In This
Issue:
UK ROYAL
SOCIETY SAYS GM FOODS SAFE
The
United Kingdom Royal Society says that there is no scientific evidence
that foods made from genetically modified (GM) crops are inherently
less safe than their non-GM conventional counterparts.
In two
submissions to the UK government-sponsored GM Science Review, the
Royal Society argues that nutritional quality of GM foods and their
potential for causing allergic reactions was no different from
that of non-GM produce. It added that health risks associated with
specific viral DNA sequences in GM plants are "negligible" and
that DNA consumption from a wide variety of sources "poses
no significant risk to human health, and that additional ingestion
of GM DNA has no effect."
Patrick
Bateson, Vice President and Biological Secretary of the Royal Society,
said that a major review of the evidence about GM plants and human
health did not change the Society's original conclusions. "Undoubtedly
some important questions need to be answered about the potential
impact, good or bad, of GM crops on the environment. But these
should be addressed without a smokescreen of unfounded claims about
their threat to human health," Bateson stressed.
For
the Royal Society's policy statement visit http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk
NZ RELEASES BIOTECH
REPORT
New
Zealand's Biotechnology Taskforce has come out with a report highlighting
a framework for action that challenges industry, government and
other stakeholders to work together to bring about long term sustainable
growth in the biotechnology sector. The report, commissioned by
the New Zealand government, considers large animal and plant biotechnology
as core strengths for the country.
The
framework presents the vision for biotechnology's growth over the
next ten years - that of the number of companies having a core
biotechnology focus increasing fivefold to more than 200 and the
number of biotechnology organizations expanding threefold to over
1,000. It sees major changes in people, funding, institutions,
infrastructure, regulation and global participation.
Major
recommendations forwarded include the need to build critical mass;
the introduction of a package of regulatory reform to create a
competitive environment for growth; and the establishment of a
robust international network through which to stimulate the flow
of international investment.
The
full report is available online at http://www.biospherenz.com/download/biotech_taskforce_report.pdf
EC OPTS TO RAISE
INVESTMENTS IN R&D
The
European Commission recently adopted the Commission document "Investing
in research: an action plan for Europe," which aims to boost
research investments in the European Union by 2010 to match the
research and development (R&D) expenditures of global competitors.
It is envisioned that if the European Union (EU) member states
follow the document's precepts, Europe's research investment level
will increase from 1.94% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to
3%, making it comparable to the R&D investments of the United
States and Japan.
The
action plan also provides for the establishment of "European
technology platforms," which will be groups of experts and
stakeholders in key technologies, such as genomics, nanotechnology,
information technology, and transport. These groups are expected
to develop and promote policies needed to further increase investments
in research. Proposals strengthening links between industry and
public research are also included in the plan. Two thirds of the
increased investment will be financed by the private sector.
Considering
that the most crucial action towards the implementation of the
plan must come from the individual member states, the European
Commission welcomes measures from the UK government on how to boost
private investments in R&D. The UK R&D tax credit system
is planning to provide tax relief to private companies in order
to encourage research investments.
For
more information about the European Commission, visit http://www.europa.eu.int
GENERIC STRATEGY
FOR RISK ASSESSMENT OF GM PLANTS
New
challenges await risk assessment for future genetically modified
(GM) crops, hence it is necessary to propose a more generic strategy
for risk assessment. To study consequences of gene flow, hazards
should be precisely defined and prioritized, with emphasis on quantifying
elements of exposure. To accomplish this requires coordinated effort
between large, multidisciplinary research teams. This is the view
forwarded by United Kingdom researchers Mike Wilkinson, Jeremy
Sweet and Guy Poppy.
In an
advanced article in Trends in Plant Science entitled "Risk
Assessment of GM Plants: Avoiding Gridlock?" the researchers
noted that increased diversity of GM cultivars will create the
need for an integrated approach to risk assessment. They note that
current data on gene flow are either insufficiently integrated
or of an inappropriate scale to predict the likelihood of extent
of transgene movement in a geographical region.
Wilkinson
and colleagues recommends that generic datasets relating to the
early stages of the exposure tree and preliminary exposure assessment
for high priority hazards be made. This, they claim, will allow
risk assessment to be more predictive.
For
more details email Mike Wilkinson at m.j.wilkinson@reading.ac.uk.
OGTR APPROVES
GM COTTON TRIAL IN AUSTRALIA
The
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) in Australia is
scheduled to issue a license to the Commonwealth Scientific and
Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) for the trial release
of genetically modified (GM) cotton.
This
field trial will evaluate the performance of GM cotton which carries
a new insecticidal protein that is toxic to lepidopteran caterpillars.
The GM cotton also has an antibiotic resistance marker gene. The
field trial aims to test the effectiveness of the insecticidal
protein produced by the introduced gene, and the possibility of
producing cotton seeds for future releases.
The
field trials will cover three sites (totaling to three hectares)
in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in northern Western Australia.
The releases will be done during the 2003 northern cotton growing
season. See the details at http://www.ogtr.gov.au.
ISAAA POST-WSSD
BIOSAFETY WORKSHOPS IN ASIA
ISAAA
conducted a series of four national workshops on "Biotechnology
After the World Summit on Sustainable Development: The Way Forward".
The workshops were co-hosted with national centers of excellence
in each country - BIOTEC/Biotech Information Centre (Thailand),
SEAMEO-BIOTROP (Indonesia), the Department of Agriculture Biotech
Program and the SEARCA Biotech Information Center (Philippines)
and MARDI/MABIC (Malaysia).
Participants
were senior-level policy makers, members of the respective national
biosafety regulatory bodies, government officials involved in biosafety
regulations, industry and NGOs.
The
workshops were designed to assist countries in South East Asia
to begin working toward their WSSD commitments to fully implement
Agenda 21. The workshops aimed to review the role of biotechnology
in Agenda 21 and to discuss the challenges ahead in achieving existing
commitments.
In general
the groups were satisfied with progress on the legislative front
in their respective countries. There was broad correspondence with
the regulatory checklists available and discussions centered more
upon implementation challenges rather than the legislation itself.
The groups in all four countries identified commonalities such
as the need to enhance capacity in risk assessment and the key
role played by IPR for technology transfer. The need to develop
technology inventories and assess potential technologies was also
highlighted. Measures to enhance public participation appeared
to require particular attention to ensure transparency and facilitate
open access to documentation by civil society. All countries expressed
a need for public awareness campaigns to improve overall understanding
and public acceptance.
ISAAA
hopes that this process will contribute to the establishment in
Asia of appropriate national biosafety legislation that (a) is
consistent with the Biosafety Protocol and (b) facilitates the
growth of domestic biotechnology capacity building and investment.
For
details of the country workshops visit http://www.isaaa.org
PHILIPPINE AGRIC
DEPT REJECTS MORATORIUM ON GM CORN
Despite
hunger strikers from non-government organizations protesting the
commercialization of Bt corn, the Department of Agriculture (DA)
in the Philippines stands firm in its decision to allow its planting.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Jr. told the
non-government organizations that there was no sufficient scientific
evidence to warrant a moratorium on the commercialization of Bt
corn.
DA assistant
secretary for policy and planning Segfredo Serrano added that a
moratorium would require another scientific and technical review
panel which would have to show "overwhelming new evidence" to
convince government to revoke the license it approved for the planting
of Bt corn.
Related
articles can be downloaded at http://www.searca.org/~bic
INDIA'S COMMERCE
ASSOCIATION TO DEVELOP BIOTECH INDUSTRY
The
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)
has finalized a 10-point charter to develop India as a global biotechnology
industry hub. K.L. Chugh, ASSOCHAM president, called for an autonomous
management structure to develop the infrastructure and institutionalization
of a Biotechnology Regulatory Commission.
ASSOCHAM
urged the government to create an enabling environment for biotechnologists
in publicly funded institutions to graduate into 'biotechnopreneurs'
by permitting them to hold 'sweat equity' in private companies.
Chugh
also stressed the need for greater investment in the area of functional
genomics of agricultural crops and animals to identify important
genes for genetic improvement.
The
Association voiced the need to start new national institutions
of biotechnology as well as upgrading national laboratories to
become Indian Institutes of Biotechnology. This would help speed
up linkages between academe and industry.
USDA FINDS METHOD
TO FAST TRACK BEAN BREEDING
A new
method to identify homozygous plants is going to make breeding
of disease-resistant bean varieties much easier. So says the Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) of the US Department of Agriculture. Homozygous
describes plants that are "true breeding," meaning their
offspring will consistently show the same traits.
ARS
reports that bean breeders rely on such plants as a genetic base
from which to develop cultivars that resist diseases caused by
the bean common mosaic virus, and bean common mosaic necrosis.
Both can cause losses of up to 60 percent in snap and dry bean
crops.
Through
marker-assisted selection (MAS), researchers can rapidly identify
resistant plants by confirming the presence of the virus-resistance
gene bc-1*2* (referred to as the "recessive bc one two gene").
Otherwise, bean breeders must observe disease symptoms induced
in a greenhouse. MAS, however, can't distinguish homozygous plants.
ARS
scientists George Vandemark and Phil Miklas have overcome the problem
by modifying the use of a key technology on which MAS is based--polymerase
chain reaction, or PCR. Their modified PCR method take about two
hours, down from a standard process that takes six to 12 months.
The
full article is in the May issue of Agricultural Research magazine,
available online at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may03/dna0503.htm
CIRCADIAN CLOCKS
IN SAME PLANT TISSUE
C. Robertson
McClung, Professor of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, New
Hampshire, USA, and colleagues found evidence of two circadian
clocks working within the same tissue of the plant Arabidopsis
thaliana, a flowering plant. Research results suggest that plants
can integrate information from at least two environmental signals,
light and temperature, which is important in order to respond to
seasonal changes.
According
to the researchers, the presence of "circadian clocks" or
two clocks with different sensitivities to light and to temperature
ensures that the plant understands both signals (light and temperature)
from the environment. This trait also allows the plants to process
data and make decisions about flowering.
McClung
and colleagues followed rhythms in two kinds of genes - one kind
that encodes for photosynthesis and another not involved in the
process. The genes included in the study are found in the mesophyll,
which is the spongy inner layer of tissue in the leaves.
To measure
gene expression, McClung and his students manipulated the clock-controlled
genes and place them in control of the enzyme luciferase, and then
introduced that new gene into the plant.
The
researchers further discovered that the non-photosynthetic gene,
which favored temperature signals, showed an exaggerated response
to pulses of cold air relative to the photosynthetic gene that
responded more to light signals.
The
press release is available at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2003/may/050703.html.
GM PLANTS AS
RINDERPEST VACCINES?
A research
team from the Indian Institute of Science are exploring the use
of transgenic plants to produce recombinant vaccines against rinderpest
virus. This virus is an acute, highly contagious disease of cloven
hooved animals, particularly cattle and buffaloes.
M. S.
Shaila's research team used Agrobacterium-mediated transformation
of shoot apices to create transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
and peanut (Arachis hypogea) plants expressing the hemagglutinin
protein (H) of the rinderpest virus. The protein expressed in the
transgenic plants elicited an immune response.
The
researchers then went on to test the potential of the edible vaccine
in cattle. The test cattle fed the transgenic plants expressing
the H protein developed a high titre of specific antibodies. The
antibodies were also able to neutralize virus infectivity in vitro.
A recombinant
subunit oral vaccine against rinderpest expressed in plants would
be a very valuable resource, says the team.
Advanced
copies of the full papers are in the journal Vaccine http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0264410X;
and in Virology http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00426822
Direct
other inquiries to M.S. Shaila at shaila@mcbl.iisc.ernet.in | 
