Testbiotech has filed an opposition against a patent on ‘Alzheimer-animals’. The patent (EP3066203) covers rodents and non-human primates, including great apes. The animals are genetically engineered to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The patented process causes severe suffering in the animals while, at the same time, any potential medical benefits are doubtful. The patent was granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2020 to research institutions in France.
Maize is resistant to herbicides and produces insecticides
Thursday, 22 April 2021
The first application for approval of CRISPR/Cas plants is now in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) register. Maize DP915635 is resistant to the herbicide glufosinate and produces an insecticidal toxin found in specific ferns growing on trees. Pioneer (associated with DowDupont/Corteva) has also filed several patent applications for the plants, some of which have already been granted in Europe.
Increased environmental impact of toxic pesticides
10 April 2021 / Expectations that the cultivation of transgenic plants would lower the impact of pesticides on the environment have failed to materialise. This failure was confirmed in a recent study published in the magazine, Science, based on official data from the US. The experts compared volume and toxicity of pesticides applied in fields with genetically engineered (GE) plants to fields with conventional agriculture. The conclusion: in recent years there has been a strong increase in pesticides impacting the environment, with and without transgenic plants.
New scientific publication shows the need for detailed investigation of ecological risks
30 March 2021 / A new scientific publication in the Environmental Sciences Europe journal provides an overview of the unwanted effects the release of genome-edited plants can have on ecosystems. These result from the intended properties induced by genome editing and can contribute to various metabolic processes. The publication is based on Project Genetic Engineering and the Environment (FGU) findings, and is one of the first worldwide to focus on ecological risks associated with specific CRISPR/Cas plant applications.
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