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Corona: the origin of the virus is still an open question

Testbiotech is documenting the discussion

8 February 2022 / Testbiotech is providing an overview of the continuing discussion on the origin of SARS-CoV-2. The origin of the virus is still not known. Many experts suggest there was direct transmission from wildlife species to humans, but escape from a laboratory also remains a plausible scenario.

Regardless of which theory is correct, finding the origin of the virus is fundamentally important, as both safety in laboratories and the disruption of the wildlife ecosystems are principally human activities, which need to be much more carefully monitored resp. restricted.

Transgenic cowpea may impact health and the environment

Deficiencies in the risk assessment of Bt cowpea cultivated in Nigeria

1 February 2022 / A new scientific publication reports substantial deficiencies in the risk assessment of genetically engineered Bt cowpea approved for cultivation in Nigeria. The transgenic plants produce an insecticidal Bt toxin meant to protect the plants from the larvae of Maruca vitrata, which feed on the plants and are also known as pod borer. Testbiotech recommends discontinuing the marketing of the plants as well as additional in-depth investigations before planning any releases.

New findings on the evolution of plants

Research outcomes also concern the differences between New GE and conventional breeding

14 January 2022 / A new scientific publication in Nature shows that the occurrence of mutations in plant genomes is not purely random, and their frequencies in populations do not only depend on the mechanisms of selection. However, it is now becoming evident that there are natural mechanisms in the genome which prevent specific genomic regions from frequent mutations. The published research sheds new light on evolutionary biology and, at the same time, raises questions in regard to the consequences of genetic engineering in plants.