Genetically modified plants silence pest’s genes
Scientists have already created genetically modified crops that produce proteins that are toxic to the pests that eat them. Now they have gone a step further and created plants that literally rewrite the genetic code of the insects that eat them. The genetically modified crops use a process called RNA interference:
RNA interference occurs naturally in animals ranging from worms to humans. It’s a process whereby double-stranded RNA copies of specific genes prevent cells from translating those genes into proteins. The new genetically modified plants carry genes for double-stranded RNA targeted to particular insect genes…
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Shanghai, made cotton plants that silence a gene that allows cotton bollworms to process the toxin gossypol, which occurs naturally in cotton. Bollworms that eat the genetically engineered cotton can’t make their toxin-processing proteins, and they die. Researchers at Monsanto and Devgen, a Belgian company, made corn plants that silence a gene essential for energy production in corn rootworms; ingestion wipes out the worms within 12 days.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I hope this corn will only be used to make ethanol.
November 5th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Controlled evolution is a dangerous game.
November 5th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Holy crap, that’s scary.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Say “Plants that literally rewrite the genetic code of the insects that eat them. ” is totally incorrect. The original article says “disrupting their gene expression.” which is something totally different and actually belivable…