Biotech Updates

Breeding Changes More than Gene Technology

April 16, 2010

A research study comparing the extent of genetic variation between two breeding technologies: gene technology and conventional breeding was recently conducted by a collaborative group from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Washington State University and the University of Giessen. The project which was published in the recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports the development of genetically modified (GM) barley varieties that contain either a chitinase or beta glucanase for fungal disease resistance and enhancement of nutritional quality.

Assessment of the genetic activity and the omposition of content showed great variation between two conventional barley varieties ‘Golden Promise and ‘Baronesse' - more than 1,600 genes with unknown functions were made active in various ways. In contrast, only a few genes in the GM plants were influenced in their activity by the gene insertion. This report carries important information on the realistic assessment of the risks associated with green gene technology.

See the story at http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/504.docu.html  and the press release in German at http://idw-online.de/pages/de/news363105B