potato, on the other hand, three laboratories reported false-negative results. It was presumed that these results were due to changes of the conditions of the electrophoresis and agarose-gel staining. The other laboratories reported appropriate results. It was considered that the method employed in this study was suitable for the assessment of laboratory performance. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 15038109 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 301: Law Hum Genome Rev. 2003 Jul-Dec;(19):159-85. [The zig-zagging legislative policies of the European Union in relation to transgenic products] [Article in Spanish] Martin Uranga A. Universidad de Deusto-Universidad del Pais Vasco/EHU, Madrid, Espana. The author analyses the E.U. legislative policies related to transgenic products from the 80s until nowadays, she stops in Directive 2001/18/Ce and its conversion into national law. She explains how the regulatory frame is after the recent approval of the newest rules about tracking and labelling genetically modified organisms (OMG). She also studies communitary jurisprudence about this subject according to the legislation, concretely sentence 9 September 2003 in the affair C-236/01 about commercialisation of two lines of transgenic corn. Finally she points out how legislative policies have influenced the creation and development of biotechnological enterprises. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 15032103 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 302: Risk Anal. 2004 Feb;24(1):185-94. GM foods and the misperception of risk perception. Gaskell G, Allum N, Wagner W, Kronberger N, Torgersen H, Hampel J, Bardes J. Department of Social Psychology, London School of Economics, Centre for the Analysis of Risk and Regulation, London, UK. g.gaskell@lse.ac.uk Public opposition to genetically modified (GM) food and crops is widely interpreted as the result of the public's misperception of the risks. With scientific assessment pointing to no unique risks from GM crops and foods, a strategy of accurate risk communication from trusted sources has been advocated. This is based on the assumption that the benefits of GM crops and foods are self-evident. Informed by the interpretation of some qualitative interviews with lay people, we use data from the Eurobarometer survey on biotechnology to explore the hypothesis that it is not so much the perception of risks as the absence of benefits that is the basis of the widespread rejection of GM foods and crops by the European public. Some respondents perceive both risks and benefits, and may be trading off these attributes along the lines of a rational choice model. However, for others, one attribute-benefit-appears to dominate their judgments: the lexicographic heuristic. For these respondents, their perception of risk is of limited importance in the formation of attitudes toward GM food and crops. The implication is that the absence of perceived benefits from GM foods and crops calls into question the relevance of risk communication strategies for bringing about change in public opinion. PMID: 15028010 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 303: Science. 2004 Mar 12;303(5664):1590. Transgenic crops. Britain opts for brave new GM world. Vogel G. Publication Types: News PMID: 15016966 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 304: Nature. 2004 Mar 11;428(6979):107. Californian county bans transgenic crops. Dalton R. Publication Types: News PMID: 15014455 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 305: Nature. 2004 Mar 11;428(6979):107. Transgenic planting approved despite scepticism of UK public. Giles J. Publication Types: News PMID: 15014454 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 306: Formos J Med Humanit. 2001 Oct;2(1-2):41-7. New technology ethic. Macer D. Eubios Ethics Institute; Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan. PMID: 15011655 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 307: Nature. 2004 Mar 4;428(6978):6. US and biologists wary of strict biotech rules. Cyranoski D. Publication Types: News PMID: 14999250 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 308: JAMA. 2004 Mar 3;291(9):1055. Prevent genetically modified organisms from escaping into nature, report urges. Hampton T. Publication Types: News PMID: 14996758 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 309: J Relig Ethics. 2003 Winter;31(3):363-98. Bioethics, theology, and social change. Cahill LS. Recent years have witnessed a concern among theological bioethicists that secular debate has grown increasingly "thin," and that "thick" religious traditions and their spokespersons have been correspondingly excluded. This essay disputes that analysis. First, religious and theological voices compete for public attention and effectiveness with the equally "thick" cultural traditions of modern science and market capitalism. The distinctive contribution of religion should be to emphasize social justice in access to the benefits of health care, challenging the for-profit global marketing of research and biotechnology to wealthy consumers. Second, religion and theology have been and are still socially effective in sponsoring activism for practical change, both locally and globally. This claim will be supported with specific examples; with familiar concepts like subsidiarity and "middle axioms"; and with recent analyses of "participatory democracy" and of emerging, decentralized forms of global governance. PMID: 14986639 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 310: APMIS. 2004 Jan;112(1):21-8. A comparative study of the allergenic potency of wild-type and glyphosate-tolerant gene-modified soybean cultivars. Sten E, Skov PS, Andersen SB, Torp AM, Olesen A, Bindslev-Jensen U, Poulsen LK, Bindslev-Jensen C. Allergy Clinic, 7542, National University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark. E.STEN@RH.DK A large proportion of soybean cultivars grown in the USA are now genetically modified varieties and concern has been raised about the safety of these products for consumers. A study of the impact on allergenic potency in soybeans, comparable except for the newly introduced gene (CP4 EPSPS), was performed using soybean-sensitized patients. The allergenicity of 18 different (10 GM and 8 WT) soybean extracts was examined blindly by the following three methods: A) Sera from patients with specific IgE against soybean were used to determine concentrations inducing 50% RAST inhibition; B) Histamine release induced by the extracts was examined using blood from sensitized patients; C) SPT was performed on sensitized patients with all 18 extracts. All three methods showed variations in the allergenic potency between the individual extracts but allergenic potential was not affected by presence of the transgene. By using standard in vitro methods and SPT for determination of allergenicity we were not able to detect any significant difference in the allergenic potency between GM and WT soybeans. Publication Types: Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 14961970 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 311: Nature. 2004 Feb 5;427(6974):474. Europe urged to move on transgenic crop imports. Schiermeier Q. Publication Types: News PMID: 14765157 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 312: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Feb;22(2):170-2. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Feb;22(2):204-9. The fate of transgenes in the human gut. Heritage J. Publication Types: Comment News PMID: 14755289 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 313: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Feb;22(2):149. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Aug;21(8):835-6. Questions linger over European GM food regulations. Ramon D, MacCabe A, Gil JV. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 14755281 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 314: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Feb;22(2):133. Erratum in: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Apr;22(4):459. Comment in: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jul;22(7):803. Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jul;22(7):803. Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jun;22(6):655-6. Nat Biotechnol. 2004 May;22(5):507. Nat Biotechnol. 2004 May;22(5):508. Nat Biotechnol. 2004 May;22(5):508. Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Oct;24(10):1191-3. Drugs in crops--the unpalatable truth. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 14755274 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 315: Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Dec;2(6):541-6. Animal models of food allergy. Helm RM, Burks AW. ACHRI/UAMS, Department of Pediatrics, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, USA. helmrickim@uams.edu PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The focus of this review will be on recent animal models of food allergy. Animal models are being used to investigate underlying mechanisms of IgE-mediated disease and for prophylactic/intervention therapies to treat allergic disease. RECENT FINDINGS: Considerable advances have been made in the dosage and use of sensitization routes with and without adjuvant and determinations of the pathophysiology of food allergy in murine, dog and swine food allergy models. Continued research on the neuroendocrine and novel immunoregulatory peptides is also providing new insight into inflammatory regulation and immunity. With the advent of genetically modified food crops, animal models are becoming a central theme for prediction/assessment of allergenicity for novel proteins based upon known food allergens. Therapeutic strategies involving cytokine and allergen, DNA immunizations and the use of probiotics are receiving new interest. SUMMARY: Although murine models still predominate the literature with respect to animal models of food allergy, the atopic dog and neonatal swine model are contributing knowledge with respect to symptoms more closely related to human allergic responses. Continuing investigations into the mechanisms of IgE-mediated food allergy and therapeutic strategies are providing new insights into prevention and intervention therapies for food allergy. Publication Types: Comparative Study Review PMID: 14752339 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 316: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004 Feb;133(2):101-12. Epub 2004 Jan 21. Statistical evaluation of local alignment features predicting allergenicity using supervised classification algorithms. Soeria-Atmadja D, Zorzet A, Gustafsson MG, Hammerling U. Division of Toxicology, National Food Administration, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. BACKGROUND: Recently, two promising alignment-based features predicting food allergenicity using the k nearest neighbor (kNN) classifier were reported. These features are the alignment score and alignment length of the best local alignment obtained in a database of known allergen sequences. METHODS: In the work reported here a much more comprehensive statistical evaluation of the potential of these features was performed, this time for the prediction of allergenicity in general. The evaluation consisted of the following four key components. (1) A new high quality database consisting of 318 carefully selected, non-redundant allergens and 1,007 sequences carefully selected to be non-allergens. (2) Three different supervised algorithms: the kNN classifier, the Bayesian linear Gaussian classifier, and the Bayesian quadratic Gaussian classifier. (3) A large set of local alignment procedures defined using the FASTA3 alignment program by means of a wide range of different parameter settings. (4) Novel performance curves, alternative to conventional receiver-operating characteristic curves, to display not only average behaviors but also statistical variations due to small data sets. RESULTS: The linear Gaussian classifier proved most useful among the tested supervised machine learning algorithms, closely followed by the quadratic Gaussian equivalent and kNN. The overall best classification results were obtained with a novel feature vector consisting of the combined alignment scores derived from local alignment procedures using different substitution matrices. CONCLUSIONS: The models reported here should be useful as a part of an integrated assessment scheme for potential protein allergenicity and for future comparisons with alternative bioinformatic approaches. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel Publication Types: Evaluation Studies Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 14739578 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 317: Science. 2004 Jan 23;303(5657):448-9. Genetically modified organisms. Europe takes tentative steps toward approval of commercial GM crops. Vogel G. Publication Types: News PMID: 14739427 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 318: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Feb;22(2):204-9. Epub 2004 Jan 18. Comment in: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Feb;22(2):170-2. Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Jun;22(6):654-5. Assessing the survival of transgenic plant DNA in the human gastrointestinal tract. Netherwood T, Martin-Orue SM, O'Donnell AG, Gockling S, Graham J, Mathers JC, Gilbert HJ. School of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK. The inclusion of genetically modified (GM) plants in the human diet has raised concerns about the possible transfer of transgenes from GM plants to intestinal microflora and enterocytes. The persistence in the human gut of DNA from dietary GM plants is unknown. Here we study the survival of the transgene epsps from GM soya in the small intestine of human ileostomists (i.e., individuals in which the terminal ileum is resected and digesta are diverted from the body via a stoma to a colostomy bag). The amount of transgene that survived passage through the small bowel varied among individuals, with a maximum of 3.7% recovered at the stoma of one individual. The transgene did not survive passage through the intact gastrointestinal tract of human subjects fed GM soya. Three of seven ileostomists showed evidence of low-frequency gene transfer from GM soya to the microflora of the small bowel before their involvement in these experiments. As this low level of epsps in the intestinal microflora did not increase after consumption of the meal containing GM soya, we conclude that gene transfer did not occur during the feeding experiment. Publication Types: Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 14730317 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 319: Plant Physiol. 2004 Jan;134(1):3-10. Production, identity preservation, and labeling in a marketplace with genetically modified and non-genetically modified foods. Huffman WE. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA . Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. PMID: 14730058 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 320: Johns Hopkins Med Lett Health After 50. 2001 Jul;13(5):8. Is genetically modified food safe? [No authors listed] PMID: 14727588 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 321: Time. 2003 Dec 22;162(25):52. Got hormones? Roosevelt M. Publication Types: Legal Cases News PMID: 14712611 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 322: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2003 Dec;132(4):322-8. Development and use of an ELISA test to detect IgE antibody to Cry9c following possible exposure to bioengineered corn. Raybourne RB, Williams KM, Vogt R, Reissman DB, Winterton BS, Rubin C. Immunobiology Branch, Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA. richard.raybourne@cfsan.fda.gov BACKGROUND: Starlink(TM), a variety of corn genetically engineered to contain the insecticidal protein Cry9c, had not been approved for human consumption because it possessed some characteristics associated with allergenic proteins. However, in the fall of 2000 CRY9C DNA was detected in several corn-containing products, suggesting that Starlink corn had entered the human food supply. Subsequently, consumers, following consumption of corn products, reported a number of adverse health events, possibly consistent with allergic reaction. METHODS: To investigate the possibility of allergic reactions due to Cry9c in these consumers an ELISA test was developed for the purpose of detecting IgE antibodies to Cry9c and blood samples were taken from a total of 18 people who self-reported allergic reactions. Sera collected prior to the 1996 development of Starlink were used as negative controls. RESULTS: None of the adverse event sera were found to be reactive with recombinant Cry9c antigen, based on comparison with normal controls. Although a known human positive control serum containing IgE specific for Cry9c was not available, other controls were incorporated into the ELISA protocol, including the use of sera from subjects allergic to other allergens and their homologous antigens (cat, grass, peanut) to validate the IgE detection reagents. CONCLUSIONS: While the results do not support the likely occurrence of allergic reactions to Cry9c, such reactions cannot be ruled out, nor can the possibility that sera might react with unique glycosylated epitopes of Cry9c that may be expressed in the corn plant/seed. Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel PMID: 14707463 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 323: Eur J Histochem. 2003;47(4):385-8. Fine structural analyses of pancreatic acinar cell nuclei from mice fed on genetically modified soybean. Malatesta M, Biggiogera M, Manuali E, Rocchi MB, Baldelli B, Gazzanelli G. We carried out ultrastructural morphometrical and immunocytochemical analyses on pancreatic acinar cell nuclei from mice fed on genetically modified (GM) soybean, in order to investigate possible structural and molecular modifications of nucleoplasmic and nucleolar constituents. We found a significant lowering of nucleoplasmic and nucleolar splicing factors as well as a perichromatin granule accumulation in GM-fed mice, suggestive of reduced post-transcriptional hnRNA processing and/or nuclear export. This is in accordance to already described zymogen synthesis and processing modifications in the same animals. Publication Types: Letter PMID: 14706936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 324: Nature. 2003 Dec 11;426(6967):591-5914. Berkeley accused of biotech bias as ecologist is denied tenure. Dalton R. Publication Types: News PMID: 14668822 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 325: Nature. 2003 Dec 4;426(6966):495. Comment on: Nature. 2003 Oct 9;425(6958):559. GM-debate methodology works in the real world. Grove-White R. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 14654814 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 326: Curr Biol. 2003 Dec 2;13(23):R889-90. Researchers protest at GM crop debate. Williams N. Publication Types: News PMID: 14654005 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 327: Mutat Res. 2003 Nov;544(2-3):223-33. Genetically modified crops: environmental and human health concerns. Azevedo JL, Araujo WL. Departamento de Genetica, Escola Superior de Agricultura, Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de Sao Paulo, P.O. Box 83, 13400-970 Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. jazevedo@esalq.usp.br About 10,000 years ago subsistence farmers started to domesticate plants and it was only much later, after the discovery of the fundaments of genetics, those organisms were submitted to rational genetic improvement mainly by selecting of traits of interest. Breeders used appropriate gene combinations to produce new animal races, plant varieties and hybrids, as well as improved microorganisms such as yeasts. After the introduction of recombinant DNA techniques, the transfer of DNA between species belonging to different genera, families or kingdoms became possible. The release of transgenic plants has aroused debates about several aspects of the environmental and human risks that could result from the introduction of genetically modified crops. Less effort has been dedicated to evaluate the impact of transgenic plants on their associated microorganisms, some of which (e.g. nitrogen-fixing bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi and endophytic microbiota) are extremely important for the survival of the plant. Investigations have been made regarding the horizontal transfer of genetic material between transgenic plants and microorganisms and on the disturbance of useful symbiotic associations between plants and endophytic, epiphytic and rhizosphere communities. In most cases the results do no show any adverse effect of transgenic plants on autochthonous plant-associated microorganisms. Results from our laboratory show small changes caused by genetically modified endophytic bacteria on the indigenous endophytic population of the sweet orange Citrus sinensis. In tests using appropriated fungal strains preliminary results using extracts from transgenic plants indicate that these plants do not affect haploidization, mitotic crossing-over, mutation rate or chromosomal alterations. Publication Types: Review PMID: 14644324 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 328: Mutat Res. 2003 Nov;544(2-3):217-21. Human health concerns with GM crops. Malarkey T. Syngenta Biotechnology Inc., P.O. Box 12257, 3054 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. trish.malarkey@syngenta.com Biotechnology was used in the first generation of so-called 'GM' crops to provide growers with complimentary and sometimes alternative crop management solutions to pesticides. Selected host genes or genes identified from other plants or non-plant sources are modified or transferred to a crop plant. The new or altered protein expression resulting from these modifications confer on the plant a desired physiological trait, such as resistance to particular herbicides or insect pests. Second generation modifications provide traits such as enhanced nutritional or health-promoting characteristics that are of benefit to consumers. The commonly raised concerns about possible implications for human health are: inherent toxicity of the novel gene and their products, the potential to express novel antigenic proteins or alter levels of existing protein allergens, the potential for unintended effects resulting from alterations of host metabolic pathways or over expression of inherently toxic or pharmacologically active substances and the potential for nutrient composition in the new food occur differing significantly from a conventional counterpart. Foods produced using biotechnology are subjected to far greater levels of scrutiny than foods produced by traditional plant breeding techniques. The accepted analytical, nutritional and toxicological methods employed to support this scrutiny and to assess and assure that a 'GM' food is a safe and nutritious as its 'non-GM' counterpart are discussed. The challenges associated with identifying unintended effects in whole GM foods and the promise new (proteomics/genomic) technologies offer opposite traditional toxicity testing paradigms are appraised. Publication Types: Review PMID: 14644323 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 329: Risk Anal. 2003 Dec;23(6):1117-33. Communicating about the risks and benefits of genetically modified foods: the mediating role of trust. Frewer LJ, Scholderer J, Bredahl L. Wageningen University and Research Centres, Department of Marketing and Consumer Behavior, Wageningen, The Netherland. Lynn.Frewer@wur.nl Recent research suggests that public attitudes toward emerging technologies are mainly driven by trust in the institutions promoting and regulating these technologies. Alternative views maintain that trust should be seen as a consequence rather than a cause of such attitudes. To test its actual role, direct as well as mediating effects of trust were tested in an attitude change experiment involving 1,405 consumers from Denmark, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. After prior attitudes to genetic modification in food production had been assessed, participants received different information materials (either product-specific information or balanced/general information about genetic modification in food production) and were asked to evaluate different types of genetically modified foods (either beer or yoghurt). The information materials were attributed to different information sources (either an industry association, a consumer organization, or a government source). After completion, perceived risk and perceived benefit were assessed, and participants indicated their trust in the information sources to which the materials had been attributed. Direct and trust-mediated attitude change effects were estimated in a multi-sample structural equation model. The results showed that information provision had little effect on people's attitudes toward genetically modified foods, and that perceptions of information source characteristics contributed very little to attitude change. Furthermore, the type of information strategy adopted had almost no impact on postexperimental attitudes. The extent to which people trusted the information sources appeared to be driven by people's attitudes to genetically modified foods, rather than trust influencing the way that people reacted to the information. Trust was not driving risk perception-rather, attitudes were informing perceptions of the motivation of the source providing the information. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 14641888 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 330: Anal Chem. 2003 Sep 1;75(17):392A-396A. Tailoring thresholds for GMO testing. Ruth L. PMID: 14632033 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 331: Nature. 2003 Nov 20;426(6964):224-6. GM crops: a continent divided. Masood E. Publication Types: News PMID: 14628018 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 332: Camb Q Healthc Ethics. 2003 Fall;12(4):342-52. Biotechnology and the fear of Frankenstein. Campbell CS. Program for Ethics, Science, and the Environment, Department of Philosophy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA. PMID: 14619367 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 333: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Nov;112(5):1011-2. Comment in: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 May;113(5):1003-4; author reply 1004-5. A negative, double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge to genetically modified corn. Sutton SA, Assa'ad AH, Steinmetz C, Rothenberg ME. Publication Types: Case Reports Letter Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 14610498 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 334: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Nov;21(11):1274-9. A framework for designing transgenic crops--science, safety and citizen's concerns. Konig A. Harvard University, Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, 718 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Masschusetts 02115, USA. ariane_koenig@harvard.edu Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 14595351 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 335: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Nov;21(11):1257-8. GM confusion in Brazil. Bonalume Neto R. Publication Types: News PMID: 14595342 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 336: Curr Biol. 2003 Oct 28;13(21):R819-20. Not yet a GM nation. Dixon B. Publication Types: News PMID: 14588251 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 337: Health Policy. 2003 Nov;66(2):179-97. The precautionary principle within European Union public health policy. The implementation of the principle under conditions of supranationality and citizenship. Antonopoulou L, van Meurs P. Department of Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. The present study examines the precautionary principle within the parameters of public health policy in the European Union, regarding both its meaning, as it has been shaped by relevant EU institutions and their counterparts within the Member States, and its implementation in practice. In the initial section I concentrate on the methodological question of "scientific uncertainty" concerning the calculation of risk and possible damage. Calculation of risk in many cases justifies the adopting of preventive measures, but, as it is argued, the principle of precaution and its implementation cannot be wholly captured by a logic of calculation; such a principle does not only contain scientific uncertainty-as the preventive principle does-but it itself is generated as a principle by this scientific uncertainty, recognising the need for a society to act. Thus, the implementation of the precautionary principle is also a simultaneous search for justification of its status as a principle. This justification would result in the adoption of precautionary measures against risk although no proof of this principle has been produced based on the "cause-effect" model. The main part of the study is occupied with an examination of three cases from which the stance of the official bodies of the European Union towards the precautionary principle and its implementation emerges: the case of the "mad cows" disease, the case of production and commercialization of genetically modified foodstuffs. The study concludes with the assessment that the effective implementation of the precautionary principle on a European level depends on the emergence of a concerned Europe-wide citizenship and its acting as a mechanism to counteract the material and social conditions that pose risks for human health. PMID: 14585517 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 338: J Biotechnol. 2003 Nov 6;105(3):227-33. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction/membrane hybridization assay for detection of genetically modified organisms. Su W, Song S, Long M, Liu G. School of Biotechnology, Jimei University, Shi-Gu Road, 9 Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China. To improve detection efficiency and result accuracy, four screening primer pairs, four identifying primer pairs, one common primer pair and corresponding probes were designed for the development of multiplex polymerase chain reaction/membrane hybridization assay (MPCR-MHA) for detection of the foreign genes insert in genetically modified organisms (GMOs). After detecting condition and parameter were optimized and determined, MPCR reactions were developed for amplifying several target genes simultaneously in one tube. Primers were labeled with biotin at the 5'-end; biotinylated MPCR products were detected by hybridization to the oligonucleotide probes immobilized on a membrane with subsequent colorimetric detection to confirm hybridization. The testing of screening primers can judge whether the sample contains GMOs, and that of identifying primers can further judge what kinds of trait genes are contained in the sample. We detected nine soybean samples, six maize samples, seven potato samples and two rice samples by the MPCR-MHA method; at the same time we also detected them with single PCR-MHA method. The results between two methods have good consistency. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 14580794 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 339: Nature. 2003 Oct 23;425(6960):751. Biosafety trials darken outlook for transgenic crops in Europe. Giles J. Publication Types: News PMID: 14574368 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 340: Trends Biotechnol. 2003 Nov;21(11):491-7. Genetically modified probiotics in foods. Ahmed FE. Department of Radiation Oncology, LSB 014, Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. ahmedf@mail.ecu.edu Probiotics have many potential therapeutic uses, but have not been universally accepted because of a lack of understanding of their action. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been modified by traditional and genetic engineering methods to produce new varieties. Modern techniques of molecular biology have facilitated the identification of probiotic LAB strains, but only a few LAB have been modified by recombinant-DNA technology because of consumer resistance to their introduction to markets, especially in Europe. Publication Types: Review PMID: 14573362 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 341: Environ Sci Technol. 2003 Oct 1;37(19):343A. GM products: at least a label. Schnoor JL. est@uiowa.edu PMID: 14572070 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 342: Biotechnol Lett. 2003 Sep;25(18):1485-90. Genetically modified soybeans: false-positive detection in fermented natural soybean (tempe). Prakoso B, Nitisinprasert S, Stevens WF. Bioprocess Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. Tempe was prepared using mixtures of natural soybean and genetically modified Roundup Ready (RUR) soybean fermented with natural Rhizopus sp. The amount of RUR soybean was quantified using an ELISA plate test. The RUR signal decreased during fermentation. In the control experiments on fermentation of non-RUR soybean, the tempe gave a false-positive RUR signal. The cross-reacting substance was generated only in non-RUR soybean during fermentation by Rhizopus sp., Rhizopus oligosporus, R. oryzae, Mucor rouxii and Aspergillus awamori. Publication Types: Comparative Study Evaluation Studies Validation Studies PMID: 14571970 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 343: Science. 2003 Oct 17;302(5644):357. Comment in: Science. 2004 Jan 16;303(5656):310. Agriculture and the developing world. Kennedy D. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 14563974 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 344: Nature. 2003 Oct 16;425(6959):656-7. Damned if they do, damned if they don't... Giles J. Publication Types: News PMID: 14562072 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 345: Nature. 2003 Oct 16;425(6959):655. Time to choose. Aldhous P. Publication Types: News PMID: 14562071 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 346: PLoS Biol. 2003 Oct;1(1):E8. Epub 2003 Oct 13. Genetically modified corn--environmental benefits and risks. Gewin V. gewin@nasw.org PMID: 14551906 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 347: Appetite. 2003 Oct;41(2):207-9. Consumer perceptions of genetically modified and organic foods. What kind of knowledge matters? Koivisto Hursti UK, Magnusson MK. Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section of Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala Science Park, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden. ulla-kaisa.koivisto@pubcare.uu.se Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 14550321 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 348: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2003;10(5):273-6. Biotechnology for food, energy, and industrial products: new opportunities for bio-based products. Young AL. Institute for Science and Public Policy, Sarkeys Energy Center, The University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd, Room 510, Norman, Oklahoma, 73019, USA. youngrisk@attbi.com Publication Types: Review PMID: 14535638 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 349: Vet Res Commun. 2003 Sep;27 Suppl 1:699-701. Detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feedstuff. Novelli E, Balzan S, Segato S, De Rigo L, Ferioli M. Dipartimento di Sanita Pubblica, Patologia Comparata e Igiene Veterinaria, Universita degli Studi di Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy. enrico.novelli@unipd.it PMID: 14535501 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 350: Nature. 2003 Oct 9;425(6958):559. Comment in: Nature. 2003 Dec 4;426(6966):495. Flaws undermine results of UK biotech debate. Campbell S, Townsend E. Publication Types: Letter PMID: 14534562 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 351: Curr Biol. 2003 Sep 30;13(19):R745-6. Italy sets new hurdles for GM crops. Williams N. Publication Types: News PMID: 14521845 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 352: Mod Law Rev. 1998 Sep;61(5):621-60. Regulation as facilitation: negotiating the genetic revolution. Black J. Law Department, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. PMID: 14518446 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 353: Trends Biotechnol. 2003 Oct;21(10):439-44. Comparative safety assessment for biotech crops. Kok EJ, Kuiper HA. RIKILT Institute for Food Safety, Bornsesteeg 45, PO Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands. esther.kok@wur.nl Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 14512230 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 354: Nature. 2003 Sep 25;425(6956):331. UK public opposes government on transgenic crops. Giles J. Publication Types: News PMID: 14508445 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 355: Nature. 2003 Sep 25;425(6956):329. Dealing with democracy. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 14508443 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 356: QJM. 2003 Oct;96(10):779-80. Before Frankenstein. Berry C. PMID: 14500868 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 357: Lancet. 2003 Sep 6;362(9386):835. Comment on: Lancet. 2003 Jun 14;361(9374):2051. Genetically modified crops in developing countries. Watts T. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 13678895 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 358: Lancet. 2003 Aug 30;362(9385):714. GM foods in new dispute. Bosch X. Publication Types: News PMID: 12962112 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 359: Nature. 2003 Sep 4;425(6953):15. Comment on: Nature. 2003 Jul 31;424(6948):473. Breeding to tackle blight without copper or GM. Duncan JM. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 12955114 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 360: Health Serv J. 2003 Jul 24;113(5865):21. Abide with us. Hunt P. PMID: 12953678 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 361: EMBO Rep. 2003 Sep;4(9):819. Blame games. Breithaupt H. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 12949577 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 362: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):1003-9. Are Bt crops safe? Mendelsohn M, Kough J, Vaituzis Z, Matthews K. Office of Pesticide Programs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USA. mendelsohn.mike@epa.gov Publication Types: Evaluation Studies PMID: 12949561 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 363: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):976. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Aug;21(8):852-4. Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jul;21(7):735-6. EU reflects European public opinion. Borch K, Lassen J, Jorgensen RB. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 12949553 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 364: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):975-6. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jul;21(7):737-8. EU reflects European public opinion. Barnes MH. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 12949552 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 365: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):974-5; author reply 975. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jun;21(6):598. Identity tags revisited. Marillonnet S, Klimyuk V, Gleba Y. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 12949551 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 366: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):971-2. Acceptance of golden rice in the Philippine 'rice bowl'. Chong M. Publication Types: Letter Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 12949549 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 367: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):957. UK government caught in GM dilemma. Mitchell P. Publication Types: News PMID: 12949540 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 368: Trends Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):389-93. Labeling to manage marketing of GM foods. Smyth S, Phillips PW. Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5A8, Canada. sjs064@mail.usask.ca Biotechnology has the potential to introduce new food safety risks, liabilities and benefits, and although privately managed supply chains (involving proactive management of the production of branded products) are effective at providing, managing and communicating adequate information about products with well understood risks, products with uncertain risks pose a greater challenge. The demand for increased product information regarding genetically modified content, in particular, places new constraints on food supply chains, frequently resulting in communication failures. Here we assess and reject mandatory labeling as an appropriate response. PMID: 12948671 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 369: Nature. 2003 Aug 28;424(6952):995. Comment on: Nature. 2003 Jul 31;424(6948):473. Consumers don't want GM, so why use it? Melchett P. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 12944939 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 370: J Plant Physiol. 2003 Jul;160(7):735-42. Overview of the current status of genetically modified plants in Europe as compared to the USA. Brandt P. Robert Koch-Institut, Zentrum Gentechnologie,Wollankstrasse 15-17, D-13187 Berlin, Germany. brandtp@rki.de Genetically modified crops have been tested in 1,726 experimental releases in the EU member states and in 7,815 experimental releases in the USA. The global commercial cultivation area of genetically modified crops is likely to reach 50 million hectares in 2001, however, the commercial production of genetically modified crops in the EU amounts to only a few thousand hectares and accounts for only some 0.03% of the world production. A significant gap exists between the more than fifty genetically modified crop species already permitted to be cultivated and to be placed on the market in the USA, Canada and other countries and the five genetically modified crop species permitted for the same use in the EU member states, which are still pending inclusion in the Common Catalogue of agricultural plant species. The further development of the "green gene technology" in the EU will be a matter of public acceptance and administrative legislation. Publication Types: Comparative Study PMID: 12940542 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 371: J Plant Physiol. 2003 Jul;160(7):727-34. Discussion of current status of commercialization of plant biotechnology in the global marketplace. Emrich R. BASF Plant Science Holding GmbH, Agricultural Center, Building Li 554, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany. reiner.emrich@basf-ag.de PMID: 12940541 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 372: Curr Biol. 2003 Aug 19;13(16):R625-6. GM tensions dig in. Williams N. Publication Types: News PMID: 12932332 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 373: Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2003 May;32(3):239-45. [Progress on biosafety assessment of marker genes in genetically modified foods] [Article in Chinese] Yang L, Yang X. Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China. Marker genes are useful in facilitating the detection of genetically modified organisms(GMO). These genes play an important role during the early identification stage of GMO development, but they exist in the mature genetically modified crops. So the safety assessment of these genes could not be neglected. In this paper, all the study on the biosafety assessment of marker genes were reviewed, their possible hazards and risks were appraised, and the marker genes proved safe were list too. GMO Labeling the is one important regulations for the development of genetically modified foods in the market. The accurate detecting techniques for GMO are the basis for setting up labeling regulation. In addition, some methods used to remove marker genes in genetically modified foods were introduced in the paper, which can eliminate their biosafety concern thoroughly. Publication Types: English Abstract Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 12914289 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 374: Plant Physiol. 2003 Aug;132(4):1770-4. Going to "great lengths" to prevent the escape of genes that produce specialty chemicals. Ellstrand NC. Department of Genetics and Biotechnology Impacts Center, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0124, USA. ellstrand@ucrac1.ucr.edu Publication Types: Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. PMID: 12913134 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 375: Food Chem Toxicol. 2003 Oct;41(10):1273-82. The use of consumption data to assess exposure to biotechnology-derived foods and the feasibility of identifying effects on human health through post-market monitoring. Hlywka JJ, Reid JE, Munro IC. Cantox Health Sciences International, Suite 308, 2233 Argentia Road, ON L5N 2X7 Mississauga, Canada. jhlywka@cantox.com The pre-market safety assessment of foods derived through biotechnology provides a scientific basis for concluding reasonable certainty of no harm and ensuring safety. At a minimum, the outcome of such an assessment provides sufficient information to estimate the likelihood of adverse effects on consumers, generally precluding the need for post-market monitoring. Post-market monitoring (PMM) may be appropriate under certain conditions where a better estimate of dietary exposure and/or nutritional consequence of a biotechnology-derived food is required, when a potential safety issue, such as allergenicity, cannot be adequately addressed through pre-market studies, or to corroborate dietary intakes of a nutritionally improved food with beneficial effects on human health. Monitoring programs must be hypothesis-driven, and are dependent upon the availability of accurate consumption data. Exposure assessment methods include both deterministic and probabilistic estimates of intakes using food supply data, individual dietary surveys, household surveys, or total diet studies. In the development of a monitoring approach, resource allocation should be dependent upon both the desired level of conservatism and the endpoint of interest. However, the cost of monitoring varies substantially, and the potential to determine causation may be limited. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12909259 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 376: Curr Biol. 2003 Aug 5;13(15):R578-9. GM crops dancing to different tunes. Dixon B. MEDIAWATCH: Parts of the British media are keeping up a campaign against the introduction of genetically modified crops ahead of the governemnet's assessment of the trial programme this autumn, often to the detriment of the arguments. Publication Types: News PMID: 12906800 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 377: Nature. 2003 Aug 7;424(6949):619. Genetic engineering: unnatural selection. Snow A. Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. PMID: 12904767 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 378: Nature. 2003 Aug 7;424(6949):613. Flawed science underlies laws on transgenic crops. Sandermann H Jr. Publication Types: Letter PMID: 12904760 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 379: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Aug;21(8):852-4. Comment in: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):976. Rethinking US leadership in food biotechnology. Taylor MR. Resources for the Future, 1616 P Street, NW Washington, DC 20036, USA. taylor@rff.org PMID: 12894194 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 380: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Aug;21(8):849-51. The science and politics of plant biotechnology--a personal perspective. Vasil IK. University of Florida, Box 110690, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0690, USA. ikv@mail.ifas.ufl.edu PMID: 12894193 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 381: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Aug;21(8):835-6. Comment in: Nat Biotechnol. 2004 Feb;22(2):149. GM labeling in China beset by problems. Jia H. Publication Types: News PMID: 12894183 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 382: Nature. 2003 Jul 31;424(6948):473. Comment in: Nature. 2003 Aug 28;424(6952):995. Nature. 2003 Sep 4;425(6953):15. Diversity in food technology. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 12891314 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 383: Lancet. 2003 Jul 19;362(9379):219. Codex adopts new standards on GM foods, irradiation, and animal feed. Kapp C. Publication Types: News PMID: 12885509 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 384: Science. 2003 Jul 25;301(5632):447-8. Agbiotech. U.K. government panel gives GM crops cautious support. Pickrell J. Publication Types: News PMID: 12881538 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 385: Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2003 Aug;38(1):98-104. Post-market surveillance of GM foods: applicability and limitations of schemes used with pharmaceuticals and some non-GM novel foods. Wal JM, Hepburn PA, Lea LJ, Crevel RW. Laboratoire d' Immuno-Allergie Alimentaire, Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunologie, INRA-CEA de Saclay, 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France. Post-market surveillance (PMS) is increasingly required by some regulatory authorities for the marketing approval of GM-Novel Foods. This requirement, in addition to a complete conventional safety assessment, aims to show that unexpected (adverse) effects do not occur after long-term everyday exposure. Large food manufacturers have systems to obtain feedback from consumers on their products. We show that such systems can be enhanced to collect information on possible health effects of specific products and relate these to intake in specific groups of consumers. The term post-launch monitoring (PLM) is proposed to distinguish the process from that used for pharmaceuticals. GM foods differ from branded products to which existing systems have been applied. The paper discusses whether and how such systems could be applied to GM foods and what additional elements would need to be incorporated in them. A PLM system should define and organize the flow of information between the different stakeholders. We conclude that because such data will be generated from a range of sources and will need to be collated, verified, and integrated, an independent agency will be essential to undertake this activity in order to balance the interests of all stakeholders and ensure public trust. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12878059 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 386: Vopr Pitan. 2003;72(3):20-3. [Monitoring of food products from genetically modified sources in Moscow] [Article in Russian] Tutel'ian VA, Filatov NN, Sorokina EIu, Chernysheva ON, Salova NIa, Sizykh EV, Anisimova OV. This paper presents results of a detection of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food from the shops of Moscow. The screening methods and event-specific assay based on the polymerase chain reaction is used. Transgenic DNA from genetically modified soybeans line 40-3-2 is detected in 17.2% samples of studied foods. Soybeans line 40-3-2 is allowed in Russian food supply. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 12872657 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 387: Lancet. 2003 Jul 12;362(9378):135. Europe imposes strict GM-food laws. Bosch X. Publication Types: News PMID: 12870479 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 388: Nature. 2003 Jul 17;424(6946):237. Comment in: Nature. 2003 Sep 25;425(6956):343. Don't believe the hype. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 12867939 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 389: Science. 2003 Jul 11;301(5630):167; author reply 167. Comment on: Science. 2003 Apr 4;300(5616):61-2. Democratization is more than lower prices. Cayford J. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 12855789 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 390: Nature. 2003 Jul 10;424(6945):116. Europe finds transgenic food hard to swallow. Giles J. Publication Types: News PMID: 12853914 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 391: Am Herit Invent Technol. 2003 Summer;19(1):16-25. The growth of genetically modified foods. Heppenheimer TA. Publication Types: Historical Article PMID: 12841195 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 392: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2003 Jun;90(6 Suppl 3):90-8. Food biotechnology: is this good or bad? Implications to allergic diseases. Helm RM. Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3591, USA. helmrick@uams.edu BACKGROUND: Food biotechnology represents advancement in the traditional interspecies and intergeneric breeding methods for improving food supplies worldwide. With respect to safety, foods developed through biotechnology techniques represent one of the most extensively reviewed agricultural advancements in history. OBJECTIVE: To review the relevant issues with respect to foods from genetically modified crops and allergenicity. DATA SOURCES: To impart this information, the author will rely upon his experiences with investigations into food allergy and food allergens, participation in various workshops designed to determine allergenicity of novel proteins introduced into the diet, web sites, issue papers, and articles relevant to the topic. RESULTS: Given that there are no validated methods or models to determine potential allergenicity of novel proteins, criteria have been established based upon characteristics of known food allergens. The combination of genetic and bioinformatics information available from known food allergens applied to foods developed from genetically modified crops to avoid the inadvertent introduction of allergens into foods should pose no significant allergenic concern to individuals with a genetic predisposition to food allergy. Education and sound scientific evaluation provided to the consumer should alleviate any fear of emotionalism as implied by "Frankenfoods." CONCLUSIONS: The estimation that more than two trillion transgenic plants have been grown in 1999 and 2000 alone, with no overt documented adverse food reactions being reported, indicates that genetic modification through biotechnology will not impose immediate significant risks as food allergen sources beyond that of our daily dietary intake of foods from crop plants. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12839121 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 393: EMBO Rep. 2003 Jul;4(7):647-9. Food fights. Moore A. PMID: 12835747 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 394: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jul;21(7):739-41. Codex guidelines for GM foods include the analysis of unintended effects. Haslberger AG. University of Vienna and the World Health Organization FOS Program for Food Safety, Geneva, Switzerland. haslbergera@who.int PMID: 12833088 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 395: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jul;21(7):737-8. Comment in: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):975-6. First salvo in transatlantic food fight is far from last word. Miller HI. Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-6010, USA. miller@hoover.stanford.edu PMID: 12833087 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 396: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jul;21(7):735-6. Comment in: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):976. The WTO complaint--why now? Kinderlerer J. Sheffield Institute of Biotechnological Law and Ethics, Department of Law, Conduit Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 1FL, UK. j.kinderlerer@sheffield.ac.uk PMID: 12833086 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 397: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jul;21(7):720-1. US academia held accountable for GM products. Powell K. Publication Types: News PMID: 12833077 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 398: Medsurg Nurs. 2002 Oct;11(5):242-6. Genetically modified foods: a taste of the future. Lessick M, Keithley J, Swanson B, Lemon B. University of Toledo, College of Health and Human Services, Toledo, OH, USA. Technologies for genetically modifying foods hold tremendous promise for meeting important public health challenges in this century. By keeping informed of the ongoing development of genetically modified foods, nurses can effectively educate patients about the benefits and risks of these foods and promote informed decision making. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12830747 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 399: Nature. 2003 Jun 26;423(6943):903. A flight of fancy. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 12827151 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 400: Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Jun;111(8):1140-1. Assessment of allergenic potential of genetically modified foods: an agenda for future research. Selgrade MK, Kimber I, Goldman L, Germolec DR. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. selgrade.maryjane@epa.gov Speakers and participants in the workshop "Assessment of the Allergenic Potential of Genetically Modified Foods" met in breakout groups to discuss a number of issues including needs for future research. These groups agreed that research should progress quickly in the area of hazard identification and that a need exists for more basic research to understand the mechanisms underlying food allergy. A list of research needs was developed. PMID: 12826487 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 401: Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Jun;111(8):1131-9. Key issues for the assessment of the allergenic potential of genetically modified foods: breakout group reports. Germolec DR, Kimber I, Goldman L, Selgrade M. Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. germolec@niehs.nih.gov On the final afternoon of the workshop "Assessment of the Allergenic Potential of Genetically Modified Foods," held 10-12 December 2001 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, speakers and participants met in breakout groups to discuss specific questions in the areas of use of human clinical data, animal models to assess food allergy, biomarkers of exposure and effect, sensitive populations, dose-response assessment, and postmarket surveillance. Each group addressed general questions regarding allergenicity of genetically modified foods and specific questions for each subject area. This article is a brief summary of the discussions of each of the six breakout groups regarding our current state of knowledge and what information is needed to advance the field. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12826486 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 402: Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Jun;111(8):1122-4. Protein digestibility and relevance to allergenicity. Bannon G, Fu TJ, Kimber I, Hinton DM. Product Safety Center, Monsanto, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. In January 2001 a Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization Expert Consultation Committee on Allergenicity of Foods Derived from Biotechnology published a report outlining in detail an approach for assessing the allergenic potential of novel proteins. One component of this decision tree is a determination of whether the protein of interest is resistant to proteolytic digestion. Although these (Italic)in vitro(/Italic) methodologies have been useful, the correlation between resistance to proteolysis and allergenic activity is not absolute. Two views and highlights of supporting research regarding the relationship of resistance to digestion and allergenicity are presented in this article. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12826484 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 403: Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Jun;111(8):1114-21. Clinical and laboratory investigation of allergy to genetically modified foods. Bernstein JA, Bernstein IL, Bucchini L, Goldman LR, Hamilton RG, Lehrer S, Rubin C, Sampson HA. Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Technology has improved the food supply since the first cultivation of crops. Genetic engineering facilitates the transfer of genes among organisms. Generally, only minute amounts of a specific protein need to be expressed to obtain the desired trait. Food allergy affects only individuals with an abnormal immunologic response to food--6% of children and 1.5-2% of adults in the United States. Not all diseases caused by food allergy are mediated by IgE. A number of expert committees have advised the U.S. government and international organizations on risk assessment for allergenicity of food proteins. These committees have created decision trees largely based on assessment of IgE-mediated food allergenicity. Difficulties include the limited availability of allergen-specific IgE antisera from allergic persons as validated source material, the utility of specific IgE assays, limited characterization of food proteins, cross-reactivity between food and other allergens, and modifications of food proteins by processing. StarLink was a corn variety modified to produce a (Italic)Bacillus thuringiensis(/Italic) (Bt) endotoxin, Cry9C. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated 51 reports of possible adverse reactions to corn that occurred after the announcement that StarLink, allowed for animal feed, was found in the human food supply. Allergic reactions were not confirmed, but tools for postmarket assessment were limited. Workers in agricultural and food preparation facilities have potential inhalation exposure to plant dusts and flours. In 1999, researchers found that migrant health workers can become sensitized to certain Bt spore extracts after exposure to Bt spraying. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12826483 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 404: Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Jun;111(8):1110-3. Introduction: what are the issues in addressing the allergenic potential of genetically modified foods? Metcalfe DD. Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. dean_metcalfe@nih.gov There is growing concern among the general public and the scientific community regarding the potential toxicity of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The use of biotechnology to enhance pest resistance or nutritional value has raised a number of fundamental questions including the consequences of insertion of reporter genes, the spread of resistance genes to surrounding plants, and the use of suicide genes to prohibit reuse of seed from engineered plants. Of particular interest is the ability of proteins from GMOs to elicit potentially harmful immunologic responses, including allergic hypersensitivity. The lack of information of the potential toxicity of these products suggests a need to identify the critical issues and research needs regarding these materials and to develop testing strategies to examine the allergenicity of these compounds. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12826482 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 405: BMJ. 2003 Jun 21;326(7403):1351. Controversy grows over India's genetically modified potato. Mudur G. Publication Types: News PMID: 12816815 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 406: Lancet. 2003 Jun 14;361(9374):2051. Comment in: Lancet. 2003 Sep 6;362(9386):835. UK ethicists say GM foods could help poor. Group back the controversial crops as government warily tests public opinion. Ashraf H. PMID: 12814720 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 407: Science. 2003 Jun 13;300(5626):1637-8. Agricultural biotech. U.K. probes public opposition to GM crops. Eastman Q. Publication Types: News PMID: 12805509 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 408: Nutr Health. 2003;17(1):1-8. In vivo studies on possible health consequences of genetically modified food and feed--with particular regard to ingredients consisting of genetically modified plant materials. Pryme IF, Lembcke R. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Arstadveien 19, NO-5009 Bergen, Norway. ian.pryme@ibmb.uib.no This synopsis reviews published in vivo studies on possible health consequences of genetically modified food and feed where the ingredients in question have consisted of genetically modified plant materials. The following, however, have not been taken into consideration:--ingredients consisting of genetically modified microorganisms or parts of animals/fish--ingredients produced by/from genetically modified organisms but without any DNA present--studies on consequences for the environment or biodiversity--in vitro studies or computer simulations. According to a Norwegian report "Gen-mat" (NOU 2000:29), and a more recent search in Medline and Citations Index, to our knowledge a total of ten studies have been published on the health effects of GM-foods and feeds. In this minireview the data made available in these published studies is discussed. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12803276 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 409: Nature. 2003 Jun 12;423(6941):672. Public input sought on transgenic farming. Tilstone C. Publication Types: News PMID: 12802294 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 410: Nature. 2003 Jun 12;423(6941):669. Debate, what debate? [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 12802292 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 411: Time. 2003 May 26;161(21):56-7. Cures on the cob. Roosevelt M. Publication Types: News PMID: 12800326 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 412: Appetite. 2003 Jun;40(3):299-307. Dimensions of novelty: a social representation approach to new foods. Backstrom A, Pirttila-Backman AM, Tuorila H. Department of Food Technology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland. anna.backstrom@helsinki.fi Social representations of new foods were examined with a total of 44 subjects in nine focus groups. Each group was homogenous, defined by age, gender and educational background. Halfway through the interview, commercial packages of functional, genetically modified, organic, nutritionally modified and ethnic foods were presented as visual stimuli for discussion. Thematic and content analyses of the interview data showed that five dichotomies characterized the social representation: trust/distrust, safe/unsafe, natural/artificial, pleasure/necessity, and past/present. Many metaphors were used, with functional products being associated metaphorically with, for example, medicine and genetically modified products being associated with death and terrorism. Chronological references focused on the development of cuisine. The perceived unsafety of new foods was an important argument for women but not for men. The difference between age groups was in relating the discussion to either present time (young subjects) or past time (older subjects). Level of education affected the content of argumentation. In the context of new foods, social representations are formed to cope with the feeling of strangeness evoked by the novelties. They also have a role in cultural acceptance of new products by making them familiar. Overall, the results reflect the development of a new common sense in which popularized scientific notions are anchored in the process of urbanization. PMID: 12798788 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 413: Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2003 Mar;32(2):134-7. [Studies on protein-based identification method of genetically modified capsicum] [Article in Chinese] Liu J, Deng P, Fang S, Zhao J. Shenzhen Disease Prevention and Control Center, Shenzhen 518020, China. The detection system based on protein is a method to evaluate the safety of genetically modified foods (GMF). Using cecropin BD gene in capsicum, a detecting method was set up. It is a system of evaluating the real expressive condition and safety of the foreign target protein of GMF. In this studies, with the preformative technic method, a satisfactory results by making use of hemolymph of immunized pupae of Antheraea pernyi as standard experimental material was achieved, comparing with the realities of the goal protein expressive condition of cecropin D gene in capsicum. The detecting steps were as following: the goal protein from material was extracted roughly, then with CM-Sepharose-FF ion-exchange chromatography twice, the goal protein was purified moderately. The purified product was identified by detecting the anti-bacterial activity, electrophoresis, biological auto-photography of the goal protein and MADDI-TOF mass spectrum. The results showed that the expressive foreign target protein in transgenic capsicum was in accordance with standard protein in the physical and chemical property, anti-bacterial activity and molecular weight. It indicated that expression of the target gene in capsicum is real, it corresponded to expected value. The separation, purification and identification methods of cecropin D were established in the study. By means of the comparative experiments about anti-bacterial activity and molecular weight of anti-bacterial peptide(ABP) from GM-capsicum and hemolymph of immunized pupae of Antheraea pernyi, the identification method of target protein from GM-capsicum was set up. The method is easy to be operated, fast and feasible. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 12793005 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 414: Nature. 2003 Jun 5;423(6940):574. Divisions sink US consensus effort on transgenic food. Knight J. Publication Types: News PMID: 12789300 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 415: Trends Biotechnol. 2003 Jun;21(6):249-50. Improved evaluation of potential allergens in GM food. Jank B, Haslberger AG. Publication Types: Letter PMID: 12788543 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 416: J Invertebr Pathol. 2003 Jun;83(2):113-7. Precautionary risk assessment of Bt maize: what uncertainties? Levidow L. Centre for Technology Strategy, Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK. L.Levidow@open.ac.uk GM crops have become a test case for the conflicting slogans of 'the precautionary principle' versus 'sound science.' The issues can be illustrated by developments in regulatory science for Bt maize in the European Union. As this case study suggests, risk assessment is always framed by some account of the relevant uncertainties. These in turn depend upon how the environment is valued and how scientific questions are posed about cause-effect pathways of potential harm. The slogan of 'sound science' hides such judgements, by representing ignorance or value-judgements as 'science.' By contrast, precaution can challenge such judgements, identify new unknowns, generate different criteria for evidence, open up new scientific questions, and make these judgements more transparent. It is doubtful whether these complexities have been fully acknowledged by specialists, and thus whether the continued risk debate is due solely to a public misunderstanding of science. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12788280 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 417: J Invertebr Pathol. 2003 Jun;83(2):110-2. Considerations for conducting research in agricultural biotechnology. Shelton AM. Department of Entomology, Cornell University/NYSAES, 416 Barton Laboratory, Geneva, NY 14456, USA. ams5@cornell.edu Science has shown its increased vulnerability because of two recent high-profile articles published in major journals on corn produced through biotechnology: a laboratory report suggesting profound consequences to monarch butterfly populations due to Bt corn pollen and a report suggesting transgenic introgression into Mexican maize. While both studies have been widely regarded as having flawed methodology, publishing these studies has created great consternation in the scientific community, regulatory agencies and the general public. There are roles and responsibilities of scientists, scientific journals, the public media, public agencies, and those who oppose or advocate a specific technology, and serious consequences when those roles and responsibilities go awry. Modern communication may exacerbate the flow of misinformation and easily lead to a decline in public confidence about biotechnology and science. However, common sense tells us that scientific inquiry and the publication and reporting of results should be performed with high standards of ethical behavior, regardless of one's personal perspective on agricultural biotechnology. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12788279 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 418: J Invertebr Pathol. 2003 Jun;83(2):107-9. Regulatory and associated political issues with respect to Bt transgenic maize in the European union. Saeglitz C, Bartsch D. Chair of Biology V, Ecology, Ecochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Aachen University of Technology-RWTH Aachen, D-52056 Aachen, Germany. Legislation at the national level in Europe as well as that developed by the European Union (EU) generally permits release and commercialization of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). However, only 10 plant/event combinations were registered as of 2002: three maize events (Bt176, Mon810, and Bt11), with the other seven divided among carnation (3), oil-seed rape (2), tobacco (1), and raddiccio (1). Of these, only one maize event (Bt176) has been registered as a legal variety, and this was in Spain, where 22,000ha have been planted annually since 1998. In this paper, we first provide an overview on the complexity of EU GMO legislation. Then we discuss the minor role that results of EU-funded biosafety research have had on governmental policy. Finally, we provide information about initiatives for post-commercialization monitoring plans of Bt maize in Europe. As a result of the slow progress to date, we conclude that commercialization of GMOs will be seriously delayed in the EU for the next several years. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12788278 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 419: J Invertebr Pathol. 2003 Jun;83(2):100-3. Legal and regulatory concerns about transgenic plants in Brazil. Fontes EM. Embrapa Recursos Geneticos e Biotecnologia, C.P. 01372/02372, Brasilia, DF CEP 70849-970, Brazil. eliana@cenargen.embrapa.br Brazil has a biosafety law that was approved in 1995. This law provides for a horizontal type of regulation that coordinates other existing regulatory frameworks in the areas of agriculture, health and environment. Various federal government departments are responsible for implementing the law. The National Technical Biosafety Commission is the national competent authority on biosafety with overall responsibility. In the case of Bt plants or any insecticidal organism, the Agrochemical Law also applies and authorization for laboratory, greenhouse and field studies must be obtained from the Plant Protection Secretariat, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and the National Agency of Health. Furthermore, the National Environmental Council must issue a license for commercialization of any GMO. There is pressure needed for capacity building and to harmonize the regulatory and administrative frameworks among the different federal departments involved. Some perspectives and challenges for the commercial registration of transgenic crops are discussed. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12788276 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 420: J Invertebr Pathol. 2003 Jun;83(2):93-9. Regulation of Bt crops in Canada. Macdonald P, Yarrow S. Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 59 Camelot Drive, Ontario, Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0Y9. pmacdonald@inspection.gc.ca The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates environmental releases of plants with novel traits, which include transgenic plants such as Bt crops. Bt crops are regulated in Canada because they express insect resistance novel to their species. Commercialization of crops with novel traits such as the production of insecticidal Bt proteins requires an approval for environmental release, as well as approvals for use as feed and food. Environmental factors such as potential impacts on non-target species are considered. Insect resistance management (IRM) may be imposed as a condition for environmental release of Bt crops to delay the development of resistance in the target insect. Bt potato and European corn borer-resistant Bt corn have been released with mandatory IRM. The CFIA imposes an IRM plan consisting of appropriate refugia, education of farmers and seed dealers, and monitoring and mitigation. Industry, regulators, government extension staff and public researchers provide expert advice on IRM. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12788275 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 421: Lancet. 2003 May 24;361(9371):1798. USA fights Europe's ban on genetically modified food. Bosch X. Publication Types: News PMID: 12781547 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 422: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jun;21(6):599-601. Making 'safety first' a reality for biotechnology products. Kapuscinski AR, Goodman RM, Hann SD, Jacobs LR, Pullins EE, Johnson CS, Kinsey JD, Krall RL, La Vina AG, Mellon MG, Ruttan VW. Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, 200 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 12776139 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 423: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Jun;21(6):598. Comment in: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Sep;21(9):974-5; author reply 975. Comment on: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Mar;21(3):224-6. Identity tags. Pauli U. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 12776138 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 424: J Nutr. 2003 Jun;133(6):1909-12. Safety assessment of recombinant green fluorescent protein orally administered to weaned rats. Richards HA, Han CT, Hopkins RG, Failla ML, Ward WW, Stewart CN Jr. Food Safety Center of Excellence, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA. Several proposed biotechnological applications of green fluorescent protein (GFP) are likely to result in its introduction into the food supply of domestic animals and humans. We fed pure GFP and diets containing transgenic canola expressing GFP to young male rats for 26 d to evaluate the potential toxicity and allergenicity of GFP. Animals (n = 8 per group) were fed either AIN-93G (control), control diet plus 1.0 mg of purified GFP daily, modified control diet with 200 g/kg canola (Brassica rapa cv Westar), or control diet with 200 g/kg transgenic canola containing one of two levels of GFP. Ingestion of GFP did not affect growth, food intake, relative weight of intestine or other organs, or activities of hepatic enzymes in serum. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of GFP to known food allergens revealed that the greatest number of consecutive amino acid matches between GFP and any food allergen was four, suggesting the absence of common allergen epitopes. Moreover, GFP was rapidly degraded during simulated gastric digestion. These data indicate that GFP is a low allergenicity risk and provide preliminary indications that GFP is not likely to represent a health risk. Publication Types: Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. PMID: 12771338 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 425: Toxicology. 2003 Jun 30;188(2-3):297-307. Safety assessment for genetically modified sweet pepper and tomato. Chen ZL, Gu H, Li Y, Su Y, Wu P, Jiang Z, Ming X, Tian J, Pan N, Qu LJ. The National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China. zhchen@pku.edu.cn The coat protein (CP) gene of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was cloned from a Chinese CMV isolate, the CaMV promoter and NOS terminator added and the gene construct was transformed into both sweet pepper and tomato plants to confer resistance to CMV. Safety assessments of these genetically modified (GM) plants were conducted. It was found that these two GM products showed no genotoxicity either in vitro or in vivo by the micronucleus test, sperm aberration test and Ames test. Animal feeding studies showed no significant differences in growth, body weight gain, food consumption, hematology, blood biochemical indices, organ weights and histopathology between rats or mice of either sex fed with either GM sweet pepper or tomato diets compared with those with non-GM diets. These results demonstrate that the CMV-resistant sweet pepper and tomato are comparable to the non-GM counterparts in terms of food safety. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 12767699 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 426: Nature. 2003 May 22;423(6938):379-80. Brazilian science: Under new management. Adam D. Publication Types: News PMID: 12761518 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 427: Nature. 2003 May 22;423(6938):369. Trade war looms as US launches challenge over transgenic crops. Knight J. Publication Types: News PMID: 12761507 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 428: Nature. 2003 May 22;423(6938):367. Trade war: what is it good for? [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 12761506 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 429: J Natl Med Assoc. 2003 Feb;95(2):152-66. Environmental factors associated with asthma. Walker B Jr, Stokes LD, Warren R. Howard University Medical Center, Environmental Health Administration, District of Columbia Department of Health, Washington, USA. Asthma, a disease of attacks and remission, continues to account for substantial morbidity and direct economic costs. Numerous studies--epidemiologic, toxicologic and clinical--present evidence for a broad spectrum of environmental risk factors associated with asthma. This review summarizes current thinking on a subset of these factors. Knowledge of potential environmental determinants of asthma is important to both the patient and healthcare professional in the application of multiple modalities of medical and environmental intervention for management of the development, and exacerbation of this chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12760611 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 430: Trends Plant Sci. 2003 May;8(5):208-12. Risk assessment of GM plants: avoiding gridlock? Wilkinson MJ, Sweet J, Poppy GM. School of Plant Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, UK RG6 6AS. m.j.wilkinson@reading.ac.uk Cultivation of genetically modified crops is presently based largely on four crops containing few transgenes and grown in four countries. This will soon change and pose new challenges for risk assessment. A more structured approach that is as generic as possible is advocated to study consequences of gene flow. Hazards should be precisely defined and prioritized, with emphasis on quantifying elements of exposure. This requires coordinated effort between large, multidisciplinary research teams. PMID: 12758037 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 431: Biomed Environ Sci. 2003 Mar;16(1):17-28. Genetically engineered corn rootworm resistance: potential for reduction of human health effects from pesticides. Oehme FW, Pickrell JA. Comparative Toxicology Laboratories, M213 Mosier Hall, 1800 Denison Ave, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5705, USA. oehme@vet.ksu.edu OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Insecticide use, grower preferences regarding genetically engineered (GE) corn resistant to corn rootworm (CRW), and the health effects of using various CRW insecticides (organophosphates, pyrethroids, fipronil and carbamates) are reviewed for current and future farm practices. RESULTS: Pest damage to corn has been reduced only one-third by insecticide applications. Health costs from insecticide use appear significant, but costs attributable to CRW control are not quantifiable from available data. Methods reducing health-related costs of insecticide-based CRW control should be evaluated. As a first step, organophosphate insecticide use has been reduced as they have high acute toxicity and risk of long-term neurological consequences. A second step is to use agents which more specifically target the CRW. CONCLUSION: Whereas current insecticides may be poisonous to many species of insects, birds, mammals and humans, a protein derived from Bacillus thurigiensis and produced in plants via genetic modification can target the specific insect of CRW (Coleoptra), sparing other insect and non-insect species from injury. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 12747004 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 432: J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2003 May-Jun;6(3):211-25. Potential adverse health effects of genetically modified crops. Bakshi A. Biology Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA. abakshi@gmu.edu Genetically modified crops have the potential to eliminate hunger and starvation in millions of people, especially in developing countries because the genetic modification can produce large amounts of foods that are more nutritious. Large quantities are produced because genetically modified crops are more resistant to pests and drought. They also contain greater amounts of nutrients, such as proteins and vitamins. However, there are concerns about the safety of genetically modified crops. The concerns are that they may contain allergenic substances due to introduction of new genes into crops. Another concern is that genetic engineering often involves the use of antibiotic-resistance genes as "selectable markers" and this could lead to production of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains that are resistant to available antibiotics. This would create a serious public health problem. The genetically modified crops might contain other toxic substances (such as enhanced amounts of heavy metals) and the crops might not be "substantially equivalent" in genome, proteome, and metabolome compared with unmodified crops. Another concern is that genetically modified crops may be less nutritious; for example, they might contain lower amounts of phytoestrogens, which protect against heart disease and cancer. The review of available literature indicates that the genetically modified crops available in the market that are intended for human consumption are generally safe; their consumption is not associated with serious health problems. However, because of potential for exposure of a large segment of human population to genetically modified foods, more research is needed to ensure that the genetically modified foods are safe for human consumption. Publication Types: Review PMID: 12746139 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 433: J Biolaw Bus. 2000;Suppl.:67-70. Biotechnology and health. Borst E. Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports, Government of the Netherlands. PMID: 12739545 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 434: J Biolaw Bus. 2000;Suppl.:111-5. The ethics of biotechnology. Lenoir N. French Constitutional Court, European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies of the European Union. PMID: 12739544 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 435: Anal Bioanal Chem. 2003 Apr;375(8):985-93. Epub 2003 Feb 15. PCR technology for screening and quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Holst-Jensen A, Ronning SB, Lovseth A, Berdal KG. National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 8156 Dep., 0033, Oslo, Norway. arne.holst-jensen@vetinst.no Although PCR technology has obvious limitations, the potentially high degree of sensitivity and specificity explains why it has been the first choice of most analytical laboratories interested in detection of genetically modified (GM) organisms (GMOs) and derived materials. Because the products that laboratories receive for analysis are often processed and refined, the quality and quantity of target analyte (e.g. protein or DNA) frequently challenges the sensitivity of any detection method. Among the currently available methods, PCR methods are generally accepted as the most sensitive and reliable methods for detection of GM-derived material in routine applications.The choice of target sequence motif is the single most important factor controlling the specificity of the PCR method. The target sequence is normally a part of the modified gene construct, for example a promoter, a terminator, a gene, or a junction between two of these elements. However, the elements may originate from wildtype organisms, they may be present in more than one GMO, and their copy number may also vary from one GMO to another. They may even be combined in a similar way in more than one GMO. Thus, the choice of method should fit the purpose. Recent developments include event-specific methods, particularly useful for identification and quantification of GM content. Thresholds for labelling are now in place in many countries including those in the European Union. The success of the labelling schemes is dependent upon the efficiency with which GM-derived material can be detected. We will present an overview of currently available PCR methods for screening and quantification of GM-derived DNA, and discuss their applicability and limitations. In addition, we will discuss some of the major challenges related to determination of the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), and to validation of methods. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 12733008 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 436: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2003 Apr;14(2):238-43. Exploitation of molecular profiling techniques for GM food safety assessment. Kuiper HA, Kok EJ, Engel KH. RIKILT, Institute of Food Safety, PO Box 230, 6700 AE, Wageningen, The Netherlands. h.a.kuiper@rikit.wag-ur.nl Several strategies have been developed to identify unintended alterations in the composition of genetically modified (GM) food crops that may occur as a result of the genetic modification process. These include comparative chemical analysis of single compounds in GM food crops and their conventional non-GM counterparts, and profiling methods such as DNA/RNA microarray technologies, proteomics and metabolite profiling. The potential of profiling methods is obvious, but further exploration of specificity, sensitivity and validation is needed. Moreover, the successful application of profiling techniques to the safety evaluation of GM foods will require linked databases to be built that contain information on variations in profiles associated with differences in developmental stages and environmental conditions. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 12732328 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 437: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 May;21(5):468-9. Europe sees sharp decline in GMO research. Mitchell P. Publication Types: News PMID: 12721556 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 438: Toxicol Sci. 2003 May;73(1):8-16. Epub 2003 Apr 15. Workshop overview: approaches to the assessment of the allergenic potential of food from genetically modified crops. Ladics GS, Holsapple MP, Astwood JD, Kimber I, Knippels LM, Helm RM, Dong W. The DuPont Co., Haskell Laboratory, Newark, Delaware 19714, USA. gregory.s.ladics@usa.dupont.com There is a need to assess the safety of foods deriving from genetically modified (GM) crops, including the allergenic potential of novel gene products. Presently, there is no single in vitro or in vivo model that has been validated for the identification or characterization of potential food allergens. Instead, the evaluation focuses on risk factors such as source of the gene (i.e., allergenic vs. nonallergenic sources), physicochemical and genetic comparisons to known allergens, and exposure assessments. The purpose of this workshop was to gather together researchers working on various strategies for assessing protein allergenicity: (1) to describe the current state of knowledge and progress that has been made in the development and evaluation of appropriate testing strategies and (2) to identify critical issues that must now be addressed. This overview begins with a consideration of the current issues involved in assessing the allergenicity of GM foods. The second section presents information on in vitro models of digestibility, bioinformatics, and risk assessment in the context of clinical prevention and management of food allergy. Data on rodent models are presented in the next two sections. Finally, nonrodent models for assessing protein allergenicity are discussed. Collectively, these studies indicate that significant progress has been made in developing testing strategies. However, further efforts are needed to evaluate and validate the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of many of these assays for determining the allergenicity potential of GM foods. Publication Types: Congresses PMID: 12700419 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 439: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2003 Apr 1;222(7):926. Bioengineered pigs go to market. Kuehn BM. Publication Types: News PMID: 12685776 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 440: Biomol Eng. 2003 Mar;20(3):107-12. Food-grade expression of human glutathione S-transferase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase in Lactococcus lactis. Xiang H, Wei W, Tan H. Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China. A food-grade gene expression system in Lactococcus lactis was established by the combination of a vector containing the lacF gene as the selection marker and a strain WZ103 carrying an in-frame deletion of this gene in the chromosome as the host. The human glutathione S-transferase A1-1 (hGSTA1) and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (hSOD) genes were respectively cloned into a food-grade vector under the control of the lactococcal inducible promoter P(lacA). The resulting expression plasmids were separately introduced into the lactose-deficient (Lac(-)) host, and the lactose-utilizing (Lac(+)) transformants were directly selected on a chemically defined medium, using lactose as the sole carbon source. The successful food-grade expression of hGSTA1 and hSOD in the L. lactis WZ103 transformed with these plasmids were analyzed by Western blotting and enzymatic activity assay, respectively. Publication Types: Evaluation Studies Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 12684072 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 441: Tex Med. 2003 Mar;99(3):66-9. Safety of foods derived from genetically modified plants. Thomas JA. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX, USA. jat-tox@swbell.net Biopharmaceuticals have been available for clinical use for nearly three decades, but foods derived from agribiotechnology have been available for just under a decade. Controversy surrounding foods from genetically modified (GM) plants has focused primarily upon their allergenicity, with lesser concerns about antibiotic resistance genes. Concerns are related to possible environmental impacts on non-human species, including effects on non-target species (e.g., butterflies) and on the development of so-called "super weeds." Food allergies are no more prevalent in foods from GM plants than in conventional foods. Further, the use of antibiotics in the development of GM plants does not pose a significant risk to the human population. Foods from the current GM plant products have been shown not to pose any detrimental effects to humans, and, in fact, nutritionally enhanced products are being developed. GM foods are subjected globally to intense regulatory scrutiny, and extensive data have been provided consistently to regulatory agencies in the United States on a voluntary basis, with mandatory reporting of data soon to be in force. Existing environmental concerns appear to be unjustified on the basis of existing data and experience. PMID: 12674981 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 442: Bull Acad Natl Med. 2002;186(8):1391-400. [Allergic risk of transgenic food: prevention strategies] [Article in French] Moneret-Vautrin DA. Service de Medecine Interne-Immunologie Clinique et Allergologie, Hopital Central, 29 avenue du Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny, 54035 Nancy. Numerous allergens proceed from foods. The allergic risk of transgenic foods needs to be evaluated according recommendations from the Joint Expert Committee FAO/WHO. Potential issues are the risk of cross reactivity with existing allergens, the modification of allergenicity of the transgenic protein induced by a modified metabolism in the host, the modified allergenicity of the proteins of the transgenic plant, a potential neo-allergenicity of the transgenic protein, and the risk of dissemination through pollens, inducing a respiratory sensitization then a cross food allergy. The algorithm includes three steps for evaluation: first the search for significant homology of the protein with allergens listed in allergen databanks, or the identity of a sequence of six aminoacids with known allergens, then a cross reactivity explored through the binding to IgEs from patients allergic to the source of the gene, or allergic to organisms of the same group or botanical family, and finally the extent of the pepsine resistance. The risk of immunogenicity has to be studied with appropriate animal models. A post-marketing surveillance is recommended for monitoring of adverse effects. The structure of an Allergo-Vigilance Network, the tools for efficiency and the groups at higher risk will be discussed. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 12669358 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 443: Bull Acad Natl Med. 2002;186(8):1377-88; discussion 1388-9. [GMOs in food: risk assessment and management; scientific and regulatory characteristics] [Article in French] Casse F, Hervieu F. Universite Montpellier 2, Biochimie et Physiologie Moleculaire des Plantes, UMR 5004 CNRS/UM2/INRA/Agro-M), Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier. Genetic transformation constitutes a new tool for improvement of microorganisms, animals and plants used in food. Foreseeable risks are evoked, as well as management measures to avoid GMO unsuspected risks. Few risks are specific to GMOs. Present elements of french and european regulations concerning placing on the market and follow up GMOs and other novel foods are described. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 12669357 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 444: Ann Pharm Fr. 2003 Mar;61(2):124-31. [Summary and conclusions] [Article in French] Rerat A. Academie nationale de medecine, Paris. PMID: 12668951 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 445: Ann Pharm Fr. 2003 Mar;61(2):96-102. [The allergic risk of transgenic foods strategy for prevention] [Article in French] Moneret-Vautrin DA. Service de Medecine Interne-Immunologie Clinique et Allergologie, Hopital Central, 29 avenue du Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny, F54035 Nancy Cedex. A significant number of allergens arise from foods. The allergic risk of transgenic foods must be evaluated in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Expert Committee FAO/WHO. Potential issues are the risk of cross reactivity with existing allergens, the modification of allergenicity of the transgenic protein induced by a modified metabolism in the host, the modified allergenicity of the proteins of the transgenic plant, a potential neo-allergenicity of the transgenic protein, and the risk of dissemination through pollens, inducing a respiratory sensitization then a cross food allergy. The algorithm includes three steps for evaluation: first the search for significant homology of the protein with allergens listed in allergen databanks, or the identity of a sequence of six aminoacids with known epitopes, then a cross reactivity explored through the binding to IgEs from patients allergic to the source of the gene, or allergic to organisms of the same group or botanical family, and finally the extent of the pepsine resistance. The risk of immunogenicity has to be studied with appropriate animal models. A post-marketing surveillance is recommended for monitoring of adverse effects. The structure of an Allergo-Vigilance Network, the tools for efficiency and the groups at higher risk will be discussed. The potential risk of transgenic foods to be allergenic cannot be overlooked, not ignoring the fact that current technologies modify allergenicity of foods. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 12668947 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 446: Ann Pharm Fr. 2003 Mar;61(2):87-95. [GMOs in food: risk assessment, scientific management and regulatory aspects] [Article in French] Casse F, Hervieu F. Universite Montpellier 2, CC 024, place Eugene Bataillon, F34095 Montpellier Cedex 5. Genetic transformation constitutes a new tool for improvement of microorganisms, animals and plants used in food. We present foreseeable risks, as well as management measures to avoid unsuspected risks of GMOs. Few risks are specific to GMOs. Present elements of French and European regulations concerning placing on the market and follow up GMOs and other novel foods are described. Publication Types: English Abstract PMID: 12668946 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 447: Ann Pharm Fr. 2003 Mar;61(2):75-7. [Joint session of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Pharmacy, November 26, 2002] [Article in French] Rerat A; National Academy of Medicine; National Academy of Pharmacy. Academie nationale de medecine, Paris. PMID: 12668944 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 448: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Apr;21(4):366-9. Who is driving biotechnology acceptance? Kalaitzandonakes N, Bijman J. Agrobiotechnology Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA. KalaitzandonakesN@missouri.edu PMID: 12665818 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 449: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Apr;21(4):346-7. US food aid still under GM cloud. Jayaraman KS. Publication Types: News PMID: 12665809 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 450: Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Apr;21(4):346. Italy employs further GMO delay tactics. Meldolesi A. Publication Types: News PMID: 12665808 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 451: Plant J. 2003 Apr;34(1):1-11. The redistribution of protein sulfur in transgenic rice expressing a gene for a foreign, sulfur-rich protein. Hagan ND, Upadhyaya N, Tabe LM, Higgins TJ. CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia. Sulfur amino acid composition is an important determinant of seed protein quality. A chimeric gene encoding sunflower seed albumin (SSA), one of the most sulfur-rich seed storage proteins identified so far, was introduced into rice (Oryza sativa) in order to modify cysteine and methionine content of the seed. Analysis of a transgenic line expressing SSA at approximately 7% of total seed protein revealed that the mature grain showed little change in the total sulfur amino acid content compared to the parental genotype. This result indicated that the transgenic rice grain was unable to respond to the added demand for cysteine and methionine imposed by the production of SSA. Analysis of the protein composition of the transgenic grain showed changes in the relative levels of the major seed storage proteins, as well as some non-storage proteins, compared to non-transgenic controls. Changes observed at the protein level were concomitant with differences in mRNA accumulation but not always with the level of transcription. The limited sulfur reserves appeared to be re-allocated from endogenous proteins to the new sulfur sink in the transgenic grain. We hypothesize that this response is mediated by a signal transduction pathway that normally modulates seed storage protein composition in response to environmental fluctuations in sulfur availability, via both transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of gene expression. PMID: 12662304 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 452: Mol Cells. 2003 Feb 28;15(1):20-6. The 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase of glyphosate-tolerant soybean expressed in Escherichia coli shows no severe allergenicity. Chang HS, Kim NH, Park MJ, Lim SK, Kim SC, Kim JY, Kim JA, Oh HY, Lee CH, Huh K, Jeong TC, Nam DH. College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyongsan 712-749, Korea. The recombinant gene was amplified from the chromosomal DNA of genetically-modified (GM) soybeans and identified as epsps encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) which renders glyphosate resistance. The epsps structural gene was introduced in the pET28(a) plasmid for its expression in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). It was confirmed that the maximal productivity of the EPSPS protein was achieved when cultivating the recombinant strain in a LB broth for 2 h after supplementing 1 mM isopropylbeta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) in a 2 h-culture broth. Since the expressed EPSPS protein was found as an insoluble form in the inclusion body, it was extracted by 6 M urea after sonication, and then purified through immobilized nickel-affinity column chromatography to isolate EPSPS having a molecular mass of 57 kDa. When incubated in simulated gastric fluid containing pepsin at pH 1.5, the purified EPSPS protein was completely digested within 1 min. In addition, the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction of the purified EPSPS protein was not observed in the Sprague Dawley rat system that was administered either orally or subcutaneously. Furthermore, treatment of the EPSPS protein to the culture of the sensitized peritoneal mast cells, or unsensitized but antisera-labeled mast cells, showed neither a remarkable change in the histamine release nor a cytokine production, including interleukin-4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Thus, it can be concluded that the EPSPS protein in the GM soybean showed no significant allergenicity in the Sprague Dawley rats. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 12661756 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 453: St Thomas Law Rev. 2001 Summer;13(4):927-34. A Protestant perspective on the new genetics: are people and institutions of faith prepared to lead? Jones JC. Plymouth Congregational Church Foundation, Inc., USA. PMID: 12661582 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 454: Biochem Soc Trans. 2003 Apr;31(2):299-306. Genes in food--why the furore? Dixon B. 130 Cornwall Road, Ruislip Manor, Middx. HA4 6AW, U.K. Although unprecedented and perhaps unique in its irrationality, the recent furore over genetically modified (GM) food holds extremely important lessons for scientists. Some sections of the media undoubtedly bear a heavy responsibility for giving the expression 'GM' threatening connotations that are quite unwarranted. However, influential contributions to the hysteria have come from a surprising range of other sources, including some scientists. The research community has failed in its responsibility to society in three ways. Firstly, plant scientists did not appreciate that certain techniques (such as the use of antibiotic resistance genes as markers during plant transformation) would inevitably provoke public consternation. As a result, they took no steps to address such concerns. Secondly, researchers overlooked, minimized or in some cases simply dismissed the significance of public fears that they were 'interfering with Nature' or 'playing God'. Thirdly, plant breeders apparently saw no need to take pro-active measures with regard to the media and public in placing potential environmental and nutritional benefits of GM crops on the agenda in a positive fashion. Partly because of this failure, GM food is now firmly established in the public mind as wholly objectionable. One measure of how far we have travelled down that road is that it hardly matters any more whether objections are based on alleged environmental risks of cultivating GM crops or alleged toxicological hazards of eating them. 'Genetically modified organism', like 'radioactivity', has become an odious, generic shibboleth. Given that millions of people throughout the world are already benefiting from pharmaceuticals made by GM organisms, this is bizarre. Publication Types: Historical Article Lectures PMID: 12653625 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 455: Nature. 2003 Mar 20;422(6929):246. Biotech firms join charities in drive to help Africa's farms. Hoag H. Publication Types: News PMID: 12646881 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 456: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2002 Dec;43(6):339-47. [Comparison of soyasaponin and isoflavone contents between genetically modified (GM) and non-GM soybeans] [Article in Japanese] Goda Y, Akiyama H, Suyama E, Takahashi S, Kinjo J, Nohara T, Toyoda M. National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. Soyasaponins and isoflavones are main secondary metabolites in soybeans. In this report we compared the content of secondary metabolites between genetically modified (GM) and non-GM soybeans. Six cultivars/lines of GM and six cultivars/lines of non-GM soybeans were extracted with methanol. Each extract was partitioned with aqueous methanol and hexane and the aqueous methanol fraction was partially purified by HP-20 and LH-20 column chromatography to afford crude soyasaponin and isoflavone fractions. The main A-type soyasaponin, acetylsoyasaponin A1 (AcA1), and the main B-type soyasaponins, soyasaponins I and II (I and II), in the crude fractions were identified by LC/MS analyses with authentic samples. The main isoflavones, daidzin, genistin, daidzein and genistein (DI, GI, DE and GE), in the crude fractions were identified by LC photo-diode array analyses with authentic samples. The contents of AcA1, I and II in the crude soyasaponin fractions and those of DI, GI, DE and GE in the crude isoflavone fractions were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC. The average contents (mg/100 g) of AcA1, I, II and total of B-type soyasaponins in GM soybeans were 36.4 +/- 24.2, 51.2 +/- 11.8, 26.4 +/- 7.6 and 77.7 +/- 18.5, respectively, and those in non-GM ones were 22.3 +/- 14.7, 46.3 +/- 17.8, 19.8 +/- 9.1 and 65.9 +/- 26.9, respectively. The average contents (mg/100 g) of DI, GI, DE, GE and total isoflavones in GM soybeans were 93.1 +/- 15.5, 121.8 +/- 19.4, 0.073 +/- 0.178, 0.320 +/- 0.082 and 215.3 +/- 33.3, respectively, and those in non-GM ones were 78.8 +/- 34.6, 106.7 +/- 28.3, 2.206 +/- 4.468, 0.822 +/- 0.754 and 188.5 +/- 26.7, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in soyasaponin and isoflavone contents between GM and non-GM soybeans. Therefore, it was estimated that the GM soybeans are equivalent to the non-GM ones in terms of the composition of the main secondary metabolites. Publication Types: Comparative Study English Abstract PMID: 12635335 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 457: EMBO Rep. 2003 Mar;4(3):229-32. Feeding prejudice. Reluctance within the European Union to accept genetically modified crops may hinder the benefits of this technology reaching the developing world. Owens SR. PMID: 12634834 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 458: Nature. 2003 Mar 13;422(6928):111-2. Chinese agribiotech: Against the grain. Macilwain C. Publication Types: News PMID: 12634752 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 459: Nature. 2003 Mar 13;422(6928):103. Tougher rules aim to prevent gene flow into crops. Hoag H. PMID: 12634744 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 460: Nature. 2003 Mar 13;422(6928):99. A little protectionism goes a long way. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 12634739 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 461: Appetite. 2003 Feb;40(1):9-14. The perceived healthiness of functional foods. A conjoint study of Danish, Finnish and American consumers' perception of functional foods. Bech-Larsen T, Grunert KG. The MAPP Centre, The Aarhus School of Business, Haslegaardsvej 10, DK-8210, Aarhus V, Denmark. tib@asb.dk Functional foods presumably enable the consumer to lead a healthier life without changing eating habits. Whether consumers accept this proposition or not is potentially influenced by their perceptions of the healthiness of the processing methods, enrichment components, food-types, and health claims used in the production and marketing of functional foods. Because consumers may perceive functional enrichment as interfering with nature, cultural values pertaining to man's manipulation of nature may also influence consumer acceptance of functional foods.The purpose of the study described here is to clarify to which extent Danish, Finnish and American consumers' perceptions of the healthiness of functional foods are explained by the factors mentioned above. The general results indicate that values pertaining to man's manipulation of nature is only modestly related to the acceptance of functional foods, whereas the use of different health claims, processing methods, enrichments, product types, and especially the interactions between the two latter, are important determinants of consumers' perceptions of the healthiness of functional foods. Publication Types: Comparative Study PMID: 12631500 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 462: Nature. 2003 Feb 13;421(6924):689. Concern about Japan's unclear biotech regulations. Watanabe KN. Publication Types: Letter PMID: 12610594 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 463: Nature. 2003 Feb 13;421(6924):675. Missing the big picture. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 12610579 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 464: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2002 Oct;43(5):301-5. [A detection method for recombinant DNA from genetically modified potato (NewLeaf Y potato)] [Article in Japanese] Akiyama H, Watanabe T, Wakui C, Chiba Y, Shibuya M, Goda Y, Toyoda M. National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. A detection method using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed to detect genetically modified (GM) potato (NewLeaf Y potato; NL-Y), of which the mandatory assessment has not yet been completed in Japan. The potato sucrose synthase gene was used as an internal control. We designed a primer pair to specifically detect NL-Y without false-positive results in processed potato foods infected with the potato virus Y (PVY). The DNA introduced into NL-Y using the primer pair could be detected from potato powder samples containing 0.05% NL-Y. In addition, we designed primer pairs for recognizing the CryIIIA gene to detect the NewLeaf potato (NL), NewLeaf Plus potato (NL-P) and NL-Y and for recognizing p-FMV in order to detect NL-P and NL-Y. The proposed method was applied to the detection of NL-Y in 26 processed potato foods and NL-Y was not detected in any samples. Publication Types: English Abstract Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 12607929 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 465: Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2002 Oct;43(5):273-9. Effect of subchronic feeding of genetically modified corn (CBH351) on immune system in BN rats and B10A mice. Teshima R, Watanabe T, Okunuki H, Isuzugawa K, Akiyama H, Onodera H, Imai T, Toyoda M, Sawada J. National Institute of Health Sciences: 1-18-1, Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan. Subchronic animal feeding studies to examine the effect on the immune system of genetically modified corn CBH351, which contains the Cry9C protein derived from Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies tolworthi, were conducted in female BN rats and B10A mice. The studies were designed to compare the effect of a line of genetically modified corn CBH351 (GM corn) with that of isoline corn (non-GM corn). Heat-treated corn meal was incorporated into the diets of the rats and mice at a concentration of 50%. The study duration was 13 weeks. Growth, food intake, and organ weights of the thymus, spleen, and liver were compared between animals fed the non-GM and GM lines. The histological findings in thymus, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, small intestines, liver, kidney, and bone marrow, and the presence of Cry9C-specific IgE, IgG, IgG1 and IgA antibodies in serum were also compared. The results showed no significant differences in growth, feeding value, or the histological findings in immunity-related organs between the animals fed the GM and non-GM lines. Production of Cry9 C-specific IgE and IgA was not detected in the serum of either group. Production of Cry9C-specific IgG and IgG1 was slightly increased in the 50% GM groups of BN rats. No Cry9C-specific IgG or IgG1 was detected in the serum of BN rats fed the diet containing 5% GM-corn In conclusion, no immunotoxic activity was detected in the GM-corn-fed rats and mice in this subchronic dietary study. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 12607925 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 466: Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2003 Jan 11;147(2):56-60. Comment on: Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2003 Jan 11;147(2):60-5. [Nutrition and health--genetically modified food] [Article in Dutch] Kuiper HA, Kleter GA, Kok EJ. Wageningen Universiteit & Research Centre, Rijks-Kwaliteitsinstituut voor Land- en Tuinbouwproducten, Bornsesteeg 45, 6708 PD Wageningen. h.a.kuiper@rikilt.wag-ur.nl The genetically modified (GM) crops cultivated at present have new properties of benefit to agriculture. It is expected that in the future GM crops will also be cultivated with more complex genetic modifications that are aimed at improving the nutritional and health value to the consumer. The safety assessment of GM foods before market approval is based on a comparison of the characteristics of the GM food with those of the conventional counterpart. Identified differences are thoroughly tested for their toxicological and nutritional consequences. Supplementary modern analytical techniques are being developed for the assessment of future complex GM foods. No cases of adverse health or nutritional effects in consumers have been reported for the existing generation of GM foods. The feasibility of post-market surveillance of (GM) foods, in order to identify small or chronic effects that have not been noticed in the pre-market phase, is being investigated, yet its value should not be overestimated. Surveillance can be informative in case of specific questions concerning certain products as long as the consumer intake is well documented. To this end traceability and labelling systems must be set up. Publication Types: Comment English Abstract Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 12602068 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 467: Nature. 2003 Feb 20;421(6925):775. Ministers back gene-crop advisers. Butler D. PMID: 12594469 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 468: Croat Med J. 2003 Feb;44(1):102-6. Risks and benefits of genetically modified maize donations to southern Africa: views from Malawi. Muula AS, Mfutso-Bengo JM. University of Malawi College of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Private Bag 360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi. amuula@commhealth.medcol.mw In 2001 and 2002, many countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have suffered from severe food shortages resulting in an estimated 14 million people facing starvation due to inadequate quantities of the staple maize. The international community's response has been the donation of foodstuffs, including genetically modified maize. Reactions of the recipient countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi have been different. Zambia appealed to the donors not to send genetically modified maize, whereas Malawi accepted the maize donations. Malawi is currently facing many public health challenges because 10% of its 10-million population is HIV-positive, maternal mortality rate has almost doubled between 1992 and 2000, and there are also an estimated 1 million orphans due to HIV/AIDS. In the European Union, genetically modified maize falls under "Novel Foods" and its marketing and distribution are strictly regulated by law. This has never been the case in the southern African countries. In this article, we discuss the ethical challenges associated with genetically modified maize donations to southern Africa. Although genetically modified food offers a way to avoid many adverse effects of food shortages, we believe that some of the ethical questions of genetically modified food donations should be solved first, under the leadership of the donor countries and partnership of the developing countries. There are fears that consummation of genetically modified maize could have adverse health effects. These fears must be addressed if the confidence of developing countries in the donor community is to be maintained. PMID: 12590438 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 469: Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2003;17(5):479-83. Analysis of protein profiles of genetically modified potato tubers by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Careri M, Elviri L, Mangia A, Zagnoni I, Agrimonti C, Visioli G, Marmiroli N. Dipartimento di Chimica Generale ed Inorganica, Chimica Analitica, Chimica Fisica, Universita degli Studi di Parma, Italy. Traceability of genetically modified (GM) foods demands the development of appropriate reliable techniques in order to identify and quantify peptide or nucleic acid residues in GM plants and food products through the food chain. In this study the applicability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) was demonstrated for the characterization of proteins of transformed and untransformed potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) tubers. In GM tubers the expression level of the G1-1 gene, which regulates transition from dormancy to sprouting tubers, was inhibited by antisense technology. The analysis of antisense transformed lines showed that several of them exhibited a significant delay in sprouting relative to the control lines, in accordance with a decrease in the transcript level. Preliminary attempts to compare the protein patterns obtained from transformed and control lines using traditional electrophoresis were not able to reveal differences in the low-kDa range. Instead, MALDI-TOFMS applied to total peptide extract without any purification was able to distinguish spectral patterns of transformed and untransformed lines. In particular, several characteristic peaks from m/z 4373 to 4932 were detected only in the mass spectra of GM tuber samples. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 12590397 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 470: J Am Diet Assoc. 2003 Feb;103(2):208-14. Consumer perception of risk associated with eating genetically engineered soybeans is less in the presence of a perceived consumer benefit. Brown JL, Ping Y. Department of Food Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. f9a@psu.edu OBJECTIVE: To determine whether perceived benefit alters personal risk perception associated with eating genetically engineered soybeans, consumer desire for labeling, preferred phrase on a label symbol, and desired information in an educational brochure. DESIGN: Comparison of responses of two consumer groups who completed one of two survey versions. SUBJECTS/SETTINGS: One hundred fifty supermarket shoppers, age 21 years and older, for each survey or n=300 total. Focus groups and a pilot test were used to develop the final survey in which consumers read a description of a genetically engineered soybean with either no obvious consumer benefit or an obvious consumer benefit and then completed a set of attitude questions and evaluated a voluntary label design and educational brochure content. Main outcome measures were mean opinion scores of personal risk and desire for labeling and ranking of desired label phrase and brochure topics. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi;(2) and t Tests were used. RESULTS: Consumers reading about the soybean with obvious consumer benefit were significantly more comfortable eating these than those reading about the soybean with no obvious consumer benefit (2.9+/-1.1 vs 3.4+/-1.0, respectively; P or =2 ng/g. PMID: 11767159 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 600: J AOAC Int. 2001 Nov-Dec;84(6):1855-64. Validation of PCR methods for quantitation of genetically modified plants in food. Hubner P, Waiblinger HU, Pietsch K, Brodmann P. Kantonales Labor Zurich, Switzerland. For enforcement of the recently introduced labeling threshold for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food ingredients, quantitative detection methods such as quantitative competitive (QC-PCR) and real-time PCR are applied by official food control laboratories. The experiences of 3 European food control laboratories in validating such methods were compared to describe realistic performance characteristics of quantitative PCR detection methods. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) of GMO-specific, real-time PCR was experimentally determined to reach 30-50 target molecules, which is close to theoretical prediction. Starting PCR with 200 ng genomic plant DNA, the LOQ depends primarily on the genome size of the target plant and ranges from 0.02% for rice to 0.7% for wheat. The precision of quantitative PCR detection methods, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), varied from 10 to 30%. Using Bt176 corn containing test samples and applying Bt176 specific QC-PCR, mean values deviated from true values by -7to 18%, with an average of 2+/-10%. Ruggedness of real-time PCR detection methods was assessed in an interlaboratory study analyzing commercial, homogeneous food samples. Roundup Ready soybean DNA contents were determined in the range of 0.3 to 36%, relative to soybean DNA, with RSDs of about 25%. Taking the precision of quantitative PCR detection methods into account, suitable sample plans and sample sizes for GMO analysis are suggested. Because quantitative GMO detection methods measure GMO contents of samples in relation to reference material (calibrants), high priority must be given to international agreements and standardization on certified reference materials. Publication Types: Validation Studies PMID: 11767156 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 601: Vopr Pitan. 2001;70(5):47-8. [New educational programs for thematic improvement of sanitary doctors in the area of state regulation modified food sources] [Article in Russian] Korolev AA, Elizarova EV. Publication Types: News PMID: 11715701 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 602: Nature. 2001 Nov 1;414(6859):1. Comment in: Nature. 2001 Dec 20-27;414(6866):843. Finding a future for GM crops. [No authors listed] Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 11689897 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 603: Nature. 2001 Oct 18;413(6857):661. Bid to end EU's transgenic impasse. Schiermeier Q. PMID: 11606987 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 604: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2001 Oct;12(5):510-5. Edible genetically modified microorganisms and plants for improved health. Mercenier A, Wiedermann U, Breiteneder H. Laboratory of Bacteriology of Ecosystems, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 1 rue du Pr. Calmette, BP 245, F-59019 Cedex, Lille, France. annick.mercenier@ibl.fr The development of new strategies for the delivery of vaccine antigens or immune modulators to the mucosal tissue includes innovative approaches such as the use of genetically modified food microorganisms and plants. Even though the 'proof-of-concept' has recently been established for these two systems, key questions mainly related to efficacy and risk of breaking oral tolerance remain to be critically addressed in the immediate future. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 11604330 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 605: Biomed Environ Sci. 2001 Jun;14(1-2):40-3. Modern biotechnology-current standards in Japan. Nakamura Y. Standards Division, Department of Food Sanitation, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan. PMID: 11594478 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 606: EMBO Rep. 2001 Sep;2(9):744-5. Comment on: EMBO Rep. 2001 Aug;2(8):644-7. EMBO Rep. 2001 Jun;2(6):455-9. Comment on Stefan Flothmann and Jan van Aken's article 'Of maize and men' in EMBO reports, August 2001. Leaver CJ, Trewavas AJ. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 11559579 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 607: Biotechniques. 2001 Aug;31(2):426-9. PCR-based detection of genetically modified soybean and maize in raw and highly processed foodstuffs. Tengel C, Schussler P, Setzke E, Balles J, Sprenger-Haussels M. QIAGEN GmbH, Hilden, Germany. The PCR method has proved to be an invaluable tool for the specific and sensitive detection of genetically modified material (e.g., Roundup Ready Soybean and Bt-176 "Maximizer" Maize) in foodstuffs. The first step in the procedure, namely the purification of nucleic acids from the sample, is often the deciding factor in the production of meaningful results. In this study, we present two procedures that enable an efficient isolation of trace amounts of genetic material from both raw and highly processed foodstuffs. We show that for optimal, PCR-ready DNA purification from highly processed foodstuffs and PCR inhibitor-rich substances--such as cocoa-containing products--adapted protocols for the QIAGEN QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit can be utilized. For complete DNA isolation from raw foodstuffs, a protocol using the DNeasy Plant Mini Kit is presented. PMID: 11515380 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 608: Vopr Pitan. 2001;70(2):3-7. [Hygiene and standards aspects of registration, marking and labeling of food products prepared from genetically modified sources] [Article in Russian] Onishchenko GG. The basic requirements to problems of registration, marking and labelling of the foodstuff prepared from generically modified sources are stated. The comparative analysis of the above-named problems in the different countries (USA, countries of EU, Russia etc.) is given. Publication Types: Comparative Study English Abstract PMID: 11494669 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 609: EMBO Rep. 2001 Aug;2(8):644-7. Comment in: EMBO Rep. 2001 Sep;2(9):744-5. Comment on: EMBO Rep. 2001 Jun;2(6):455-9. Of maize and men. Is the endorsement of GM crops science or politics? Flothmann S, van Aken J. Greenpeace, Germany. stefan.flothmann@greenpeace.de Publication Types: Comment PMID: 11493587 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 610: Risk Anal. 2001 Feb;21(1):189-98. Limits of knowledge and the limited importance of trust. Sjoberg L. Center for Risk Research, Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden. pls@hhs.se Perceived risk and related attitudes have been implicated as major factors in many of the difficult policy problems that face modern society (nuclear power, genetically modified food, etc). Experts often argue that no or very small risks are involved; people are still worried. Why? The standard answer is lack of trust. Data on trust and risk perception, however, point to only a weak relationship between the two (r approximately 0.3). It is suggested here that the reason for the surprisingly minor importance of trust is that people believe that there are clear limits to how much science and experts know. Results are presented from studies of risk perception of the public, experts, and politicians. Politicians and members of the public believe that there are many unknown effects of technology and such beliefs were strongly related to their perceived risk. Experts on nuclear waste, on the other hand, seemed to believe that little is unknown in their field of expertise. Regression analyses of risk perception showed the unknown-effects factor to be a more important explanatory factor than trust for the public and politicians. PMID: 11332547 [PubMed] 611: Nature. 2001 Mar 29;410(6828):503. Critics claim 'sight-saving' rice is over-rated. Schnapp N, Schiermeier Q. Publication Types: News PMID: 11279451 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 612: Nature. 2001 Mar 29;410(6828):501. Americans perplexed by GM food. Lok C. Publication Types: News PMID: 11279448 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 613: Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2000;17:327-52. Genetically modified food crops: current concerns and solutions for next generation crops. Daniell H. Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, 12722 Research Parkway, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826-3227, USA. daniell@mail.ucf.edu Publication Types: Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review PMID: 11255672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 614: Lancet. 2000 Mar 11;355(9207):931. Comment on: Lancet. 2000 Jan 29;355(9201):414. Toxins and genetically modified food. Trewavas A. Publication Types: Comment Letter PMID: 10752731 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 615: Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2000 Oct;11(5):505-8. Gene transfer from genetically modified food. Gasson MJ. Food Safety Science Division, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norfolk, NR4 7UA, Norwich, UK. mike.gasson@bbsrc.ac.uk The current debate about the safety of genetically modified food includes some important scientific issues where more scientific data would aid the robustness of safety evaluation. One example is the possibility of gene transfer, especially from genetically modified plant material. Publication Types: Review PMID: 11024371 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 616: FEBS Lett. 2000 Sep 15;481(2):164-8. DNA stability in plant tissues: implications for the possible transfer of genes from genetically modified food. Chiter A, Forbes JM, Blair GE. School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Room 8.10a Garstang Building, University of Leeds, Mount Preston Street, Leeds, UK. The potential for transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from genetically modified (GM) plant material to microbes through genetic recombination in the human or animal gut is a consideration that has engendered caution in the use of GM foods. This study was aimed at defining the optimal physical and chemical conditions necessary to ensure sufficient fragmentation of DNA in plant tissues to a size where it would be unlikely to be stably transferred to bacterial gut microflora. The ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit (Rubisco SS) genes are of similar size (approximately 1.4 kb) to transgenes present in GM plants. DNA analysis and PCR amplification of Rubisco SS genes showed that fresh maize and maize silage contained high molecular weight DNA and intact Rubisco SS genes. Relatively high temperatures and pressurised steam were necessary to degrade fully genomic DNA and Rubisco SS genes in maize and wheat grains, the source of most animal feedstuffs. Furthermore, chemical expulsion and extrusion of oilseeds resulted in residues with completely degraded genomic DNA. These results imply that stringent conditions are needed in the processing of GM plant tissues for feedstuffs to eliminate the possibility of transmission of transgenes. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 10996317 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 617: West J Med. 2000 Apr;172(4):220-1. The genetically modified food fight. Jacobson M. Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC 20009, USA. mjacobson@cspinet.org PMID: 10778361 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 618: Med J Aust. 2000 Feb 21;172(4):173-4. Comment in: Med J Aust. 2000 Feb 21;172(4):148-9. Genetically modified foods--food for thought. Leeder SR. Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW. steve@medicine.usyd.edu.au We would be wise to hold off until we know more about the health, ecological and economic effects of genetically modified food. Publication Types: Review PMID: 10772590 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 619: Med J Aust. 2000 Feb 21;172(4):148-9. Comment on: Med J Aust. 2000 Feb 21;172(4):170-3. Med J Aust. 2000 Feb 21;172(4):173-4. Genetically modified food: consternation, confusion, and crack-up. Horton R. Publication Types: Comment Editorial Review PMID: 10772580 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 620: Vopr Pitan. 1999;68(5-6):3-8. [Current approaches to the evaluation of genetically modified food products. Soybean 40-3-2 data] [Article in Russian] Onishchenko GG, Tutel'ian VA, Petukhov AI, Korolev AA, Aksiuk IN, Sorokina EIu. Different methodological approaches were elaborated to evaluate quality and safety of genetically modified food products. The new engineering is proposed to rate medical, biological, genetic and technological advantage of these products. Using the same engineering, a complete analysis of the genetically modified soybean 40-3-2 ("Monsanto Co", USA) has been performed. Publication Types: Comparative Study English Abstract PMID: 10641272 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 621: Trends Biotechnol. 2000 Jan;18(1):8-10. Ethical issues in biotechnology. Polkinghorne JC. Queens' College, University of Cambridge, UK. New ethical questions have arisen from our ability to intervene in the structure of the genome. Responsible use of this technique requires ethical evaluation in which experts, potential beneficiaries and the general public should all participate. The examples of genetically modified food and of human genetics help to illustrate the issues involved. PMID: 10631772 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 622: Nature. 1999 Dec 9;402(6762):571. US food-safety body hears protests over genetically modified food. Macilwain C. Publication Types: News PMID: 10604452 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 623: Science. 1999 May 28;284(5419):1442-4. Genetically modified food. Britain struggles to turn anti-GM tide. Gavaghan H. Publication Types: News PMID: 10383316 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 624: Curr Probl Dermatol. 1999;28:81-7. Genetically modified food: a danger or a benefit for atopics? Ebner C. Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria. Publication Types: Review PMID: 10374054 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 625: Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 1999 Apr 1;88(14):609-14, 616-8. [Food additives and genetically modified food--a risk for allergic patients?] [Article in German] Wuthrich B. Dermatologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitatsspital Zurich. Adverse reactions to food and food additives must be classified according to pathogenic criteria. It is necessary to strictly differentiate between an allergy, triggered by a substance-specific immunological mechanism, and an intolerance, in which no specific immune reaction can be established. In contrast to views expressed in the media, by laymen and patients, adverse reactions to additives are less frequent than is believed. Due to frequently "alternative" methods of examination, an allergy to food additives is often wrongly blamed as the cause of a wide variety of symptoms and illness. Diagnosing an allergy or intolerance to additives normally involves carrying out double-blind, placebo-controlled oral provocation tests with food additives. Allergic reactions to food additives occur particularly against additives which are organic in origin. In principle, it is possible that during the manufacture of genetically modified plants and food, proteins are transferred which potentially create allergies. However, legislation exists both in the USA (Federal Drug Administration, FDA) and in Switzerland (Ordinance on the approval process for GM food, GM food additives and GM accessory agents for processing) which require a careful analysis before a genetically modified product is launched, particularly where foreign genes are introduced. Products containing genetically modified organisms (GMO) as additives must be declared. In addition, the source of the foreign protein must be identified. The "Round-up ready" (RR) soya flour introduced in Switzerland is no different from natural soya flour in terms of its allergenic potential. Genetically modified food can be a blessing for allergic individuals if gene technology were to succeed in removing the allergen (e.g. such possibilities exist for rice). The same caution shown towards genetically modified food might also be advisable for foreign food in our diet. Luckily, the immune system of the digestive tract in healthy people tolerates foreign antigens. Food allergies in adults occur mainly among those allergic to pollen. Publication Types: English Abstract Review PMID: 10321121 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 626: J Appl Microbiol. 1998 Jun;84(6):969-80. Common DNA sequences with potential for detection of genetically manipulated organisms in food. MacCormick CA, Griffin HG, Underwood HM, Gasson MJ. Institute of Food Research, Colney, UK. caroline.maccormick@bbsrc.ac.uk Foods produced by genetic engineering technology are now appearing on the market and many more are likely to emerge in the future. The safety aspects, regulation, and labelling of these foods are still contentious issues in most countries and recent surveys highlight consumer concerns about the safety and labelling of genetically modified food. In most countries it is necessary to have approval for the use of genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs) in the production of food. In order to police regulations, a technology to detect such foods is desirable. In addition, a requirement to label approved genetically modified food would necessitate a monitoring system. One solution is to 'tag' approved GMOs with some form of biological or genetic marker, permitting the surveillance of foods for the presence of approved products of genetic engineering. While non-approved GMOs would not be detected by such a surveillance, they might be detected by a screen for DNA sequences common to all or most GMOs. This review focuses on the potential of using common DNA sequences as detection probes for GMOs. The identification of vector sequences, plant transcription terminators, and marker genes by PCR and hybridization techniques is discussed. Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review PMID: 9717281 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 627: BMJ. 1998 Jun 20;316(7148):1845-6. Comment in: BMJ. 1999 Jan 30;318(7179):332. Why all the fuss about genetically modified food?. Much depends on who benefits. Burke D. Publication Types: Editorial PMID: 9632400 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 628: Politics Life Sciences. 1994 Aug;13(2):195-203. Transgenesis in farm animals: ethical implications for public policy. Mepham TB. Centre for Applied Bioethics, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK. There is currently considerable investment in research aimed at producing transgenic farm animals with enhanced productive capacities. This article submits these prospective technologies to critical ethical evaluation. The analysis provided, focusing on issues relevant to public policy, suggests the need to introduce additional regulations governing the use of these technologies. Should their use be permitted in principle, specific legislation would seem to be required: (1) to protect the welfare of transgenic animals produced/kept in commercial enterprises; (2) to ensure the freedom of choice of purchasers of food and other products derived from transgenic animals by provision of adequate information on the source of the products; and (3) to provide a mechanism for limiting the use of transgenic technologies to those that are in the public interest. PMID: 15702517 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]