Assessing the persistence of DNA in decomposing leaves of genetically modified poplar trees

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 977-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Hay ◽  
Marie-Josée Morency ◽  
Armand Séguin
Keyword(s):  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Transgenic Trees ◽  
Transgenic Poplar ◽  
Dna Encoding ◽  
Forest Environment ◽  
Recombinant Plant ◽  
Modified Dna

DNA transformation of forest tree species is now a striking reality and offers the possibility to generate transgenic trees with useful new characteristics. However, it is important to make the proper environmental assessment of these transgenic trees when established in field trials. For instance, the DNA released into the soil by decaying leaves and roots from the transgenic trees may become available for incorporation by soil microbes. The objective of this study was to investigate the persistence of recombinant plant marker genes in decomposing transgenic poplar leaf material. We studied the stability of the DNA encoding the neomycin phosphotransferase II resistance marker used in tree genetic engineering. DNA persistence in the environment was determined by placing transgenic poplar leaves in permeable bags that were located on weeds, on the soil, and below the soil and left under natural conditions on the site of a field trial for up to 12 months. This work is the first quantitative analysis of tree DNA stability in a natural forest environment. Our data indicate that fragments of the genetically modified DNA are not detectable in the field for more than 4 months.

Assessing the fate of recombinant plant DNA in rabbit’s tissues fed genetically modified cotton

2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 343-351
Author(s):  
Ahmad Ali Shahid ◽  
Ibrahim Bala Salisu ◽  
Amina Yaqoob ◽  
Abdul Qayyum Rao ◽  
Inayat Ullah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Plant Dna ◽  
Genetically Modified Cotton ◽  
Recombinant Plant

scholarly journals Representative taxa in field trials for environmental risk assessment of genetically modified maize

2013 ◽  
Vol 103 (6) ◽  
pp. 724-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Albajes ◽  
B. Lumbierres ◽  
X. Pons ◽  
J. Comas
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Effects ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Block Designs ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
The Family ◽  
Experimental Protocols

AbstractWhen assessing the benefits and risks of transgenic crops, one consideration is their relative effects on non-target arthropod (NTA) abundance and functions within agroecosystems. Several laboratory and field trials have been conducted in Spain since the late 1990s to assess this issue. A consideration in the design of field trials is whether it is necessary to sample most NTAs living in the crop or only representative taxa that perform main ecological functions and have a good capacity to detect small changes in their abundance. Small changes in the field abundance of an effective representative taxon should be detectable using standard experimental protocols. The ability of a species to reveal differences across treatments may be analysed by examining the detectable treatment effects for surveyed non-target organisms. Analysis of data from several NTAs recorded in 14 field trials conducted over 10 years using complete block designs allowed us to select a number of representative taxa capable of detecting changes in the density or activity of arthropod herbivores, predators, parasitoids and decomposers in transgenic and non-transgenic maize varieties. The most suitable NTA as representative taxa (with detectable treatment effects below 50%) included leafhoppers among arthropod herbivores, Orius spp., Araneae, and Carabidae among predators, chalcidids, particularly the family Mymaridae, among parasitoids and Chloropidae as decomposer. Details of sampling techniques for each sampled taxa and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. It is concluded that abundance of taxa is the most influential factor determining their capacity to detect changes caused by genetically modified varieties.

Environmental Monitoring of Herbicide Tolerant Genetically Modified Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) around Confined Field Trials

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bumkyu Lee ◽  
Kee Woong Park ◽  
Chang-Gi Kim ◽  
Hong-Gyu Kang ◽  
Hyeon-Jin Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Zoysia Japonica ◽  
Herbicide Tolerant

Leaf compositional differences predict variation in Hypsipyla robusta damage to Toona ciliata in field trials

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 642-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saul A Cunningham ◽  
Robert B Floyd
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen ◽  
Compositional Variation ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Hypsipyla Robusta ◽  
Toona Ciliata ◽  
Nirs Data

Hypsipyla robusta Moore is a shoot-boring moth that feeds on species in the Swietenioideae subfamily of Meliaceae, including the rain forest tree Toona ciliata M. Roemer. Damage from Hypsipyla has been a major barrier to growing these species in plantations. Although there has been speculation regarding the role of plant chemistry in determining host selection by Hypsipyla, there is no substantial evidence to support a role for any particular class of compounds. In this study, we used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to quantify variation in tissue composition to determine whether compositional variation could be linked with differences in H. robusta damage in a sample of 153 T. ciliata tree stems. We found that a discriminant analysis using NIRS data successfully classified most leaflets into high- and low-damage classes. Regression models based on NIRS data were also able to predict variation in leaflet nitrogen and tree height. Taller specimens of T. ciliata were more frequently damaged. Leaf nitrogen varied only a little, making it a weak explanatory variable for insect attack. The capacity of NIRS to predict variation in H. robusta attack suggests a link between T. ciliata leaf chemistry and H. robusta behaviour.

scholarly journals Faster Evaluation of Induced Floral Sterilit

2006 ◽  
Vol 55 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 285-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Hoenicka ◽  
O. Nowitzki ◽  
Th. Debener ◽  
Matthias Fladung
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Early Flowering ◽  
Transgenic Trees ◽  
Vegetative Period ◽  
Forest Tree Species ◽  
Plant Group ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Transgenic Lines ◽  
Vegetative Phases

Abstract A major concern over the use of transgenic trees is the potential for transgene dispersal through pollen and seeds. The incorporation of sterility inducing genes into transgenic lines of trees has been proposed to reduce or even avoid gene flow of transgenes into non-transgenic interbreeding species. The evaluation of strategies for the induction of sterility in transgenic forest tree species has been hindered by their long vegetative phases. In this study an early flowering 35S::Leafy poplar line was used for the faster evaluation of the sterility construct C-GPDHC::Vst1. The combination of two transgenic approaches, one to induce early flowering and a second for the induction of sterility, allowed evaluation of this sterility strategy two years after transformation. This is a very short period of time considering the long vegetative period of seven to twenty years common in forest tree species. This approach opens opportunities for the assessment of sterility mechanisms for this plant group.

scholarly journals Murine Factor H Co-Produced in Yeast With Protein Disulfide Isomerase Ameliorated C3 Dysregulation in Factor H-Deficient Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Kerr ◽  
Andrew P. Herbert ◽  
Elisavet Makou ◽  
Dariusz Abramczyk ◽  
Talat H. Malik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Disulfide Isomerase ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Mouse Serum ◽  
Dna Encoding ◽  
Disulfide Isomerase ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Modified Dna ◽  
Protein Disulfide

Recombinant human factor H (hFH) has potential for treating diseases linked to aberrant complement regulation including C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and dry age-related macular degeneration. Murine FH (mFH), produced in the same host, is useful for pre-clinical investigations in mouse models of disease. An abundance of FH in plasma suggests high doses, and hence microbial production, will be needed. Previously, Pichia pastoris produced useful but modest quantities of hFH. Herein, a similar strategy yielded miniscule quantities of mFH. Since FH has 40 disulfide bonds, we created a P. pastoris strain containing a methanol-inducible codon-modified gene for protein-disulfide isomerase (PDI) and transformed this with codon-modified DNA encoding mFH under the same promoter. What had been barely detectable yields of mFH became multiple 10s of mg/L. Our PDI-overexpressing strain also boosted hFH overproduction, by about tenfold. These enhancements exceeded PDI-related production gains reported for other proteins, all of which contain fewer disulfide-stabilized domains. We optimized fermentation conditions, purified recombinant mFH, enzymatically trimmed down its (non-human) N-glycans, characterised its functions in vitro and administered it to mice. In FH-knockout mice, our de-glycosylated recombinant mFH had a shorter half-life and induced more anti-mFH antibodies than mouse serum-derived, natively glycosylated, mFH. Even sequential daily injections of recombinant mFH failed to restore wild-type levels of FH and C3 in mouse plasma beyond 24 hours after the first injection. Nevertheless, mFH functionality appeared to persist in the glomerular basement membrane because C3-fragment deposition here, a hallmark of C3G, remained significantly reduced throughout and beyond the ten-day dosing regimen.

scholarly journals The genetically modified organism shall not be refused? Talking back to the technosciences

2021 ◽  
pp. 251484862110423
Author(s):  
Barbara Van Dyck ◽  
Anneleen Kenis ◽  
Andy Stirling
Keyword(s):  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Genetically Modified Organism ◽  
Research Technology ◽  
Biotechnology Research ◽  
The Gift ◽  
Grassroots Initiatives ◽  
And Control

Starting from Marcel Mauss’ observation that “one has no right to refuse a gift”, this paper explores the politics of refusal in the context of field trials with genetically modified organisms in Flanders (Belgium). Based on a decade of activist research, and focusing on the genetically modified organism field trials of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, we show that the business model of this strategic research center – with its triple mission of carrying biotechnology research, technology transfer, and the promotion of biotechnology through communication and lobby activities – fosters a climate in which innovations in the technosciences have to “be accepted”. The future is laid out without including the possibility of refusal. Consternation is great when this is exactly what happens. Irrational fears and lack of understanding or lack of familiarity are invoked to explain refusal. Language of precision, innovation, safety, and control are deployed to re-assure the public. Refusal is not considered a legitimate option. Yet, if farmers and grassroots initiatives would accept the gift of genetically modified organisms, it would mean the acceptance of their dispossession and the impossibility of diverse food sovereignties. Starting from theoretical work on “the gift” and “the politics of refusal”, we argue that recognizing innovation as the intrinsically plural and divergent process it is, entails including options to refuse particular pathways as a first step to open up others. As we will argue, saying no to genetically modified organisms is part of saying yes to peasant autonomy, agrobiodiversity, and peoples’ food sovereignties.

scholarly journals The Dynamics and Variability of Radial Growth in Provenance Trials of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) Within and Beyond the Hot Margins of its Natural Range

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neculae ȘOFLETEA ◽  
Alexandru Lucian CURTU ◽  
Mihai Liviu DAIA ◽  
Marius BUDEANU
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Radial Increment ◽  
Range Analysis ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Natural Range

Multi-site field trials provide valuable data for the investigation of possible effects of environmental changes on forest tree species. We analyze the descendants of plus trees from 33 Norway spruce seed sources of Romanian Carpathians, at age 30, in four comparative field trials: two established in the natural range of species and two outside of it. The dynamics and variation of radial growth, earlywood and latewood were analyzed. The influence of populations, site conditions and climatic factors were also quantified. The provenances response in the four comparative trials was asymmetric for mean radial growth, but its dynamics was less favourable outside of the natural range. Analysis of variance showed significant differences (P<0.001) between the testing sites, but non-significant (P<0.05) for the populations. Populations x localities interaction was high (P<0.001) in the first half of the testing period, but decreased over time, becoming not significant at the age of 30. At intra-populational level, the average coefficient of variation for radial growth was higher outside the natural range, whereas the proportion of latewood decreased. The temperature in the first half of the growing season negatively influenced (P<0.001) the radial increment, but in the latewood proportion significat effects (PË‚0.05) were recorded only in trials located outside of the natural range. An increased variability of radial growth and a decrease of latewood proportion are expected in Norway spruce stands located at lower altitudes, towards the limits of the natural range. Our results may contribute to the sustainable management of Norway spruce forests within and outside its natural range.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document