What Is a Kanamycin Resistance Gene?

Antibiotic resistance genes: make bacteria resistant to antibiotics such as ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Not all individuals have this gene in a bacterial population. Because this gene is often produced by a mutation, the frequency of the gene is low.

Antibiotic resistance gene

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Antibiotic resistance genes: make bacteria resistant to antibiotics such as ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Not all individuals have this gene in a bacterial population. Because this gene is often produced by a mutation, the frequency of the gene is low.

In recent years, the abuse of antibiotics first induced the production of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in animals, which accelerated the spread of resistance genes among bacteria in the environment. At present, antibiotic resistance

The kanamycin resistance gene (nptII) is resistant to kanamycin, and the tetracycline resistance gene (tetR) is resistant to tetracycline. Marker genes are commonly used in transgenic research, and the use of antibiotic resistance genes as markers has been controversial. At present, widely used antibiotic marker genes include neomycin phosphotransferase gene (npt), kanamycin resistance gene (nptII) and so on. However, the potential edible safety of antibiotic resistance marker genes has been controversial. Studies have shown that antibiotic resistance genes in genetically modified foods may be transfected with intestinal bacteria, causing humans to become resistant to these antibiotics, that is, drug resistance Sex.

Antibiotic resistance can lead to the ineffective use of antibiotics in human or animal medicines and has been an important issue affecting global public health. In 2003, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (

From February to March 2009, Greenpeace randomly tested the genetically modified ingredients of papaya sold in supermarkets and found that all domestically produced papaya were genetically modified papaya. Although the Ministry of Agriculture only approved the commercial cultivation of genetically modified papaya in Guangdong Province, Greenpeace's field investigation and testing in April found that genetically modified papaya was also illegally grown in Hainan Island. The food safety of genetically modified papaya has been controversial, and the Japanese government has not yet approved the import license of genetically modified papaya in the United States for safety reasons. Many transgenic papaya studies use antibiotic resistance genes as marker genes, and the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in food may pose a health risk.

Therefore, Greenpeace decided to test the papaya gene antibiotic resistance gene on the market.

Greenpeace's investigation found that the genetically modified papaya appearing on the market contains antibiotic resistance genes and has entered the food chain. Consumption of these papaya may make consumers resistant to some antibiotics, thereby threatening consumer health. Greenpeace calls on relevant government departments to immediately recall all genetically modified papaya on the market, re-evaluate and adjust genetically modified.

Deployment of papaya production. Greenpeace also recommends that relevant government departments strictly follow the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and deal with the risks of genetically modified organisms to the environment and human health on a precautionary basis; immediately assess the health of consumers with genetically modified papaya containing antibiotic resistance genes The harm caused by it; further improving the safety evaluation system of genetically modified organisms; the use of antibiotic resistance genes as marker genes in genetically modified research is strictly prohibited.

At present, China is considering the approval of commercial production of genetically modified rice. Given the health impact of genetically modified crops, the detection of antibiotic resistance genes in genetically modified papaya has once again sounded the alarm for genetically modified food safety issues. Rice is the staple food of 1.3 billion people in China, and the safety of genetically modified food crops is of great importance. Greenpeace also recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and related departments suspend any commercial planting of genetically modified rice, and invest more funds in ecologically proven high-yield ecology Extension of agriculture.