Effects Of Genetically Modified Crops Research Articles

Molecular Analysis of Soil Bacterial Community Structures for Environmental Risk Assessment with Varieties of Genetically Modified Soybean and Hot Pepper

With the advance in gene technology, genetically modified (GM) crops have increased in recent years. GM crops offer us various benefits. However, there are potential risks of GM crops for the environment. In this study, the impacts of transgenic plants on soil microbial community structures were assessed. Two varieties of soybean (Glycine max L.) and hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), which introduced the herbicide-resistant gene, bar, were used in this study. The effects of GM crops on soil microbial community structures were investigated using a cultural method, the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) procedure, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the Illumina platform. Additionally, the persistence of transgenes was monitored using a quantitative real-time PCR procedure. The cultural method, DGGE analysis, and the amplicon-based community profile indicated that soil microbial communities were not significantly different between GM and non-GM lines. The level of the bar gene in GM soybean plots greatly increased when the crops were actively growing, but thereafter gradually decreased to the initial level. Meanwhile, the level of the bar gene in GM hot pepper plots repeatedly increased and decreased according to the flowering stages. These results indicated that soil microbial community structures were not significantly affected.

Effects of Feeding Genetically Modified Crops to Domestic Animals: A Review

Genetically modified (GM) crops are being planted at large scale worldwide. In most of the countries, GM crops are processed into livestock feed. The land is used for cultivation of GM plants has been increased in recent years; in 2012 GM plants were grown on over 170 million hectares in 28 countries by 17.3 million farmers and extended to 185.1 million hectors in 2016 worldwide. GM plants have been used as feed for animals and the number of studies has proved their safety for animal and public health. This paper reviews the possible effects of GM crops on livestock, poultry, and aquatic animals by reviewing different type of studies, in which parameters such as performance, reproductive and health assessment were investigated. The most of peer-reviewed papers evaluating the effects of feeding animals with transgenic crops were based on GM plants with improved agronomic traits i.e. herbicide-tolerant plants and pets-tolerant plants; however, in some cases GM plants with boosted nutritional properties assessed. In most experiments, either Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) maize, Roundup Ready (RR) soybean or both fed to animals. Measurable differences in various parameters were mostly observed in Bt maize and soybean fed separately or simultaneously to animals. In this review, scientific studies showing the effects of the use of GM products in the nutrition of domestic animals on performance, health and reproductive parameters are investigated.

Effects of CaMSRB2-Expressing Transgenic Rice Cultivation on Soil Microbial Communities.

Although many studies on the effects of genetically modified (GM) crops on soil microorganisms have been carried out over the past decades, they have provided contradictory information, even for the same GM crop, owing to the diversity of the soil environments in which they were conducted. This inconsistency in results suggests that the effects of GM crops on soil microorganisms should be considered from many aspects. In this study, we investigated the effects of the GM drought-tolerant rice MSRB2-Bar-8, which expresses the CaMSRB2 gene, on soil microorganisms based on the culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. To this end, rhizosphere soils of GM and non-GM (IM) rice were analyzed for soil chemistry, population densities of soil microorganisms, and microbial community structure (using pyrosequencing technology) at three growth stages (seedling, tillering, and maturity). There was no significant difference in the soil chemistry between GM and non-GM rice. The microbial densities of the GM soils were found to be within the range of those of the non-GM rice. In the pyrosequencing analyses, Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi were dominant at the seedling stage, while Chloroflexi showed dominance over Proteobacteria at the maturity stage in both the GM and non-GM soils. An UPGMA dendrogram showed that the soil microbial communities were clustered by growth stage. Taken together, the results from this study suggest that the effects of MSRB2-Bar-8 cultivation on soil microorganisms are not significant.

转基因油菜与野芥菜混作对土壤线虫群落的影响

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 转基因油菜与野芥菜混作对土壤线虫群落的影响 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201401210157 作者: 作者单位: 中国环境科学研究院 环境基准与风险评估国家重点实验室,中国环境科学研究院 环境基准与风险评估国家重点实验室,中国科学院动物研究所 农业虫鼠害综合治理研究国家重点实验室,北京,中国环境科学研究院 环境基准与风险评估国家重点实验室,中国环境科学研究院 环境基准与风险评估国家重点实验室,中国环境科学研究院 环境基准与风险评估国家重点实验室 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 中央级公益性科研院所基本科研业务专项(2013-YSKY-16);国家自然科学基金青年项目(31200288) Effect of interspecific mixed cropping between transgenic oilseed rape and wild mustard on soil nematode communities Author: Affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment，Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences,,,,, Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:随着转基因作物在全球的广泛种植,转基因作物对非靶标生物的影响受到人们的广泛关注。转Bt基因抗虫作物与非转基因作物种间混作是避免昆虫产生抗性的一种生态防御策略,但混作对非靶标生物尤其是土壤线虫影响研究较少。设置不同比例的转基因油菜(Brassica napus)与野芥菜(B. juncea)混作5种处理,包括处理A、B、C、D、E分别为转基因油菜和野芥菜比例0 : 100;25 : 75;50 : 50;75 : 25;100 : 0,调查不同生育期土壤线虫种类与数量变化。结果表明,在油菜与野芥菜生育期内,不同处理线虫优势类群均为拟丽突属Acrobeloides和真滑刃属Aphelenchus,各处理线虫属数由多到少顺序为处理B(30属) >处理C(28属) >处理A(26属) >处理D和处理E(25属)。线虫生活史策略(c-p值)组成一致,各处理间线虫生活史组成不存在明显差异。不同处理的线虫总数以及各营养类群均无显著差异,线虫群落生态指数亦无显著差异,但不同采样时期间线虫Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数、均匀度指数、成熟度指数和线虫通路指数差异显著。结果表明转基因油菜与野芥菜单作和混作短期内不影响土壤线虫群落结构。 Abstract:As genetically modified (GM) crops are cultivated worldwide, the effects of GM crops on non-target organisms are of concern. Interspecific mixed cropping between transgenic and non-transgenic crops is generally regarded as a strategy against insects to minimize the development of resistance to otherwise insect-resistant transgenic crops. The toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is introduced into the soil primarily through root exudates and by the incorporation of plant residues after harvest, with probable help from pollen. Such incorporation of the toxin poses potential risks to soil organisms, including microbes, nematodes, collembolans, and other invertebrates. However, its effects on non-target soil organisms have rarely been assessed. We evaluated the effect on soil nematodes of mixed cropping with transgenic canola Brassica napus L. expressing Bt and wild brown mustard B. juncea. The abundance and genera composition of soil nematodes in the flowering and fruiting period of canola were investigated in five mixed proportions of transgenic canola and wild brown mustard: 0 : 100 (A), 25 : 75 (B), 50 : 50 (C), 75 : 25 (D), and 100 : 0 (E). The results showed the following order of genera composition with each treatment: B (30 genera) > C (28 genera) > A (26 genera) > D and E (25 genera). The dominant nematode genera were Acrobeloides and Aphelenchus, accounting for 37.4% and 12.3% of total abundance, respectively. The common and rare groups belonging to 13 and 19 genera accounted for 47.9% and 2.39% of the total, respectively. Hirschmanniella appeared only in treatment C. Tylenchus and Heterodera appeared only in treatments A and B. Depending on the trophic structure based on the functional group, fungivorous nematodes formed the largest proportion at 47.5%, followed by bacterivorous, herbivorous, and omnivorous-predatory nematodes at 33.7%, 14%, and 4.8% of the total, respectively. The colonizer-persister (c-p) values of nematodes had the same composition among the five treatments. Further, similar life histories were noted following the treatments. The total number of nematodes was in the range of 141.5-756.0/100 cm3. The total abundance and number of four feeding types of nematodes were not significantly different among treatments. The generic composition and community parameters of nematodes did not differ significantly among the five treatments. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'), Simpson index (λ), and evenness index (J') of soil nematode communities showed no significant differences among treatments on May 20. However, treatment D showed a high diversity index, dominance, and evenness index on July 4, and the highest Simpson index and evenness index on August 22. Nematode maturity index (MI) was in the range of 2.15-3.63; nematode channel ratio (NCR) was 0.28-0.57 for the three sampling times in each treatment. Thus, the H', λ, J', MI, and NCR of the nematodes varied with time. These results suggest that sole cropping or mixed cropping of transgenic canola with wild brown mustard had no short-term impact on the soil nematode community. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Bringing policy relevance and scientific discipline to environmental risk assessment for genetically modified crops

Although public opinion is important in deciding what is valued by society, governments have determined that scientific expertise is required to evaluate potential environmental effects of genetically modified (GM) crops. We suggest how to evaluate rigorously the environmental effects of GM crops in the context of a scientific investigation. Following a disciplined scientific approach to environmental risk assessment (ERA) for GM crops should help resolve controversy in identifying and addressing risk.

General Surveillance of the soil ecosystem: An approach to monitoring unexpected adverse effects of GMO's

The commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops in the European Union (EU) necessitates, according to EU legislation, the setting up of a General Surveillance (GS) system that should be able to detect unanticipated effects of GM crops on the environment. Although the applicant is responsible for setting up GS as well as for reporting the results, EU Member States may implement additional supporting surveillance programmes. Devising a GS system to detect unanticipated effects is not straightforward and requires clearly defined protection goals, suitable indicators that are linked to measurable parameters and an objective system for assessing the data. This paper describes a number of recommendations for the development of a General Surveillance system of the soil ecosystem specifically focussed on the situation in the Netherlands. The overarching protection goal of General Surveillance is ‘soil quality’, which is translated into more practical terms of ecosystem services that are relevant for soil quality, and that can be used to select measurable parameters and thus make a link with actual measurements. Ultimately, if and when effects on ecosystem services are detected, decision makers will have to decide whether these effects are acceptable or not. As a support for these decision-making processes, this paper discusses the modalities for the development of a stakeholder participation model. The model involves three groups of persons: the land users, the soil scientists and the decision makers. For reasons of cost effectiveness, a GS system of the soil ecosystem will have to make use of existing networks. The Dutch Soil Quality Network (DSQN) offers an existing infrastructure for soil sampling for GS. Finally, the GS system may be extended to contain data from the Dutch Ecological Monitoring Network, earth observation systems as well as other data resources such as farmers questionnaires or reports form organisations involved in nature conservation. Ideally these data are compiled by a Central Reporting Office (CRO) and maintained in a Geographic Information System (GIS) based database.

Proposed Definition of Environmental Damage Illustrated by the Cases of Genetically Modified Crops and Invasive Species

The introduction of non-native plant species and the release of genetically modified (GM) crops can induce environmental changes at gene to ecosystem levels. Regulatory frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity or the EU Deliberate Release Directive aim to prevent environmental damage but do not define the term. Although ecologists and conservationists often refer to environmental effects of GM crops or invasive species as damage, most authors do not disclose their normative assumptions or explain why some environmental impacts are regarded as detrimental and others are not. Thus far, a concise definition of environmental damage is missing and is necessary for a transparent assessment of environmental effects or risks. Therefore, we suggest defining environmental damage as a significant adverse effect on a biotic or abiotic conservation resource (i.e., a biotic or abiotic natural resource that is protected by conservational or environmental legislation) that has an impact on the value of the conservation resource, the conservation resource as an ecosystem component, or the sustainable use of the conservation resource. This definition relies on three normative assumptions: only concrete effects on a conservation resource can be damages; only adverse effects that lead to a decrease in the value of the conservation resource can be damages; and only significant adverse effects constitute damage to a conservation resource. Applying this definition within the framework of environmental risk assessment requires further normative determinations, for example, selection of a threshold to distinguish between adverse and significant adverse effects and approaches for assessing the environmental value of conservation resources. Such determinations, however, are not part of the definition of environmental damage. Rather they are part of the definition's operationalization through assessment procedures, which must be grounded in a comprehensible definition of environmental damage.

Monitoring effects of GM crops on butterflies: the use of multiscale approaches for general surveillance

According to EU Directive 2001/18/EC, a general surveillance monitoring must be implemented to detect possible unexpected effects of genetically modified (GM) crops on the environment. Butterflies have been proposed to be suitable indicators for monitoring environmental changes in agricultural landscapes. Using such mobile organisms as indicators for general surveillance is a challenge as their populations vary according to many environmental factors acting at the field, landscape and regional scales. They might thus not be appropriate to detect unexpected effects of GM crops, unless the sources of variation in their populations can be identified and accounted for. In the present study we use a multiscale approach to describe the interactions between butterfly populations, the environment and farming activities. We analysed existing butterfly data from several Swiss agricultural landscapes in order to identify the sources of variation in butterfly populations and to give guidelines for the design of general surveillance protocols for butterflies.

The impact of genetically modified crops on soil microbial communities.

Genetically modified (GM) plants represent a potential benefit for environmentally friendly agriculture and human health. Though, poor knowledge is available on potential hazards posed by unintended modifications occurring during genetic manipulation. The increasing amount of reports on ecological risks and benefits of GM plants stresses the need for experimental works aimed at evaluating the impact of GM crops on natural and agro-ecosystems. Major environmental risks associated with GM crops include their potential impact on non-target soil microorganisms playing a fundamental role in crop residues degradation and in biogeochemical cycles. Recent works assessed the effects of GM crops on soil microbial communities on the basis of case-by-case studies, using multimodal experimental approaches involving different target and non-target organisms. Experimental evidences discussed in this review confirm that a precautionary approach should be adopted, by taking into account the risks associated with the unpredictability of transformation events, of their pleiotropic effects and of the fate of transgenes in natural and agro-ecosystems, weighing benefits against costs.

Social Acceptability/Awareness of Genetically Modified Crops in Southeast Arkansas [Abstract only

Genetically modified crops (GMCs) are engineered to yield gains in production efficiency. Consider, for example, crop varieties that are engineered to fit growing conditions at a particular location, that are resistant to herbicide damage or certain insects and disease, or have a more highly valued chemical composition (i.e., higher protein or iron content) (Kay and Edwards 1999). Some of the benefits of GMCs may include increased yield, less variation in yield, improvement in product quality or reduced impact on the environment (Kay and Edwards 1999). However, some consumers have questions and uncertainties about the risks associated with the use of GMCs. Some of these concerns are related to health and environment. There is interest in possible food safety issues resulting from bacterial residue remaining in products causing health problems. Environmental issues are related to loss of species and ecological imbalance resulting from gene manipulation. Ultimately, retailers and distributors will need a better understanding of consumer and producer attitudes about GMCs. In this study, a focus group technique was used to collect qualitative data about the acceptance and awareness of genetically modified crops (GMCs) in Southeast Arkansas. The study involved two groups: farmers and consumers. Participants were selected from a list of stakeholders provided by the Small Farm Project Office, University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff. The Small Farm Project provides technical assistance to 250-300 small and limited resources farmers. The focus group of farmers and consumers were asked four open-ended questions designed to determine their acceptance and awareness of GMCs. Also, a close-ended questionnaire requesting demographic and socioeconomic data was used. The content validity of the instruments used in the study was tested by a multi-disciplinary panel of experts from the University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Tennessee State University. This study was administered to test the instruments of data collection, and the participation of farmers and consumers for future studies with a larger population sample. Preliminary results of this study suggest that educational programs need to be developed about the benefits and risks of GMCs. Specifically, information is needed related to the long-term health and environmental effects of GMCs.

Spain: commercialization drives public debate and precaution

Since the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops and foods in Spain in 1996, these products have become a topic of public concern and conflict. Several important social protagonists from science, industry and civil society have become involved in the public debate. The conflicts have influenced the regulation, improving its precautionary content, in response to social pressures in Spain and elsewhere in Europe. As Spain has become the primary cultivator of GM crops in the European Union, commercial cultivation there has been scientifically monitored for possible long-term environmental effects. Regulators have also asked industry to cease using antibiotic-resistant marker genes (ARMs). The expert advisory body of the regulatory process, composed exclusively of scientific experts and members of the public administration, has become a de facto policy maker. This body takes an ambiguous precautionary stand in decisions about authorizing field trials as well as products. It recommends more studies on the environmental effects of GM crops, without necessarily claiming that these studies would be essential for decision making on authorizations. Thus the meaning of precaution is being established through regulatory practice, whereby the expert body shows sensitivity to the public debate and to NGO pressures.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND EXPERTISE: Biotechnology Risk Regulation in Europe: Linking Precaution with Sustainable Development

In the risk debate over genetically modified (GM) crops, their status as ‘‘environmentally-friendly products’’ has been controversial. The 1990 precautionary legislation of the European Union was designed to anticipate potential harm from GMOs in advance. Yet the acceptability of harm - or even its definition - has been contentious in evaluating commercial products. The legislation has been interpreted in ways which implicitly link concepts of precaution and ‘‘sustainable development’’. In the mid-1990s risk regulation, the European Union framed ‘‘risk’’ within a commitment to intensive agriculture. Its familiar hazards were accepted as a normal baseline for evaluating the effects of GM crops. The regulatory procedure regarded choices of crop protection measures as irrelevant or interchangeable, and therefore regarded some future options as dispensible, regardless of whether they would be environmentally preferable. At least implicitly, safety claims presupposed environmental advantages of GM crops in reducing agrochemical usage. That risk-framing came under challenge from widespread protest and expert disagreements. In response, some governments applied more precautionary measures. They broadened the definition of the ‘‘adverse effects’’ which must be avoided, devised market-stage precautions for such effects, and increased the burden of evidence for demonstrating safety. Soon the EU-wide procedure began to formalize such approaches. In the contested definitions of relevant harm, there are deeper issues about the sort of environment which should be protected, sustained or created. Thus GM crops have become a test case for environmental norms, within a broader debate about how to construct a sustainable agriculture.