What Are Transgenic Crops?

Genetically modified crops use genetic engineering to add the genes of the original crops to the genetic material of other organisms and remove the bad genes, resulting in better quality crops. Generally, genetically modified crops can increase crop yield, improve quality, improve drought resistance, cold resistance and other characteristics. ^[1]

The types of genetically modified crops are mainly soybean, corn, cotton and rape, and their traits are mainly herbicide-resistant, insect-resistant, and disease-resistant ^[2] .

Genetically Modified Crops (GMCs) are respected by food-deficit countries for their ability to resist cold, drought, and insects. However, opponents said that the safety research on genetically modified foods is short-term and cannot effectively assess the risk of humans eating genetically modified foods decades or longer; and opponents are worried that genetically modified organisms are not the original breeds in nature. The earth's ecosystem is "foreign organisms". It is even more worrying that the genes of this alien species will spread to traditional organisms through self-propagation and crossbreeding with close relative species, and cause genetic contamination of traditional organisms.

Chinese name: GM crops
Foreign name: Genetically Modified Foods

Features: Cold, drought and insect resistance
Function: Can increase crop yield and improve quality

History of genetically modified crops

On the surface, genetically modified crops do not seem to differ from ordinary plants, except that

Genetically modified crops (9 photos)

There are more genes that give it extra properties. Since 1983, biologists have known how to transplant foreign genes into the DNA of certain plants in order to give it some new characteristics: resistance to herbicides, resistance to plant viruses, resistance to Characteristics of a pest. This gene can come from any kind of life: bacteria, viruses, insects. In this way, through bio-engineering technology, people can implant a certain crop with characteristics that can not be obtained by hybridization. This is an unprecedented revolution in the history of human cultivation of 9000 crops and will greatly promote the quality and yield of crops.

The world's first genetically-transplanted crop was tobacco containing antibiotic-like antibodies. It was cultivated in 1983; it wasn't until 10 years later that the first commercially available genetic food appeared in the United States, a tomato that could delay ripening. In 1996, tomato cakes made from this tomato food were allowed to be sold in supermarkets.

Genetically modified crops (2 photos)

Genetically modified cattle and sheep, genetically modified fish and shrimp, genetically modified food, genetically modified vegetables and genetically modified fruits have been successfully cultivated at home and abroad and have been put into the food market. Member of the National Agricultural Genetically Modified Biosafety Committee and researcher Peng Yufa of the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences introduced that the global genetically modified crops have increased by a factor of 40 in the 7 years since its introduction. Most of the genetically modified organisms are plants, animals and microorganisms. common. After successful research in 1983, genetically modified crops directly increased from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 67.7 million hectares in 2003. 7 million farmers in 18 countries on 5 continents planted them, of which GM soybeans accounted for 55% of all soybean plantations. Corn accounts for 11%, cotton accounts for 21%, and rapeseed accounts for 16%. International crop exports of these crops are also increasing.

GM crop countries

GM crops USA

The United States is the country with the most GM technology adoption. Genetic modification since the early 1990s

EU prudent on GM crops Since technology was actually put into the field of agricultural production, 55% of soybeans, 45% of cotton, and 40% of corn in the annual output of American agricultural products have gradually been transformed into production through genetic modification. As of 2008, the seeds of about 20 GM crops have been approved for planting in the United States, including corn, soybeans, rapeseed, potatoes, and cotton. It is estimated that from 1999 to 2004, the market size of genetically engineered agricultural products and food in the United States will increase from 4 billion US dollars to 20 billion US dollars, and will reach 75 billion US dollars by 2019. Some experts predict that at the beginning of the 21st century, it is likely that every kind of food in the United States will contain a certain amount of genetically engineered ingredients. Others include Argentina and Canada, which are also rapidly developing GM agricultural production countries.

GM crops Europe

Consumer groups in some European countries, such as Switzerland and Austria, oppose import sales

Major countries in the world planting genetically modified plants Genetically modified food, they believe that genetically modified food affects human health. The attitude of relevant European governments is that genetically modified foods are not safe and need to be scientifically proven to be safe. Some social groups and organizations have called for the suspension of genetically modified crops until scientists confirm the safety of genetically modified foods. Due to growing public concerns about the potential health risks of GM foods and the environment, the European Union has suspended approval of new GM agricultural products in 15 member states since April 1998. However, on April 18, 2004, the European Union began to allow the sale of genetically modified foods in the market. However, products with more than a certain percentage of genetically modified ingredients must be labeled. This is considered to be a substantial step for the EU to lift the ban on genetically modified products. step.

Genetically modified crops Russia

At the end of 2006, the world-renowned expert on anti-edible genetically modified products and Russian biologist Irina Yermakova took office and was elected as the vice chairman of the Russian National Gene Safety Research Association.

In 2005, Dr. Irina Yermakova began to study the health status of mice after eating genetically modified foods, and found that genetic foods affected the health of mice and their offspring. The results of this study provide strong evidence for the possible negative effects of genetically modified foods on live animals.

Every year, the Russian National Gene Safety Research Association publishes many reports and papers on the potential dangers of genetically modified products, but some western multinational companies have questioned these reports and papers because they do not have precise research evidence. ,

GM crops Japan

Japan strictly manages and treats genetically modified crops. According to a survey released by the "Angus Keid Group", 82% of Japanese consumers have a negative attitude towards GM crops. In August 2006, Japan banned the import of genetically modified rice from the United States. Consumers' negative attitudes towards GM crops have begun to affect Japan's food processing industry. For example, almost all brewers have stopped using genetically modified products to make beer; a significant number of Japanese companies that produce traditional foods such as tofu have started using non-GMO ingredients and labelled "no genetically modified soybeans".

GM Crops India

In February 2010, India suspended the promotion of the world's first genetically modified eggplant, arguing that further research is needed to grow it nationwide to ensure consumer safety. Earlier, after the relevant government committee approved the commercialization of genetically modified pest-resistant eggplant in October 2009, several states in India mainly planted eggplant continued to protest. On February 6, 2010, Uttarakhand state first stated that they would ban the cultivation of genetically modified crops. Soon after, the other two city-states Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka also made the same decision. Finally, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh stated on February 9 that the ban on the commercial cultivation of genetically modified eggplants requires that they be independently tested for safety, assessing their long-term impact on human health and the environment, and being recognized by the public and professionals. Available for sale.

Genetically modified crops China

China has carried out genetically modified research in cotton, rice, wheat, corn and soybeans.

Several transgenic plants (8 photos)

A lot of research results have been achieved, especially in the research of transgenic cotton. However, there are not many varieties for large-scale commercialization. Only 6 varieties of virus-resistant sweet peppers, delayed-ripening tomatoes, virus-resistant tobacco, and insect-resistant cotton are grown on a real scale. Some experts believe that China also has a large number of genetically modified foods. Market surveys show that 70% of the foods containing soybeans in our market have genetically modified ingredients, such as soybean oil, phospholipids, soy sauce, puffed food, etc., so many The public is actually unknowingly connected to genetically modified foods. In addition, some imported foods in China contain genetically modified ingredients. In our popular fast food restaurants McDonald's and KFC, the genetically modified content is also high. The Chinese government also strongly supports research on genetically modified organisms. In 2008, major projects were developed through the cultivation of new varieties of genetically modified organisms.

Advantages of genetically modified crops

(1) Significantly faster biological breeding (2) Significant enhancement of independent innovation capabilities (3) Continuous improvement of biosafety assurance capabilities (4) Industrialization of genetically modified crops.

Environmental impact of genetically modified crops

According to The Economist, the International Service Organization for the Application of Agricultural Biotechnology (ISAAA) released the Global Development of Commercialized Biotech / GM Crops: 2012 Annual Report on Genetically Modified Crops. The increase is faster than that of developed countries for the first time, and the development of genetically modified crops can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Many green activists continue to firmly oppose the development of genetically modified crops. They believe that genetically modified crops are harmful to the environment. ISAAA analyzes the environmental impact of genetically modified crops in its annual report. The report points out that the cultivation of global GM crops saved an equivalent of 47,300 kg of pesticides in 2011, and high-yield GM crops saved an equivalent of 109 million hectares of arable land, and its effect was equivalent to reducing about 23 billion kg of greenhouse gas emissions the amount. Generally, the cultivation of genetically modified crops does not require large-scale field farming. Reduced farming will allow more residues to be retained in the soil, which will capture more carbon dioxide in the soil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, fewer field operations necessarily reduce fuel consumption and the resulting carbon dioxide emissions.

Genetically modified crop safety

Different opinions

In 2002, the governments of some countries in southern Africa consulted the United Nations on the safety of genetically modified foods. The United Nations issued a statement on August 27, saying, "Based on information sources from various countries and available scientific knowledge, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Health The views of the organization and the World Food Programme are that eating genetically modified foods provided as food aid in southern Africa is unlikely to pose a risk to human health. Therefore, these foods can be eaten.

These organizations have confirmed that no scientific literature has been found to date that the consumption of these foods has a negative effect on human health. In a question and answer about genetically modified foods, the World Health Organization stated: "The genetically modified foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessments and are unlikely to pose risks to human health. Moreover, the general population in the countries where they are approved has not found that eating these foods can affect human health. "

Misleading opinion

The current accusations and concerns about genetically modified crops and genetically modified foods are actually caused by the deliberate misleading of some extreme organizations and the social panic that has arisen due to the lack of biological knowledge of the general public. The debate surrounding it does not have much scientific content, and it is difficult to call it a scientific debate. Of these anti-scientific extremist groups that oppose all biotechnology, the most influential is the "Green Peace" organization.

Patrick Moore, one of the founders and former chairmen of Greenpeace, said after a break with the organization, "The movement of environmentalists against biotechnology, especially against genetic engineering, has clearly made them smart and moral. Bankruptcy. As a result of an intolerable policy on a technology that can bring so many benefits to humans and the environment, they have fulfilled Swazi's predictions (that is, the environmental movement will go anti-science, anti-technology, anti-human). "

Unfortunately, the general public does not always realize this, and many people see these extreme organizations as the embodiment of social justice, trusting them more than trusting international authorities. More unfortunately, the general public often lacks the scientific qualities necessary to evaluate the safety of genetically modified foods.

Many people worry that eating genetically modified foods will remove their own genes, and even attacking genetically modified foods will cause people to "break their children." They are obviously afraid that the foreign gene transferred into the genetically modified crop will run into the body after being eaten, and the human gene will also be transferred. This worry is ridiculous. All genes in all organisms have the same chemical composition and are composed of nucleic acids.

No matter what gene is transgenic and what organism it came from, its chemical composition is no different from other genes. It is made of nucleic acid. This gene also needs to be digested and degraded into small molecules before it can be absorbed by human cells. Therefore, this foreign gene will not be directly absorbed and utilized by human cells. An important person in the world who opposes genetic modification technology is very dismissive of this. He once claimed in a book against genetic engineering that "genes in food can be used by the human body."

If this possibility exists, we should not only worry that the human body will absorb and use the gene used for transgenes, but also that the human body will absorb and use thousands of other genes in food. Because the chemical composition of all genes is exactly the same, if the human body can absorb and utilize a certain foreign gene, it is also possible to absorb and utilize other foreign genes. In that case, any food we eat may be genetically modified! Since we never have to worry about the genes in us when we eat other foods, why should we worry about genetically modified foods? Some people require that genetically modified crops be 100% safe and absolutely without risk before they can be grown and eaten. This requirement is totally unreasonable.

There is a risk

There are two main types of risks that are often mentioned. One is the health risk. Genetically modified crops often produce an exogenous protein in excess. If the protein is harmful to the human body, it is certainly not suitable for consumption.

If it is an allergen, it may also cause allergies in certain people. The other is ecological risks. For example, there is concern that the genes of genetically modified crops will "contaminate" their non-GM crops, especially their wild relatives. But risk does not equal actual danger. The risks of genetically modified crops are manageable.

To avoid health risks, proteins and known allergens that are harmful to the human body are not used to make genetically modified crops. Prior to the launch of genetically modified foods, they were tested as required to test their safety. Generally, first do a biochemical test to see what changes have occurred in the composition of genetically modified crops compared to similar crops, and whether these changes are likely to cause harm to the human body, and then perform animal tests to see if genetically modified foods are Adverse health effects. This is actually a common practice for testing food safety, not just for genetically modified foods. If you don't trust this conventional method, shouldn't you also question the safety of other foods? In order to avoid ecological risks, many experts recommend that certain restrictions be placed on the scope of planting of genetically modified crops, for example, do not plant corresponding genetically modified crops in areas with wild relatives. Compared with traditional breeding technology, transgenic technology has its uniqueness. For example, it can break the boundaries of species and transfer animal and microbial genes into plants.

However, the chemical properties of the genes of different species are the same, and the regulatory mechanism is similar, so this operation will not produce any monsters that "violate the laws of nature." In general, transgenic technology is still an extension of traditional breeding methods, but it is more accurate, more purposeful, and easier to control than traditional breeding techniques. The health and ecological problems faced by genetically modified crops also exist with traditional crops. For example, some new potato varieties cultivated by hybridization methods contain high levels of toxins and cause harm to the human body. Genes of new breeds cultivated by traditional methods may also "contaminate" their wild relatives.

GM foods on the market are safer than similar foods

As the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report states: "The FDA has not found or believed that new crop varieties being developed for use as food and feed generally pose safety or regulatory issues." The report also states that genetically modified crops have not been shown to pose any new risks to human health and the environment; they may even be safer than conventional crops and food due to more precise technology and stricter management.

Indeed, genetically modified technology is in some ways more secure and reliable than traditional breeding methods. Traditional breeding techniques cannot control where and how a gene is expressed, while changing many genes (often we know nothing about it), it is difficult to detect the product's impact on the environment, and it may develop harmful health traits (to which We may not be aware for a moment). And transgenic technology can accurately control gene expression, only one or a few genes whose function we know are moved, and it is easy to detect the impact of the product on the environment.

Planting pest-resistant genetically modified crops can use pesticides less or less, thus reducing or eliminating food pollution from pesticides, and everyone knows that excessive pesticide residues have always been a major problem in food safety. Disease-resistant genetically modified crops are resistant to bacterial infections, thereby reducing the level of bacterial toxins in food. Excessive use of chemical pesticides is a major factor that currently destroys the environment. The promotion of pest-resistant genetically modified crops can greatly reduce or even avoid the use of chemical pesticides, which not only reduces the environmental pollution of pesticides, but also reduces the raw materials, energy and waste materials used for production, transportation and spraying of pesticides.

On April 29, 2005, "Science" magazine published a paper co-authored by Chinese and American scientists, "Effects of Genetically Modified Insect Resistant Rice on Chinese Rice Production and Farmers' Health", stating that genetically modified insect-resistant rice yielded 6% more than non-transgenic rice The reduction of pesticide application by 80% has saved considerable expenses, and at the same time reduced the adverse effects of pesticides on farmers' health. About 50,000 farmers in China are poisoned every year by using pesticides, and about 500 of them die. At present, the genetically modified crops that have been planted on a large scale are mainly herbicide-resistant and insect-resistant varieties. They can reduce the use of pesticides, reduce production costs, and increase yield. They are mainly beneficial to farmers and the environment, and the benefits to consumers are not so direct. The new generation of genetically modified crops can change the nutritional content of food, and consumers will experience its benefits more closely. Just as the general public quickly eliminated panic about recombinant DNA technology because they benefited from recombinant DNA drugs, perhaps the emergence of a new generation of genetically modified crops could also make people more generally accept genetically modified foods. ^[3]

Harm of genetically modified crops

Crosses have occurred between different herbicide-resistant transgenic rapeseed varieties, resulting in hybrids resistant to multiple herbicides.

Genetically modified rapeseed and its hybrid plants then appear in subsequent wheat and barley crop plots, which must be controlled by spraying with standard herbicides. Bt-resistant pests have also evolved, which is a stress response from insects to the presence of toxins in transgenic plants throughout the growing season.

The fact that the earliest commercialized types of genetically modified crops have threatened biodiversity is an increasingly unavoidable fact.

Herbicide-resistant transgene

Crop-spreading broad-spectrum herbicides can indiscriminately destroy wild plant species, and they are also toxic to animals. Glyphosate causes birth defects in mammals and is also associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Genetically modified crops containing Bt-toxin (Bt toxin protein) will kill beneficial insects such as bees and lacewings, and pollen from BT corn was found to be lethal to mosquitoes and swallowtails. Bt toxins can exudate from the roots of genetically modified Bt crops, quickly bind to soil particles, and are protected from degradation. Because toxins exist in an activated and non-selective manner, both target and non-target species in the soil are affected, and the effects of toxins can be further transmitted to ground crops.

Ecological hazards of genetic crops

Natural crops are not afraid of pests, otherwise nature will not have such crops. After the first hybridization of the crops, it is similar to the effect of gene transplantation, but the proportion of genetic changes is very low, so it will start to fear insect pests. Regardless of how many times a crop is crossed, the proportion of genetic changes is always very low, and the highest is no more than 3%. This is the fundamental function of nature to sustain life. As a result, the damage to the human body is also very small.

Products made with genetically modified organisms are also dangerous.

Genetically modified bovine growth hormone is injected into dairy cows to increase milk production, causing unnecessary diseases in dairy cows, and increasing the concentration of IGF-1 (growth promoting factor-1) in milk. IGF-1 is known to be related to humans. Breast cancer is related to prostate cancer.

In transgenic plants, genetically transformed DNA is unstable.

Genetically modified genes often remain inactive, and some or all of the transgenic DNA is lost, even if the transgenic DNA is maintained until the reproduction period. We already know that in any transgenic plant line that has been commercialized globally or entered field trials, there is no officially published evidence as to whether the genetic material itself or the insertion position of the plant genome has long-term stability. Can prove it.

Development prospects of genetically modified crops

As with anything new in the world, the development of genetically modified crops will never be smooth, but the future remains bright.

First, contrary to the world situation, the planting area of genetically modified crops in the United States is still growing. The content of tryptophan in planted genetically modified corn increased by 20%, while tryptophan is an essential amino acid in the human body; the content of unsaturated fatty acids in genetically modified rapeseed increased significantly, which was beneficial to the cardiovascular system; the content of lactoferrin and disease resistance factors in genetically modified milk increased The fat content was reduced.

Second, the world's genetically modified properties have persuaded almost all national governments and world organizations to support this biotechnology that is under intense debate.

Third, with the continuous improvement of biotechnology, new genetically modified crop varieties that will bring huge benefits to both farmers and consumers will definitely emerge in a few years. Future genetically modified crops (such as "Golden Rice") can also help humans address protein, vitamin and iron deficiency issues. In the face of real benefits, consumers around the world may gradually accept GM crops.

Fourth, the laws of countries around the world strengthen the management of genetically modified crops, but they are not absolutely prohibited. The commonality of all countries in the world is that the fundamental purpose of strengthening management is to ensure the healthy and orderly development of genetically modified crops. ^[3]

GM crops hot discussion

Social survey of genetically modified crops

Since April 2011, research on the safety of genetically modified organisms has been intensively conducted in many provinces and cities in China.

On April 28, 2011, a joint research team composed of four ministries and commissions including the Ministry of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environmental Protection has gone to Shandong, Shanxi and Northeast China to conduct in-depth research on genetically modified safety.

An official of the Ministry of Environmental Protection said that Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council specifically issued instructions on the safety of genetically modified organisms and asked relevant departments to form research teams to conduct research. According to the instructions, the Food Safety Committee of the State Council held 9 meetings to discuss issues such as genetic modification, and subsequently instructed the agricultural sector to conduct research in some provinces and municipalities.

It is reported that the four ministries are forming the final investigation report. According to the above-mentioned sources, the biggest problem found in this survey is that there is illegal planting of genetically modified crops in some places. This time, illegal planting of genetically modified crops was mainly found in the northeast.

GM crop detection issues

People familiar with the matter said that after in-depth investigations, they found that management was not strict enough.

At the 4th International Forum on Genetically Modified Biosafety on April 28, 2011, Jiang Gaoming, a researcher at the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, pointed out that there are at least three aspects of genetically modified uncertainty: one is uncertain about the chain reaction after the change of life structure; The second is the uncertainty of the potential risks of the food chain; the third is the uncertainty of the pollution, proliferation, diffusion and its removal methods.

The safety of genetically modified crops is a long-term topic. If a large area of genetically modified crops is put into the environment, especially the staple food production environment of a country, it will damage the natural ecosystem. Long term; it will affect human health and food security.

Existing research shows that genetically modified crops will damage natural ecosystems, cause harm to non-target organisms, especially beneficial organisms, reduce biodiversity and food diversity, and also cause "super weeds".

The state's "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" also specifically proposed "strengthening biosafety management and intensifying the protection and management of biological species resources".

GM crops make recommendations

Jiang Gaoming pointed out that there is still a lot of uncertainty about the emerging biotechnology of genetic modification, such as the chain reaction after the change of life structure.

It is precisely because of the long-term uncertainty and uncertainty that the relevant ministries and committees are dissatisfied with the monitoring of GM, and finally compressed the special funds for the cultivation of GM animals and plants.

In 2010, the State Council executive meeting reviewed and approved in principle a major science and technology project for the cultivation of new varieties of genetically modified organisms, which mentioned that 20 billion yuan of special funding for genetically modified research will be realized by 2020. An official from the Ministry of Environmental Protection questioned whether such a large sum of money was necessary to carry out genetic research on all crops. At the same time, the official suggested a risk assessment.

Ministry of Environmental Protection officials said that the Ministry of Environmental Protection has made recommendations on the safety of genetically modified organisms. Among them, in terms of safety certificates and environmental release of genetically modified crops, it is recommended to implement a "monitoring and supervision joint system." For example, quality inspection and other departments are involved and ultimately need to undergo a risk assessment. "If there is no risk or the risk is low, you should not be killed with a single stick."

Wang Jie, director of the National Biosafety Management Office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, said that in the field of life safety, whether internationally or domestically, many issues have not been clarified.

Genetically modified crops destroyed in Hainan

From December 23 to 27, 2013, the Hainan Provincial Department of Agriculture organized relevant units to carry out a law enforcement inspection of the Nanchang agricultural genetically modified crops to the units engaged in Nanfan work in Sanya, Lingshui, and Ledong. A total of 107 crop samples were spot-checked and tested. The test results showed that 15 samples from 13 units were positive for genetic modification, all of which were scientific research test plots. Among them, there are 12 corns and 3 cottons, which are mainly distributed in individual fields in Nanbin Farm, Division Farm and Ledong Jiusuo Town, Sanya City. Among them, 9 experimental crops of 7 units have been destroyed, properly disposed of, and punished under the supervision of agricultural law enforcement personnel in the territories. Six suspected samples of the remaining six units are undergoing further inspection and verification. Once verified, the department will resolutely destroy and punish them.

Hainan Provincial Department of Agriculture stated that it will, as always, strictly enforce laws and regulations such as the "Regulations on the Safety of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms" and severely crack down on illegal and illegal agricultural genetically modified experiments and production activities. Any unit or individual is found to have violated the law and regulations, and will not tolerate it. Deal strictly with the law and do your best to ensure the biological safety of Hainan Nanfan base.

GM crop related events

The following are some reports on transgenes, which show that the public is not objective about transgenes.

So-called animal anomalies

The United States patent records show that the category number of the parent PH4CV of the maize seed "Xianyu 335", which is grown in large numbers in China, is indicated as a genetically modified crop. "A reasonable explanation" "An expert told reporters that Xianyu 335 was officially promoted in 2004, and genetically modified genes were also promoted in different regions. Cottonseed cakes of genetically modified cotton are also added feed for domestic animals in this region, which began to spread in 2006. 5 to 6 years In time, mice can pass more than 20 generations, and pigs can pass 3 generations, and this time is only one-tenth of the human life cycle. Therefore, mice perform well, but people do not have serious reactions. mouse. After conducting a survey in this village of more than 300 households, Liu Ye learned that the situation was very similar: the big mice were almost extinct, with only a few little mice. Liu Ye also found that even the little mice were dumbfounded and didn't seem to be able to tell the direction. "I have seen dogs catch these little mice easily." 2. The pig's belly is full of water. There are fewer sows giving birth, and there are more cases of infertility, false breeding and abortion. Zhang Jianhong has been raising pigs for nearly ten years. He said that in the past, he had raised more than 20 sows, and a litter of pigs could produce up to 16 pigs, never less than 10. Not long ago he noticed that sows had fewer piglets. Chen Hongjun, a pig farmer in Sujia Village, encountered a similar situation. Due to the occurrence of stillbirths and miscarriages, he lost at least a third of his piglets. Another pig farmer in Yanwu Village said that he had sold a sow to a slaughterhouse, and the slaughterhouse told him that the pig's ovaries were full of water. The reporter found in the interview that almost all of these abnormal animals had eaten cottonseed cake and a kind of corn-Xianyu 335. When reporters interviewed in 9 villages in Xinrong Village, Gongpeng Town, they found that there was no abnormal sow farmer. She has kept sows from the beginning and has maintained a scale of more than a dozen sows. She claims that sows in the family generally have a birth rate of 12 pigs. The reporter specifically asked about pig feed. The farmer introduced that she was feeding her own corn, mainly domestically produced "Credit 1". She had never planted Xianyu 335. Lao Zhang, who bought corn in the Jinzhong area, introduced that when he went to Shentanggou Village in Wujinshan Town to collect corn, he opened a hoard for corn and unexpectedly found 10 big mice. He hasn't seen the rat rat out of stock for years. And that family planted ordinary corn. The village is more than 20 kilometers away from Jinzhong, in a hilly area. The planting area of Xianyu 335 in the village is only about 5%. However, field surveys conducted by experts from the agricultural sector showed that Shanxi and Jilin did not plant genetically modified corn, and "Xianyu 335" was not a genetically modified variety. According to local villagers, the number of local mice has indeed decreased compared to previous years, which may be caused by the ban of highly poisonous rat drugs in Yushu City of Jilin Province and Jinzhong City of Shanxi Province for many years, leading to an increase in natural enemies of rats; farmers' granaries mostly use cement floors to make rats It is not easy to punch holes. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Taiyuan, as a backup airport in Beijing, had done centralized rodent control measures. ^[4] phenomenon,

Brazil nut incident

In Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), there is a 2S albumin, a protein rich in methionine and cysteine. In order to improve the nutritional quality of soybeans, in January 1994, researchers at Pioneer Seed Company tried to transfer the gene encoding the protein 2S albumin in Brazil nuts into soybeans (the abstract of the article was published in the Journal of Cell Biochemistry Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 1994, Suppl 18A: 78). However, they realized that some people had an allergic reaction to Brazil nuts, and then tested the soybeans transferred to the gene encoding the protein 2S albumin. They found that people who are allergic to Brazil nuts are also allergic to this soybean. Is the major allergen in Brazil nuts (research results published in The New England Journal of Medicine, 1996, 334: 688-692). Pioneer Seeds canceled the research project. The matter was described as "genetically modified soybeans cause food allergies." The Brazil Nut Incident is also the only case of GM food that has not been commercialized due to allergies. In fact, there are international lists of foods and related genes that produce allergic reactions. When researching genetically modified crops, researchers cannot first use the genes of these allergic foods; for new proteins made by genetically modified crops, their chemical composition and structure need to be compared with more than 500 known allergens. It will be abandoned; in addition, the new protein formed by foreign genes should be tested for digestion speed. If it cannot be digested quickly, it cannot be eaten.

Pustian event

The "Pusztai" incident was considered a turning point in public opinion that sparked a debate about the safety of genetically modified crops. In the autumn of 1998, Arpad Pusztai, a scientist at the Rowett Institute in Scotland, spoke on television, saying that he fed rats with snowdrop lectin-transformed potatoes in experiments, and that rats "weight And severe weight loss in the organs and damage to the immune system. " This statement caused an international sensation. With the promotion of green and equal environmental NGOs, Europe launched a wave of reverse genetic food. Puste's experiment was questioned. It is alleged that he rashly disseminated his conclusions to the public through the media before the experiments were completed and the data were not published. The genetically modified potatoes he studied were constructed by himself, and there was no possibility of going on the market at that time, and there was no urgency of publicity experiments. The Royal Society attached great importance to the "Pustey Incident", and organized experts to conduct peer review of the experiment. In May 1999, the review report pointed out that Puestel's experiment contained 6 errors and deficiencies: it was not possible to determine the difference in chemical composition between genetically modified and non-transgenic potatoes; for rats eating genetically modified potatoes, no protein was added to prevent starvation; The number of animals used in the experiment was small, and they were fed several different foods, and they were not standard foods for rats, lacking statistical significance; the experimental design was poor, and no double-blind determination was made; the statistical methods were improper; the experimental results were not consistent. The Rowett Institute then announced that Preste had retired early and was no longer responsible for his remarks.

GM corn incident

French molecular endocrinologist Seralini and colleagues published an article in the 7th issue of the International Journal of Biological Sciences in 2009, discussing the experimental and analytical conclusions of feeding three kinds of Monsanto's genetically modified corn to mice. The article points out that, after three months of eating the genetically modified corn, the mice's liver, kidney and heart functions were affected to some extent. As early as 2007, Seralini and colleagues had statistically analyzed the original experimental data of Monsanto's genetically modified corn (the article was published in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2007, 52: 596-602 ), Came to similar conclusions as the 2009 paper. Peer review groups composed of six toxicology and statistics experts from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada, reviewed and evaluated the research of Seralini et al. And Monsanto, and published the evaluation results in Food and Chemical Toxicology . The expert review team believes that Seralini and others' re-analysis of Monsanto's original experimental data did not produce meaningful new data to show that genetically modified corn caused adverse side effects in the three-month study of rat feeding. In 2007, a research team led by Juergen Zentek, a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Vienna, Austria, conducted animal experiments on hybrids of herbicide-resistant transgenic corn NK603 and transgenic Bt insect-resistant corn MON810 developed by Monsanto. . After 20 weeks of observation, Zetek found that genetically modified maize was potentially dangerous to the fertility of mice. Two internationally recognized experts (Drs. John DeSesso and James Lamb) specifically reviewed and commented on Dr. Zetek's research afterwards, and independently issued a statement that there were serious errors and deficiencies in the research, and the research could not support any Conclusions on eating GM maize MON810 and NK603 may have adverse effects on reproduction. A Monsanto scientist came to the same conclusion during the review. The data show that the two genetically modified maize varieties involved in Professor Zetek's research were deemed safe by more than 20 regulatory authorities in the world. Zetek's flawed research has caused misjudgments about the safety of genetically modified corn, and the rapid and widespread dissemination of its findings may cause the public to misunderstand genetically modified crops.

Monarch Butterfly Event

In May 1999, Losey, a professor of entomology at Cornell University, published an article in the journal Nature, stating that he fed monarch butterfly larvae with leaves of weeds that were mixed with transgenic insect-resistant corn pollen. Slow and with a mortality rate of 44%. Roche believes the results suggest that pest-resistant GM crops also pose a threat to non-target insects. Soon after, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) organized insect experts to conduct a special study on the monarch butterfly. It is concluded that genetically modified insect-resistant corn pollen poses no threat to monarch butterflies in the field because: (1) corn pollen is large and heavy, so it does not spread far. In the field, only one grain of corn pollen was found on each square centimeter of grass weeds on the weeds 5 meters away from the corn field. (2) Monarch butterflies usually do not eat corn pollen, they will spawn in large numbers after corn is loose. (3) In the field surveyed in the Midwestern United States, transgenic insect-resistant maize land accounted for 25% of the total corn land area, but the number of monarch butterflies in the field was large.