Publication triggers ethical questions and shows risks of new genetic engineering methods
23 April 2015 / According to a new scientifc publication, researchers from China for the first time have genetically engineered human embryos for experimental purposes. They were using new methods, so-called nucleases or DNA scissors (CRISPR/Cas). The result ring alarm bells: Several side effects were observed within the human genome, indicating severe health risks. The scientists are warning that the new methods might be introduced too fast and also demand a broader ethical debate.
Testbiotech has won an opposition against a patent held by Merck Serono at the European Patent Office (EPO). Patent EP 1794287 covered a process for the production and use of human oocytes (egg cells). European patent law excludes patents on the human body at the various stages of its development, including so-called germ cells. Testbiotech filed the opposition in April 2010 and the patent finally was revoked end of March 2015.
15 April 2015 / Research carried out by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN Germany) has identified an important gap in the risk assessment of glyphosate carried out by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). There are already several scientific publications showing that glyphosate can cause oxidative stress to cells, which is a possible cause of cancer. Nevertheless, the BfR did not take this into account in their risk assessment.
Gene expression and content of insecticidal toxins cannot be reliably predicted
Friday, 10 April 2015
Scientists from Switzerland and Norway have now published the results of an investigation into genetically engineered maize MON810, which produces an insecticidal protein, a so-called Bt toxin (Trtikova et al., 2015). In the investigation, two varieties of maize MON810 were grown in climate chambers and subjected to defined stress conditions i.e. cold/wet and hot/dry. According to the authors, this is the first study to report on whether there is a relationship between transgene expression and protein production in Bt maize under changing environmental conditions.
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