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One of the concerns about working with genetically modified crops has been that vegetation growing in agricultural fields might escape out into the world. Now, for the first time in the U.S., researchers report a large population of GM crops beyond the farm.
Transgenic canola plants in North Dakota had received genes making them resistant to herbicides, such as the weed killer Roundup. Researchers collected and tested 406 canola plants along thousands of miles of state roads. They found 347 carrying at least one resistance gene. There were also indications that the inserted genes were being passed on to new generations, producing some plants in the wild with multiple transgenes. The findings were presented on August 6th at the annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Pittsburgh. [Meredith Schafer et al., University of Arkansas]
The transgenic canola plants are not about to take over the world. But researchers are obviously curious about how these particular plants managed to make it in places like the edges of parking lots rather than pampered fields. Any answers they find will likely affect future biotechnology regulation.
—Molly Webster
[The above text is an exact transcript of this podcast]
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7 Comments
Add CommentMaybe the plants don't need pampered fields and perhaps the pests so commonly a problem for farmers don't see a buffet table spread before them for hectares.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswe are all doomed if we think we can just go and spray poisonous liquids in large quantities, over decades and on uncounted square miles of valuable farmland, onto crops, weeds, the soil, and ultimately the fish in the brooks, the rivers, and the oceans. whatever small return can be harvested from such a plan in the short run will be paid for by untold suffering in the future. now a billionaire pledged to help fight hunger in africa---with monsanto on his side. this is sick. and who believes plants on a field will not mingle with the plants of nearby spots? plants are only all over the planet because nature designed them to spread and mingle.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow completely disingenuous! "The transgenic canola plants are not about to take over the world." Wake up, you idiot. They already have!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe parking lot owner better watch out or Monsanto will sue them for stealing their genes!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSeriously you can't find corn , even the wild original plants that don't have transgenes in them any more. And if Monosanto finds they have contaminated your corn, soybeans they sue you!!
What if Monsanto's patented "terminator gene" was to spread to other flora?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat if Monsanto's patented "terminator gene" was to spread to other flora?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA recent Supreme court decision about a farmer who bought seeds from a grain merchant, sprayed them with glycophosphate and got successfully sued for illegally growing Montesanto's property. Given that the transgenic plants genes are now clearly owned by Montesanto, then surely if Montesanto has allowed their property to stray on your property, can you sue them for trespass or damage? Could Montesanto be reasonably asked to remove their property from your fields whilst minimising the damage to the non-transgenic plants.
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