Hazards with Genetically Engineered RR soy

Monsantos RoundupReady Soy has been widely used. It turns out that it is not unproblematic.

A human feeding study found that the gene which was articially inserted into RR-soy turned up in the DNA of gut bacteria.

This may have several problematic consequences:

The bacteria are enabled to create the foreign protein. If it is toxic (like in the case of Bt-toxin) or allergenic (as in the case of RR-soy protein), they may continue producing the harmful substance for years after you have eaten just one meal of the GE food. For example, the RR-Soy gene produces a bacterial protein which is partly identical with an allergenic shrimp protein. Consequently a person with shrimp allergy may get lasting problems from eating RR soy.

The same research found that also the promoter, that is attached to the inserted gene, also was transferred to the intestinal bacteria. Other research indicates that this promoter might become associated with other genes (2). As a promoter stimulates the activity of the associated gene, this could lead to an increased production of bacterial toxins, allergens etc. It is also suspected that the promoter might generate mutations (3).

A disconcerting fact is that research indicates that the genes don't stay in the intestinal bacteria, but may be taken up by the body, see "DNA from GE foods can end up in your genes".

References

1. Netherwood, et al, Assessing the survival of transgenic plant DNA in the human gastrointestinal tract, Nature Biotechnology, Vol 22 Number 2 February 2004.

2. Michael Hansen, “Possible Human Health Hazards of Genetically Engineered Bt Crops: Comments on the human health and product characterization sections of EPA’s Bt Plant-Pesticides Biopesticides Registration Action Document,” Presented to the EPA Science Advisory Panel Arlington, VA, October 20, 2000

3. Mae-Wan Ho, Angela Ryan and Joe Cummins, “Cauliflower Mosaic Viral Promoter—A Recipe for Disaster?” Institute of Science in Society.