Gilles-Eric Seralini, a French university professor of molecular biology and a researcher at Institute of Fundamental and Applied Biology is the author of much controversial studies about genetically modified Monsanto corn, called the NK603, in the year of 2012. Crystal clear details of many aspects of this study are not yet available. Seralini’s study is one among the very ill received studies by the scientific community. Seralini conducted studies on genetically modified corn called NK603. The NK603 has been developed as a herbicide resistant crop. It has been modified to be resistant to glyphosate, which will allow its use as a weed control on NK603 crops. This was achieved by obtaining and inserting a particular gene for 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) and associated regulatory genes. The gene for EPSPS is obtained from Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Seralini used rats for conducting his studies and they were focused on long term toxic effects of Monsanto Company’s Roundup herbicide and Roundup herbicide resistant genetically modified corn. The rats were fed with corn obtained from NK603 regularly for two years. Results of the study stated that the rodents fed with GM food died earlier than the control group of rats. Also on inspection they were found to have more tumors, liver and kidney toxicity than the control group. Female rats showed more defects than the male rats. The female ones were found to be more prone to tumors and showed higher chances of mortality.
Seralini had conducted similar experiments in 2007 also. Then he used MON 863 for the study purposes. MON 863 is also a genetically modified corn from Monsanto Company of USA. Mon 863 contained gene, which was inserted using recombinant DNA technology, which encodes an insecticidal protein, from Bacillus thuringiensis. This protein enables the crop to be resistant towards corn root worm. Seralini’s studies on long term effects of MON 863 said that on prolonged use of MON 863 corn animals that consume it will develop liver and kidney toxicity. Females recorded around 40% increase in fat and up to 10% increase in the blood sugar levels. In males it caused severe kidney damage resulting in weight loss of the body, according to the study.
Seralini’s both studies were ill received by the scientists all over the world. Many of the results of the studies were not proven clearly. Many, including the European food safety watchdog, European Food Safety Authority and Monsanto Company themselves came forward providing necessary explanations for Seralini’s findings. These explanations said that Seralini’s study did not have scientific adequacy that is needed for such a study which will make mass effects. The EFSA reviewed the study results on request of European Commission. According to EFSA the study was not properly designed. It did not have a proper methodology too. Due to its nature there were lots of critics who needed clarification for the results of the study. Seralini failed to give satisfactory answers to the critics too. EFSA in its conclusion, decided not to take any immediate action that will go against the GM foods that are currently in market. Similar explanations were provided by Monsanto Company also. They stated that the amount or quality or source of the diet is not made clear by the scientists involved in the study and still they are unable to provide any clear information about this data. Monsanto says that this study do not meet the research standards set by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, for such a high level study. Any test results of blood or urine sample analysis to support the conclusion of the study was not provided. Any data for establishing the results solidly were absent.
Associated studies are being conducted and results of related other researches were taken and presented to the public by Monsanto Company to prove that NK603 is completely safe for consumption. According to product safety statement by Monsanto Company cancer studies conducted on effects of glyphosate in last 35 years have proved that it do not cause any cancer/tumor in any of the rodent species. Glyphosate has not been proved as an endocrine disrupter. Monsanto also states that Roundup has been passed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Seralini failed to give any correct mechanism of action of NK603 in the tumor inducing effects. Many of the critical data are insufficient. These data include source of control maize, applied pesticide, diet preparation, and statistical data on mortality rate and tumor rate. Any data regarding the histopathology examinations of kidney and liver, liver function tests and cytochrome activity are completely absent. Consistency of occurrence of the symptoms was not recorded correctly in order to prove that the test results will repeat on further similar experiments.
Gilles Eric Seralini responded to critics with his own explanations for the questions raised against the study results. Seralini said that the NK603 got approval for production and human consumption only on the basis of a 90 day trial on the same strain of rat. For the criticisms stating that glyphosate cannot induce any tumor effects, he responded that his studies never used glyphosate as such, rather he used the samples that contain Roundup herbicide and the genetically modified Roundup herbicide resistant NK603 corn. Seralini claims that criticisms are severe against him only because his test results will affect many patents and approvals of genetically modified organisms that are in queue. He points out that this is not a final study about the toxic effects of the concerned products and is only a start to a major set of studies that will reveal the real effects of many of such products. Seralini provides answers for each major criticism and states that no guidelines currently exist for study of genetically modified organisms according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and development. Seralini enlists his study only in a toxicological study section rather than in a carcinogenesis study. He says statistical data is a not a key factor here as they are not the supreme methods to prove a result and are only one among a way to better understand the result.
The debates and controversies on the study of NK603 and Roundup herbicide are continuing. Many nations are responding to this study in an act as a precaution about the safety of GM foods. To obtain a final verdict on the toxicological effect of NK603 further studies are yet needed anyway. And these studies must have data sufficient to solidly prove the outcome.
Seralini used rats for conducting his studies and they were focused on long term toxic effects of Monsanto Company’s Roundup herbicide and Roundup herbicide resistant genetically modified corn. The rats were fed with corn obtained from NK603 regularly for two years. Results of the study stated that the rodents fed with GM food died earlier than the control group of rats. Also on inspection they were found to have more tumors, liver and kidney toxicity than the control group. Female rats showed more defects than the male rats. The female ones were found to be more prone to tumors and showed higher chances of mortality.
Seralini had conducted similar experiments in 2007 also. Then he used MON 863 for the study purposes. MON 863 is also a genetically modified corn from Monsanto Company of USA. Mon 863 contained gene, which was inserted using recombinant DNA technology, which encodes an insecticidal protein, from Bacillus thuringiensis. This protein enables the crop to be resistant towards corn root worm. Seralini’s studies on long term effects of MON 863 said that on prolonged use of MON 863 corn animals that consume it will develop liver and kidney toxicity. Females recorded around 40% increase in fat and up to 10% increase in the blood sugar levels. In males it caused severe kidney damage resulting in weight loss of the body, according to the study.
Seralini’s both studies were ill received by the scientists all over the world. Many of the results of the studies were not proven clearly. Many, including the European food safety watchdog, European Food Safety Authority and Monsanto Company themselves came forward providing necessary explanations for Seralini’s findings. These explanations said that Seralini’s study did not have scientific adequacy that is needed for such a study which will make mass effects. The EFSA reviewed the study results on request of European Commission. According to EFSA the study was not properly designed. It did not have a proper methodology too. Due to its nature there were lots of critics who needed clarification for the results of the study. Seralini failed to give satisfactory answers to the critics too. EFSA in its conclusion, decided not to take any immediate action that will go against the GM foods that are currently in market. Similar explanations were provided by Monsanto Company also. They stated that the amount or quality or source of the diet is not made clear by the scientists involved in the study and still they are unable to provide any clear information about this data. Monsanto says that this study do not meet the research standards set by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, for such a high level study. Any test results of blood or urine sample analysis to support the conclusion of the study was not provided. Any data for establishing the results solidly were absent.
Associated studies are being conducted and results of related other researches were taken and presented to the public by Monsanto Company to prove that NK603 is completely safe for consumption. According to product safety statement by Monsanto Company cancer studies conducted on effects of glyphosate in last 35 years have proved that it do not cause any cancer/tumor in any of the rodent species. Glyphosate has not been proved as an endocrine disrupter. Monsanto also states that Roundup has been passed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Seralini failed to give any correct mechanism of action of NK603 in the tumor inducing effects. Many of the critical data are insufficient. These data include source of control maize, applied pesticide, diet preparation, and statistical data on mortality rate and tumor rate. Any data regarding the histopathology examinations of kidney and liver, liver function tests and cytochrome activity are completely absent. Consistency of occurrence of the symptoms was not recorded correctly in order to prove that the test results will repeat on further similar experiments.
Gilles Eric Seralini responded to critics with his own explanations for the questions raised against the study results. Seralini said that the NK603 got approval for production and human consumption only on the basis of a 90 day trial on the same strain of rat. For the criticisms stating that glyphosate cannot induce any tumor effects, he responded that his studies never used glyphosate as such, rather he used the samples that contain Roundup herbicide and the genetically modified Roundup herbicide resistant NK603 corn. Seralini claims that criticisms are severe against him only because his test results will affect many patents and approvals of genetically modified organisms that are in queue. He points out that this is not a final study about the toxic effects of the concerned products and is only a start to a major set of studies that will reveal the real effects of many of such products. Seralini provides answers for each major criticism and states that no guidelines currently exist for study of genetically modified organisms according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and development. Seralini enlists his study only in a toxicological study section rather than in a carcinogenesis study. He says statistical data is a not a key factor here as they are not the supreme methods to prove a result and are only one among a way to better understand the result.
The debates and controversies on the study of NK603 and Roundup herbicide are continuing. Many nations are responding to this study in an act as a precaution about the safety of GM foods. To obtain a final verdict on the toxicological effect of NK603 further studies are yet needed anyway. And these studies must have data sufficient to solidly prove the outcome.
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