Effect of Exposure to Multiple Bt Proteins on Honey Bee Larvae
March 30, 2012| |
Honey bee is an important non-target organism used in environmental risk assessment of GM crops. Harmer Hendriksma of the University of Würzburg, Germany, and colleagues analyzed the reaction of honey bee larvae on exposure to three insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins and CP4-protein conferring herbicide resistance combined in one GM maize variety. They also tested the biosafety of Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA lectin), a candidate protein for pest control.
The bee larvae were subjected under worst-case exposure scenario using controlled in vitro larvae rearing. Results showed that the combination of three Bt proteins had no adverse effect on the bee larvae. On the contrary, the GNA lectin was found to be toxic for the larvae at certain levels signified by changes in the pupal weight before and after the exposure.
The researchers concluded that neither one Bt protein nor the combination thereof could bring harmful effects on honey bee larvae.
Get more information about the study at http://www.springerlink.com/content/0u5v3r0nl227631q/.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- World Scientists Tackle Food Insecurity Amidst Climate Change
- Challenges for an International Biotech Regulatory Framework
- Compliance with Biosafety Regulations in Developing Countries
- IFAD: Invest in Agriculture to End Poverty
- Drought Tolerant Maize Wins 2012 UK Climate Week Award
- Uganda Minister Appeals for Speedy Approval of Biosafety Bill
- Mexico Approves 4 Additional GE Corn Pilot Tests
- New Alfalfa Variety Could be Big Boost to Dairy Industry
- CFIA Approves Two New Canola Hybrids
- White House Announces $35M for Advanced Biofuels R&D Funding
- Video-Conferencing on Climate Change and Agricultural Development in Vietnam
- India Aims to Achieve Higher Production of Wheat
- CIMMYT Introduces Wheat Tolerant to Ug99 Fungus in Bangladesh
- Improving Lives of Rural Farmers in Vietnam by Reducing Greenhouse Emissions
- Bioseed and KeyGene Develop Crops for India and SE Asia
- GM Wheat Made to Scare Aphids
- EFSA Releases Scientific Opinion on Continued Marketing of GM Cotton
-
Research Highlights
- A New Validated Protocol for Extraction of DNA from Maize Starch
- Effect of Exposure to Multiple Bt Proteins on Honey Bee Larvae
- Study Reveals Strategies to Combat European Corn Borer
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- DNA Traces Cattle Evolution
- Bees the Key to 30 Percent of our Diet
-
Announcements
- 11th International Conference on Bioinformatics 2012
- 5th Indonesia Biotechnology Conference
- 11th International Gluten Workshop
-
Resources
- Pocket K 16: Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops
- Mexican Academy of Sciences Publishes Book on Responsible Use of GMOs
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet