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thanks to Wytze for these 3 items from Prof Joe Cummins

1. mouse gene in corn
2. human genes in potato
3. biotech beer - fungal thermotolerant glop
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On 4 Jan 2001, at 23:10, jcummins wrote:

In the article below a mouse gene is added to corn to aid in the selection of corn cells that had taken up other genes desired by the researcher. The changed corn cells are used to grow corn plants  with mouse genes, but, the mouse genes had served their purpose and  serve no function in the corn crop. The researchers  promoting the technique seem to have given no thought to the consequences of introducing the mouse gene for use in food for animals and humans. Dow does not  have much use for human safety and well being.

Expression of murine adenosine deaminase (ADA) in transgenic maize. Petolino, J. F.; Young, S.; Hopkins, N.; Sukhapinda, K.; Woosley, A.; Hayes, C.; Pelcher, L. Biotechnology and Plant Genetics, Dow AgroSciences, 9330  Zionsville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46077, USA. Transgenic Research, 2000,  Vol.9, No.1, pp.1-9, 35 ref.

A murine adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene,  driven by the maize ubi-1 promoter and intron region, was transformed into embryogenic maize callus, along with a bar and gusA gene- containing plasmid, using microparticle bombardment. Selection in the  presence of either the herbicide Basta(R) [glufosinate] or the adenosine  analogue 2'-deoxyadenosine resulted in transgenic cultures that expressed GUS and accumulated a 41-kDa protein that immunoprecipitated with an ADA-specific polyclonal antibody. ADA enzyme activity was observed in extracts from transgenic callus as well as regenerated plants and progeny. Cultures expressing ADA grew in the presence of 200 mg/l2'-deoxyadenosine, a concentration which completely inhibited the growth of non-transgenic cultures. ADA activity appeared to segregate in progeny of regenerated plants as a single, dominant Mendelian trait. These results suggest that ADA, in combination with adenosine analogue selection, represents a potentially viable selectable marker system for transgenic maize production.
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On 4 Jan 2001, at 20:52, jcummins wrote:

The article below shows how human cytochrome genes in potato create multiple herbicide tolerance. Cytochrome genes are involved in cancer induction as they activate procarcinogen chemicals to their final gene damaging form. Human DNA in the diet does not seem like a good idea,anyhow.   ET:  Herbicide metabolism and cross-tolerance in transgenic potato plants expressing human CYP1A1. AU:  Inui, H.; Ueyama, Y.; Shiota, N.; Ohkawa, Y.; Ohkawa, H. AA:  Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan. SO:  Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 1999, Vol.64, No.1, pp.33-46, 43 ref. AB:

In laboratory studies using transgenic and control potato plants treated with [14 C]atrazine, four metabolites were produced by each. However, the deisopropylated metabolite DIDE, which is nonphytotoxic, was produced to a greater extent in the transgenic varieties S1384 and F1515. In herbicide tolerance tests, S12384 showed tolerance to both atrazine and pyriminobac methyl [pyriminobac], and F1386 and F1515 were tolerant to pyriminobac, whereas the controls died following treatment with either herbicide. Transgenic potato plants expressing human CYP1A1 (S1384, F1386 and F1515) metabolized chlortoluron [chlorotoluron] and atrazine, and exhibited cross resistance to both herbicides as well as pyriminobac. DE:  herbicides; transgenic plants; potatoes; herbicide resistance; phytotoxicity; metabolism; atrazine; chlorotoluron; cross resistance; genetic transformation; gene expression; root crops
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On 4 Jan 2001, at 21:53, jcummins wrote:

I had not dreamed that GM barley had finally reached beer! Be careful, nothing seems sacred in biotechnology, not even the beer. Its not just beer, its fungal thermotolerant glop. Expression of fungal thermotolerant endo-1,4- [beta] -glucanase in transgenic barley seeds during germination. Nuutila, A. M.; Ritala, A.; Skadsen, R. W.; Mannonen, L.; Kauppine  VTT Biotechnology and Food Research, POB 1500, Tietotie 2, 02044 VTT (Espoo), Finland. Plant Molecular Biology, 1999, Vol.41, No.6, pp.777-783, 22 ref. The malting quality of two barley cultivars, Kymppi and Golden Promise, was modified to better meet the requirements of the brewing process. The egl1 gene, coding for fungal thermotolerant endo-1,4- [beta] -glucanase (EGI, cellulase), was transferred to the cultivars using particle bombardment, and transgenic plants were regenerated on bialaphos [bilanafos] selection. Integration of the egl1 gene was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. Transgenic seeds were screened for the expression of the heterologous EGI. Under the high-pI [alpha] -amylase promoter, the egl1 gene was expressed during germination. The heterologous enzyme was thermotolerant at 65 deg C for 2 h, thus being suitable for mashing conditions. The amount of heterologous EGI produced by the seeds (ca. 0.025% of soluble seed protein) was sufficient to reduce wort viscosity by decreasing the soluble [beta] -glucan content. A decrease in the soluble [beta] -glucan content in the wort improves the filtration rate of beer.