Genetically modified foods: “absurd” concern or welcome dialogue?
1999; Elsevier BV; Volume: 354; Issue: 9187 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0140-6736(99)00340-2
ISSN1474-547X
Autores Tópico(s)Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
Resumo“The attempt of single-interest groups, supported by the tabloid press and now by others who should know better, to declare this whole [genetically modified] technology as dangerous and immoral is sad for the UK, but is also absurd”. 1 Lachmann P Health risks of genetically modified foods. Lancet. 1999; 354: 69 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar So wrote the president of the UK's Academy of Medical Sciences, Peter Lachmann, after The Lancet criticised Arpad Pusztai for announcing the results of his experiments with genetically modified (GM) potatoes on television. Lachmann had less to say about the journal's additional and equally important concern—namely, that those in government, the food industry, and science had badly miscalculated the level of public anxiety about this new biotechnology. 2 Editorial.Health risks of genetically modified foods. Lancet. 1999; 353: 1811 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar Effect of diets containing genetically modified potatoes expressing Galanthus nivalis lectin on rat small intestineDiets containing genetically modified (GM) potatoes expressing the lectin Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) had variable effects on different parts of the rat gastrointestinal tract. Some effects, such as the proliferation of the gastric mucosa, were mainly due to the expression of the GNA transgene. However, other parts of the construct or the genetic transformation (or both) could also have contributed to the overall biological effects of the GNA-GM potatoes, particularly on the small intestine and caecum. Full-Text PDF Adequacy of methods for testing the safety of genetically modified foodsAn issue that has been prominent in the current debate on the health risks of genetically modified (GM) foods is whether there are adequate methods of testing for the safety of these foods. One view is that the safety assessments of these foods are not as rigorous as those for new chemicals or drugs. Today's Lancet carries two Research Letters reporting work on the potential risks to human health of the lectin Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), a compound that may be useful in protecting food plants from attacks by insects. Full-Text PDF
Referência(s)