Pioneer be not proud.

Henry A. Wallace, Pioneer founder, is rolling in his grave at news of this
latest abomination.

Tom Mathews

Subj:         study: GE'd superweeds can spread
Date:   02-08-10 01:15:34 EDT
From:   [log in to unmask] (Jim Diamond)
Sender: [log in to unmask] (Biotech Forum)
Reply-to:   [log in to unmask] (Biotech Forum)
To: [log in to unmask]

     We've warned about the outflow of transgenes into nature, one obvious
risk being the creation of superweeds.  A study which very convincingly
demonstrates that risk was performed more than two years ago but is only now
being reported.
       The research was supported by USDA, Pioneer Hi-Bred and Mycogen Seeds
-- all promoters of transgenic agriculture.  I'll give some excerpts of the
story and add comments at the end.  The full story is at
http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2002/2002-08-09-06.asp

Engineered Genes Help Wild Weeds Thrive
By Cat Lazaroff
WASHINGTON, DC, August 9, 2002 (ENS) - For the first time, researchers have
demonstrated that foreign genes from a genetically engineered crop plant can
migrate into wild plants in a natural environment. A study released Thursday
shows that wild weeds can incorporate bioengineered genes, potentially making
the weeds stronger and more resistant to pests.

Scientists from three universities studied genetically engineered sunflowers
-- those modified with a gene that produces a chemical toxic to certain
insects -- to see what happened when these foreign genes, called transgenes,
were inadvertently passed along to weedy relatives.  [These were Bt
sunflowers -- JD.]

. . .

The second generation of wild sunflowers contained the transgene, showing
that the alien gene could be transferred. The researchers then concentrated
on learning what effects the new gene would have on the wild sunflowers.
The wild Bt sunflowers had 50 percent more seeds than control hybrids without
the gene.

COMMENT: This one study demonstrates many of the problems with transgenic
agriculture.
1. "Gene leaks" from a commercial crop can spread out into nature not as a
mere trace but in large enough quantity to cause problems.  (Unlike chemical
leaks, genetic material not only spreads but is self-replicating so the
second point below is very important.)
2. Although the plants were genetically engineered to produce Bt, the hybrids
containing the Bt gene also produced 50% more seeds.  Thus there is a
mechanism for the genetic outflow into nature to be self perpetuating.
3. The effects of genes on plants and ecosystems can't be predicted from the
simplistic assumption that "one gene produces one protein, nothing else
changes."
4. Relevant scientific data is often lacking or suppressed while those who
claim expertise make assurances of safety.  I would be interested in learning
whether the contract with the seed companies gave them any rights to review
scientific publication.  Even without such a blatant conflict, there is the
inherent conflict of interest when researcher's careers are tied to
industrial funding.
          JD

Jim Diamond
Sierra Club Genetic Engineering Committee
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