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Transgenic pollen harms monarch larvae

Author

Listed:
  • John E. Losey

    (Comstock Hall, Cornell University)

  • Linda S. Rayor

    (Comstock Hall, Cornell University)

  • Maureen E. Carter

    (Comstock Hall, Cornell University)

Abstract

Although plants transformed with genetic material from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt ) are generally thought to have negligible impact on non-target organisms1, Bt corn plants might represent a risk because most hybrids express the Bt toxin in pollen2, and corn pollen is dispersed over at least 60 metres by wind3. Corn pollen is deposited on other plants near corn fields and can be ingested by the non-target organisms that consume these plants. In a laboratory assay we found that larvae of the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, reared on milkweed leaves dusted with pollen from Bt corn, ate less, grew more slowly and suffered higher mortality than larvae reared on leaves dusted with untransformed corn pollen or on leaves without pollen.

Suggested Citation

  • John E. Losey & Linda S. Rayor & Maureen E. Carter, 1999. "Transgenic pollen harms monarch larvae," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6733), pages 214-214, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:399:y:1999:i:6733:d:10.1038_20338
    DOI: 10.1038/20338
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    Cited by:

    1. Pierre-Benoit, Joly & Claire, Marris, 2003. "Les Américains ont-ils accepté les OGM ? Analyse comparée de la construction des OGM comme problème public en France et aux Etats-Unis," Cahiers d'Economie et de Sociologie Rurales (CESR), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), vol. 68.
    2. Buttel, Frederick H. & Merrill, Jeanne & Chen, Lucy & Goldberger, Jessica & Hurley, Terrance M., 2005. "Bt Corn Farmer Compliance with Insect Resistance Management Requirements: Results from the 2002 Minnesota and Wisconsin Farm Polls," Staff Papers 13659, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    3. Mads Greaker & Yuyu Chen, 2006. "Can voluntary product-labeling replace trade bans in the case of GMOs?," Discussion Papers 485, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    4. Hartung, Frank & Krause, Dörthe & Sprink, Thorben & Wilhelm, Ralf, 2024. "Anwendungen der Grünen Gentechnik in der Landwirtschaft: Potenziale und Risiken," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 5-2024, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
    5. Holst, Niels & Lang, Andreas & Lövei, Gabor & Otto, Mathias, 2013. "Increased mortality is predicted of Inachis io larvae caused by Bt-maize pollen in European farmland," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 126-133.
    6. B. Wang & H. Shen & X. Yang & T. Guo & B. Zhang & W. Yan, 2013. "Effects of chitinase-transgenic (McChit1) tobacco on the rhizospheric microflora and enzyme activities of the purple soil," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 59(6), pages 241-246.
    7. Pierre-Benoit Joly & Claire Marris, 2003. "Les Américains ont-ils accepté les OGM ? Analyse comparée de la construction des OGM comme problème public en France et aux Etats-Unis," Post-Print hal-01201044, HAL.
    8. Felloni, Fabrizio & Gilbert, John & Wahl, Thomas I. & Wandschneider, Philip, 2003. "Trade policy, biotechnology and grain self-sufficiency in China," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 173-186, May.
    9. Grant Lewison, 2007. "The reporting of the risks from genetically modified organisms in the mass media, 2002–2004," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 72(3), pages 439-458, September.
    10. Artuso, A., 2003. "Risk perceptions, endogenous demand and regulation of agricultural biotechnology," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 131-145, April.
    11. Mozumdar, Lavlu & Islam, Mohammad & Saha, Sumitra, 2012. "Genetically modified organisms and sustainable crop production: A critical review," Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURES), vol. 10.
    12. Millstone, Erik, 2009. "Science, risk and governance: Radical rhetorics and the realities of reform in food safety governance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 624-636, May.
    13. Pierre-Benoit Joly & Claire Marris, 2003. "Les Américains ont-ils accepté les OGM ? Analyse comparée de la construction des OGM comme problème public en France et aux Etats-Unis," Cahiers d'Economie et Sociologie Rurales, INRA Department of Economics, vol. 68, pages 11-45.
    14. Pardey, Philip G. & Koo, Bonwoo & Drew, Jennifer & Nottenburg, Carol, 2012. "The Evolving Landscape of IP Rights for Plant Varieties in the United States, 1930-2008," Staff Papers 119346, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    15. Springer, A. & Mattas, Konstadinos & Papastefanou, G. & Tsioumanis, Asterios, 2002. "Comparing Consumer Attitudes towards Genetically Modified Food in Europe," 2002 International Congress, August 28-31, 2002, Zaragoza, Spain 24858, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    16. Robert K. D. Peterson & Steven J. Meyer & Amy T. Wolf & Jeffrey D. Wolt & Paula M. Davis, 2006. "Genetically Engineered Plants, Endangered Species, and Risk: A Temporal and Spatial Exposure Assessment for Karner Blue Butterfly Larvae and Bt Maize Pollen," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(3), pages 845-858, June.
    17. Ashkan Pakseresht & Anna Kristina Edenbrandt & Carl Johan Lagerkvist, 2021. "Genetically modified food and consumer risk responsibility: The effect of regulatory design and risk type on cognitive information processing," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, June.
    18. Xiaoli Zhou & Jingang Liang & Ying Luan & Xinyuan Song & Zhengguang Zhang, 2021. "Characterisation of Bt maize IE09S034 in decomposition and response of soil bacterial communities," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 67(5), pages 286-298.
    19. Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh & Justin M. Holley, 2001. "An Environmental-Economic Assessment of Genetic Modification of Agricultural Crops," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 01-025/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    20. Magdalena Pawełkowicz & Bartłomiej Zieniuk & Pawel Staszek & Arkadiusz Przybysz, 2024. "From Sequencing to Genome Editing in Cucurbitaceae: Application of Modern Genomic Techniques to Enhance Plant Traits," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-41, January.
    21. Finucane, Melissa L. & Holup, Joan L., 2005. "Psychosocial and cultural factors affecting the perceived risk of genetically modified food: an overview of the literature," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(7), pages 1603-1612, April.
    22. H. Hu & M. Xie & Y. Yu & Q. Zhang, 2013. "Transgenic Bt cotton tissues have no apparent impact on soil microorganisms," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 59(8), pages 366-371.
    23. Debdatta Dobe & Rohini Sen, 2009. "Genetically Modified Organism Trade Route and Biosafety-Is It a Failing Synthesis?," American Journal of Economics and Business Administration, Science Publications, vol. 1(3), pages 206-212, September.
    24. Zinatul Zainol & Rohaida Nordin & Frank Akpoviri, 2015. "Mandatory labelling of genetically modified (GM) foods," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 199-216, May.

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