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Genetic Engineering and
Health Impacts
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cellsnucleus
chromosome
DNA
gene
TA
A A
C
C
C G
GG
T
TT
ABasepairs: A-T & C-G (nucleotides)
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GE is Irreversible : living organisms
capable of making enormous changes toentire eco-systemsGE results in irrevocable changes:
Starting from protein networks toevolutionary networks irrevocablechanges inevitable
In India, millions of lives and livelihoodstied to agriculture Affects critical issueslike food security & livelihood security
Affects the future generations too
Why this debate about GE?
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GE is impreciseCut & Paste - Insertion of alien genes
for creating specific traitsOne gene = one trait expression?
Gene regulation within genome not fullyunderstood or replicable
Transgene insertion the process & thetransgene changes & associated risks
Transgene location - cant be directedand is unstable
Unexpected and unintended traits -Coding for proteins of unknown functionsdiscovered
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Alterations to the toxicity or nutritional value of acultivar allergens, toxins, vitamins, anti-oxidantsetc. (food safety)
Changes that have ecological implications BIODIVERSITY, increased outcrossing, effects onbeneficial insects, soil organisms, pest resurgence,new diseases etc.
Changes that have implications for food security stress intolerance & crop failures
GE Science: Unintended consequences
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Sheep, goat and cattle deathsreported from AP, Maharashtra,Punjab, Haryana
Miscarriages reported fromGujarat
2007:Animal Husbandry
Department of AP asks farmersnot to graze animals on BtCotton as yet unidentifiedtoxin causing toxicityphenomenon
GEAC was asked to a studythey no followup
Biosafety data on Bt brinjalshows possible problems
Animal morbidity
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Letter to GEAC from AH DeptDirector, AP Govt. on 9/5/2007
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Livestock deaths continue
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Skin allergies reportedby farmers andagriculture workerswhile working incotton fields duringboll burst stage 2005: JSA Bt Cotton
in India humanallergies
[Ashish Gupta, Ashish Mandloi & AmulyaNidhi, 2005: An Investigation reporton Impact of Bt Cotton on farmershealth]
2007: Dr ManvirGuptas pilot study inPunjab
Human health
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Farmers in AP, Karnataka,Punjab reporting decrease incrop grown after Bt cotton
Several complaints registered
during 2007 in ANGRAUKisan Call Centre
Recent paper from IARISarkar. et.al, 2008Transgenic Bt -Cotton AffectsEnzyme Activity and NutrientAvailability in a Sub-TropicalInceptisol
J. Agronomy & Crop Science (2008)ISSN 0931-2250
Soil Health
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FlavrSavr tomato-
the first GM food cropAfter 28 days7 of 20 rats developed stomach lesionsAnother 7 of 40 died within 2 weeks
Industry study, 1993
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Skin Allergies with GM Soya
To improve the nutritional
quality, methionine-rich 2Salbumin from Brazilnut
(Bertholletia excelsa) was
introduced into soybeans
Study shows that anallergen from a food known
to be allergenic can be
transferred into another food
by genetic engineering
Brazil nut allergin
Transgenic soya
Skin Prick test
(Nordlee J A, Taylor S L, Townsend BS , Thomas L A & Bush R K, 1996:Identification of a Brazilnut allergenin transgenic soybeans, The NewEngland Journal of Medicine, Volume334: 688-692)
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Health Hazards: Various studies &instances
1998: Arpad Puzstais study on GMPotatoes change in organs (liver,heart, brain) of rats & immunesystems-CaMV promoter effect??
Potentially pre-cancerous cell growth
in the digestive tract
Smaller brains, livers and testicles
Partial atrophy of the liver, and
Immune system damageS. W. Ewen, A. Pusztai, 1999: Effect of diets
containing genetically modified potatoesexpressing Galanthus nivalis lectin on ratsmall intestine Lancet 354(9187):1353
Intestinal Wall
Stomach lining
Non-GM GM
Non-GM
GM
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673698058607/fulltexthttp://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673698058607/fulltext8/14/2019 GE Health impacts
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1998: Monsanto & Russian Academy of Medical Sciences GM Potatoes higher organ & tissue damage: Not safe to beused in the nourishment of people
[Medical-biological investigations of transgenic potatoes, resistant to the Colorado beetle (underagreement with Monsanto Co.), Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Institute of Nutrition,
Moscow, 1998. Signed off by V.A.Tutelian, Deputy Director. Physiological, biochemical andmorphological investigations in rats. Full Report 275 pp, including raw data.]
1999: Journal of Medicinal Food beneficial phytoestrogencompounds lower in GE soybeans 12-14% lower[Marc Lappe, E. Britt Bailey, Chandra Childress, Kenneth D.R. Setchell, 1999: Alterations inClinically Important Phytoestrogens in Genetically Modified, Herbicide-Tolerant Soybeans, The
Journal of Medicinal Food, Vol. 1:4, pps. 241-245]
2001: Starlink Corn contamination one billion dollars cost ofrecall.
Health hazardscontd.
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2003: Terje Traavik Filipinos & allergies (skin,
respiratory, intestinal, with fever) pollination of Btcorn field blood tests showed an immuneresponse[Terje Traavik & Jeffrey Smith, 2004: Bt-maize (corn) during pollination, may
trigger disease in people living near the cornfield,http://www.mindfully.org/GE/2004/Bt-Corn-Human-Disease24feb04.htm]
2004: Nature biotechnology only human feedingtrial of GM crops gene transfer from GM soy tohuman gut bacteria!
[Netherwood et al, Assessing the survival of transgenic plant DNA in the humangastrointestinal tract, Nature Biotechnology22 (2004): 2]
2005: Monsanto Bt Maize kidney abnormalities& high WBC levels
[Seralini et al, 2007: New Analysis of a Rat Feeding Study with a Genetically Modified MaizeReveals Signs of Hepatorenal Toxicity, Archives of Envir.l Contamination & Toxicology,
Vol. 52, No 4 ]
Health hazards.
http://www.mindfully.org/GE/2004/Bt-Corn-Human-Disease24feb04.htmhttp://www.mindfully.org/GE/2004/Bt-Corn-Human-Disease24feb04.htm8/14/2019 GE Health impacts
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Rats ate Bt corn (90 day
Indicators for
Liver and kidneytoxicity
Blood pressure
problems, allergies,
infections or
disease, higher
blood sugar and
anemiaMonsantoMonsantostudystudy
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2005: Irina Ermakova offspring
of GM-soy-fed rats die growth
abnormalities
Within three weeks, 25 of the45 (55.6%) rats from the GMsoy group died compared toonly 3 of 33 (9%) from thenon-GM soy group and 3 of
44 (6.8%) from the non-soycontrols.
On the right is a 20-day old ratfrom GM soy-fed study group and
at left is a 19-day old rat fromcontrol group
Ermakova, I: Preliminary Findings presented at Symposium of National Association forGenetic Security, October 10, 2005; also,"Influence of genetically modified soya on the birth-weight and survival of rat pups" InProceedings of the Conference Epigenetics, Transgenic Plants & Risk Assessment,Institute for Applied Ecology, Frankfurt, 2006, pp. 41-48
http://www.oeko.de/oekodoc/277/2006-002-en.pdfhttp://www.oeko.de/oekodoc/277/2006-002-en.pdf8/14/2019 GE Health impacts
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2005: University of Urbino - misshapen nuclei in livercells of rats dramatic reduction in enzyme productionin pancreas cells in liver, pancreas and testes affected
Malatesta M, Caporaloni C, Gavaudan S, Rocchi MB, Serafini S, TiberiC, Gazzanelli G. (2002): Ultrastructural morphometrical and
immunocytochemical analyses of hepatocyte nuclei from mice fedon genetically modified soybean, Cell Struct Funct. 27: 173-180;
Manuela Malatesta, et al, (2002): Ultrastructural analysis ofpancreatic acinar cells from mice fed on genetically modifiedsoybean, Journal of Anatomy, Volume 201 Issue 5 Page 409
Cooked GM soy is reported to contain twice theamount of soy lectin, which can also block
nutrient assimilationStephen R. Padgette et al, 1996:, "The Composition of Glyphosate-Tolerant
Soybean Seeds Is Equivalent to That of Conventional Soybeans," TheJournal of Nutrition, vol. 126, No. 4
Health hazards
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2007: study done by Vavilov'sAgrarian University in Russia:RoundUp Ready soy approved for
human consumption in the RussianFederation and in many othercountries, induced serious changesin the morphology of viscera (liver,kidney, testis) of mice, in their
histological and cell structures. GM-soy also is found to impact the sizeof litters, and the mortality of theyoung.
On top is a mouse fed with GM soya and at the bottom is one fed with non-GM soya, in thisRussian study
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Bt Brinjal
US agencies like USAID, Cornell Universityand Monsanto behind Bt Brinjalsdevelopment
Open air trials from 2004 in different states Serious biosafety violations from field trials
documented
GEACs guidelines violated when large scaletrials were permitted in 2007, withoutbiosafety being cleared first..
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Bt Brinjal biosafety
Biosafety data apparently presented toregulators in 2006 itself.an expertcommittee gave its report in 2007
Data not shared with the public despiteorders from the Central InformationCommission under Right To Information public interest more important thancommercial interests, the CIC ordered
Data finally put out after SC orders inAugust 2008
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Prof Seralini & team in CRIIGEN: Firstindependent analysis
Parameters affected in animals fed with Bt Brinjal are in bloodcells or chemistry and in different ways according to the periodof measurement during the study or the sex:
In goats prothrombin time is modified, and biochemicalparameters such as total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase are
also changed, as well as feed consumption and weight gain.
For rabbits less consumption was noted and also modificationin prothrombin time, higher bilirubin in some instances,albumin, lactose dehydrogenase and the hepatic markersalanine and aspartate aminotransferases. Sodium levels werealso modified, as well as glucose, platelet count, meancorpuscular haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit value.
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Prof Seralinis analysis.In cows milk production and composition were
changed by 10-14%. There was more milk
and more roughage dry matter intake as ifthe animals were treated by a hormone.
Rats GM-fed rats had diarrhoea, higher waterconsumption, liver weight decrease as well asrelative liver-to-body-weight ratio decrease.
In broiler chickens, feed intake as well asglucose in some instances were modified.
In GM-fed fishes, average feed conversionand efficiency ratios were changed.
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Prof Seralini.
Bt brinjal produces a protein whichcan induce resistance towards atleast kanamycin, a well known
antibiotic.
The longest toxicity tests which arefor only 90 days do not assess long-
term effects like the development oftumours or cancers.
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What did the first independent analysisfind?
Several differences found between studyand (closest) control groups in the Bt Brinjalbiosafety tests were not reported in thesummaries of the test reports but are in the
raw data; statistically significant differencesthat were reported were discounted ratherthan used to raise food safety concerns oras warranting further investigations, as Prof
Seralini points out. Prof Seralinis analysispoints out that the interpretation of resultsin many cases by Mahyco is not scientificallyacceptable.
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CRIIGEN concludes
The permission for Bt brinjal releaseinto the environment, for food orfeed, may present a serious risk for
human and animal health and therelease should be forbidden.
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Bt genes immunogenic andallergenic Cry 9c consideredtoxic too.
Bt toxin in GM crops thousandtimes more concentrated than Bt
sprays and, Bt sprays have nohistory of safe use!!!
Cauliflower Mosaic Virus [CaMVpromoter]
Antibiotic resistance genes
Agrobacterium vector..
Individual genes & synergistic GEeffects
l i di d
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1. GE can result in unpredictedGE can result in unpredicted
changes in DNA and plantchanges in DNA and plant
compositioncomposition
Mutations (2-4% of DNA)Mutations (2-4% of DNA)
Deletion of genesDeletion of genes
Permanently on or offPermanently on or off Altered gene expression (up to 5%)Altered gene expression (up to 5%)
2 Protein produced by the
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2. Protein produced by theinserted gene may be
harmful Traits marketed Herbicide tolerance (73%), Pesticide
production (18%), Crops with both traits (8%)
Industry claims that Bt Has a history of safe use
Is destroyed during digestion
Is not active in mammals In reality people react to Bt spray, it survives
digestion and mice react to Bt-toxin
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3. Protein may be differentthan intended
Transgene sequence may
Mutate or truncate
Rearrange
Be read differently
Produce multiple proteins
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4. Gene transfer to Gutbacteria
Bacterial sequences are easier totransfer to bacteria
The genes promoter works inbacteria
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Transfer of genetic material between unrelated species
Through bacteria and viruses - GE increases HGT Unintended contamination & unpredictable
consequences.
1999 ARM gene transfer from human consumption oftransgenic food to bacteria in human saliva andrespiratory tract
[Mercer,D.K., K.P.Scott, W.A.B. Johnson, L.A.Glover, and H.J.Flint, 1999.Applied andEnvironmental Microbiology,65:6-10]
Agrobacterium, which is widely believed not to infectanimals and hence may not transfer engineered genesfrom plants to animals is found to mediate transfer ofDNA in human cancer cells
[Kunik,T., T.Tzfira,Y.Kapulnik,Y.Gafni, C.Dingwall, and V.Citovsky, 2001.PNAS(USA), 98:1871-87]
Transgenic DNA in the blood, liver and spleen cells andin the placenta and fetus of pregnant mice
[Schubbert,R.,D.Rentz, B.Schmitzx, and W.Doerfler, 1997. PNAS(USA),94:961-66; and,Doerfler,W.,and R.Schubbert, 1998. Wien Klin Wochenschr, 110:40-44
Horizontal Gene Transfer
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A study commissioned by the Ministry ofAgriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), UK at LeedsUniversity found that the DNA of biotech crop grainand silage does not get degraded during the usualcommercial processing conditions and this offerssubstantial scope for secondary horizontal transfer
of intact antibiotic resistance gene to the bacteriaand other organisms in the rumen of animalsfed with such processed feed [Forbes, J.M., B.E.Blair, A. Chiter, and S.Perks, 1998. Scientific ReportSection 5, MAFF, UK]
DNA fragment containing ampicillin resistance genefrom the Bt maize was detected in the oral cavityand rumen fluid of animals fed with Bt maize silagein another study [Duggan, P.S., P.A. Chanibers,
J.Heritage, and J.M. Forbes, 2000. FEMS MicroiologyLetters, 191:71-77.
HGT.
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Contamination of centres of geneticdiversity
Unsolicited gene transfer to farmers
varieties Development of super herbicide resistance
Development of new invasive species
5. Contamination inevitable
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Problems with detection dueto Degradation of DNA
High degree of processing
Low amount of ingredient
Highly Processed food May contain GMOs (oil,
starch, glucose syrup)
Detection not possible, noDNA left after processing
Mixed processed food May contain GMOs in flour, or
any other ingredient (e.g.cheese)
Detection possible but in
most cases very complicated,
Can we detect GM infood?
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How, what, who and where todetect ?
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and next