
Meta-analysis Investigates Effect of Bt Crops on Soil Invertebrates
September 9, 2020 |
A meta-analysis of 22 studies shows that Bt crops have no significant effect on soil invertebrates. The findings reported by Aarhus University and Agrobioinstitute researchers are published in Transgenic Research.
The ecological effects of Bt crops on soil biodiversity and their ecosystem have been questioned since the research on Bt crops started. Bt crops contain a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis that confers insect resistance to the crops. Non-target soil invertebrates are vital in plant nutrient availability and turnover of organic matter; thus it is necessary to make sure that Bt crop planting has no impact on soil biodiversity. A total of 22 publications composed of 2,046 records covering 36 locations and 4 types of Bt proteins were reviewed to analyze soil invertebrates including protists, nematodes, springtails, mites, enchytraeids, and earthworms to find out if population abundance and biomass of the organisms are affected by Bt crops.
Results showed that there was a considerable variation among soil vertebrate orders, but the sample sizes were not enough, and the sample heterogeneity was too large to draw conclusions at the order level. However, across orders, it was found that Bt proteins have no significant impact on soil invertebrates.
Read more results of the meta-analysis in Transgenic Research.
|
You might also like:
- Pocket K No. 57: Impact of GM Crops on Soil Health
- Meta-analysis of Soil Enzymatic Responses to Bt Crops
- Study Shows Effects of Soil Salinity on Cry1Ac Expression in Bt Cotton
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
- 3rd Asian Short Course on Agri-biotech, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication
- ISAAA Kicks Off Discourses on Regulatory Approaches for Animal Biotech
- Kenyan Scientists Embark on Synthetic Biology Research
- US EPA Proposes to Ease Up Regulations on Certain Biotech PIPs
- Australian OGTR Receives License Application for Field Trial of GM White Clover
- Plant Protein Discovery to Help Plants Tolerate Climate Change and Reduce Need for Fertilizers
-
Research Highlights
- International Research Team Discovers How Plants Shut the Door on Infection
- Meta-analysis Investigates Effect of Bt Crops on Soil Invertebrates
-
Plant
- Scientists Publish qPCR Method for Commercial Gene-Edited Canola
- New Bicistronic TALENs Enhance Genome Editing
- Study Shows OsCRS2 Vital for Chloroplast Development in Rice
-
Health
- Most Comprehensive Map of SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Structures Now Published
- Nigerian Scientists Identify Seven Lineages of SARS-CoV-2
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (February 12, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (February 12, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet