Notes

Genetically modified crops can provide advantages over the weeds

The wild plants may have the advantage of resistance to herbicides.

Weedy rice can absorb transgenes derived from genetically modified crop rice by cross-pollinating. Credit: Xiao Yang
A well-known method of genetic modification of crops that make them herbicide-resistant is found to confer advantages to weedy varieties rice, even when herbicide isn't in use. This suggests that such genetic modification could also have potential to have an impact on wild animals.

A variety of kinds of crops have been genetically altered to be resistive to glyphosate. Roundup was the first herbicide to be marketed. ラウンドアップ Farmers can eliminate the majority of weeds from their fields with this glyphosate resistance , without damaging their crops.

Glyphosate inhibits growth of plants by inhibiting EPSP synthase (an enzyme involved in the production of specific amino acids, and other molecules). The enzyme can make up as much as 35% or more of the plant's total mass. Genetic modification, for instance, the Roundup Ready crops manufactured by Monsanto in St. Louis, Missouri, involves inserting genes to a crop's genetic code in order to increase EPSP production. The genes typically come from bacteria that cause disease in the plants.

The additional EPSP synase makes it possible for plants to resist the effects of glyphosate. ラウンドアップ al3 Biotechnology labs also have tried to use plants' genes instead of bacteria to boost EPSP-synthase production and, in turn, to take advantage of the loophole within US law that facilitates regulatory approval of organisms carrying transgenes not derived from bacterial pests.

Few studies have investigated the possibility that transgenes like glyphosate-resistant genes are able to -- when introduced to weedy or wild plants via cross-pollination increase the competitiveness of these plants in terms of survival, reproduction and growth. Norman Ellstrand, a University of California plant geneticist says that without competition, any kind of transgene could be expected to confer disadvantage on wild plants. The additional machinery could decrease fitness.

Lu Baorong (an ecologist at Fudan University, Shanghai) has now questioned that opinion. ラウンドアップ It has proven that resistance to glyphosate provides a significant fitness boost to the weedy rice crop, called Oryza sativa even when not in use.

The research was published in 1. Lu and his colleagues have genetically modified rice to increase its EPSP synthase expression and crossed it with a weedy counterpart.

The researchers then allowed offspring to crossbreed with one another, creating second generation hybrids that are genetically similar to their parents except for the number of copies of the gene that encodes EPSP synthase. ラウンドアップ The researchers found that the hybrids with greater copies of the gene that codes for EPSP synthase expressed more enzymes and also produced more tryptophan in line with what was expected.

Researchers also found that transgenic hybrids were photogenic, produced more plants per plant and yielded 48-125% higher yields of seeds than the non-transgenic varieties.

Lu believes that making the rice weedy less competitive can make it harder for farmers who have their land invaded by the pest.

"If the EPSP-synthase genes are introduced in the wild rice species, their genetic diversity, which is really vital to preserve, could be threatened because the transgene's genetic make-up will outcompete the natural species" Brian Ford-Lloyd an expert in plant genetics at the University of Birmingham, UK. ラウンドアップ "This is among the most clear instances of the highly probable negative consequences of GM crops] on the natural environment."

This research also challenges the perception that genetically modified crops containing additional copies of their genes are more safe than those containing microorganism genes. Lu claims that the research does not contradict this view.

Researchers have said that this discovery calls for a review of the regulations for the future on the use of genetically modified plants. Ellstrand states "Some people believe that biosafety regulation should be looser." Ellstrand adds: "But the research indicates that innovative products require careful analysis."


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