vii annual videoconference on advances of agri...

VII Annual Videoconference on Advances of Agri-Biotechnology

2012: year of science, egos, cancer and rats

Pedro J. Rocha S. Biologist, Ph.D.

Coordinator Area of Biotechnology and Biosafety (AB&B)

Program of Innovation for Productivity and Competitiveness (PIPC)

IICA Head Quarters-Costa Rica, 21st February 2013

• Biotechnology and biosafety for IICA – Position

– Activities and relevant results 2012

• Advances in: – Genomics (sequencing), “omics” and bioinformatics

– Bio-products production

– Transgenesis • Egos, cancer and rats

– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

2






– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

3

Other disciplines:

Biotechnology: much more than transgenesis

IICA is not for or against a specific technology

Biosafety: Expression of countries sovereignty on biotechnology (transgenesis)

Biotechnology: complement and foundation of the various forms of agriculture In vitro

culture Hybridization

Fermentation

“Omics”: Genomics, Proteómica, Metabolómica

Molecular markers

Radio-activity

Transgenesis

Bio-reactor

Bio-informatics

Scientific validated knowledge and available technologies

Biological sciences: Molecular and cell

biology

Engineering Law Economics

Genetics Biochemistry Plant

Physiology Microbiology

Statistics Informatics

Sustainable productive systems (social, economics, environmental)

Farmer choice Implemented policies Political decision

Communication

conventional organic

clean Acepted

No Acepted

Clean technologies

Transgenic technology

Nuclear technology

Conventional technologies

Scientific and technical basis

Technological innovation

Pillars IICA on

biotechnology

Results

Purposes

Ecology

Support to institutionalism: Policies & Institutions

Capacity building Activities Communication of

biotech

Modified from: Rocha, 2011. ComunIICA 8(January-July):23-31

Traditional-knowledge based

transgenic

In vitro culture

Cloning / Micro-

propagating

Cryoconservation

Haploid generation

Induction of somaclonal

variation

Radioisotopes & Radiation

Mutation induction

Molecular Markers

Hybridization -Plant breeding-

Bioreactors

Regeneration

Transgenesis

Fermentation

Biological cleaning

Type I: isoenzymes, RFLP, Type II: Based in PCR (RAPD,

AFLP, SSR)

Type III. Based in sequencing (SNP, SSCP)

“Omics” Genomics

Proteomics

Transcriptomics

Metabolomics

Biological control

Biofertilización (compost)

Biofuels

Bioinformatics

Biocontrol (productos naturales)

Sterile Insect Technique

Rocha, 2011. ComunIICA 8(January-July):23-31

Agricultural Biotechnology

Capacity building

• Courses on low level presence (LLP): Buenos Aires & Rosario (15 countries).

• Training for regulators (Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador).

• Technical support for the start of the Master of Biotechnology (National University of Asuncion, Paraguay).

• Actions for technological updating and monitoring.

Activities and results IICA 2012 in Biotechnology and Biosafety

6 IICA, Costa Rica

Embrapa, Brazil

Ecuador

Communication of biotechnology

• Lectures, seminars, forums and interviews.

• Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Venezuela.

• Technical support to LAC-Biosafety

• Publication of materials.


7

http://www.iica.int/Esp/Programas/Innovacion/Publicaciones_TeI/b2992e.pdf

Conveme, Venezuela

Costa Rica

LAC-Biosafety, Colombia

Paraguay

English version soon




Supporting Institutionalism in LAC Countries

• Policy implementation – IICA acts with formal invitation from National

Authorities of countries.

– Technical support to execution of UNEP-GEF projects (Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador).

– Designing of the “Strategy for education and communication of biotechnology for Costa Rica”.


8

Costa Rica

Ecuador

Supporting Institutionalism in LAC Countries

• Strengthening institutions – Technical visits (Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay,

USA, Venezuela)

– Preparing countries for participation in VI COP-MOP (Hyderabad, India).

– Generation of novel institutionalism: Initiative for Central America for Biotechnology & Biosafety (ICABB).

– Helping interaction between NABI and G5-CAS

– Permanent dialog with CAC and CAS


9 CAC USA Promecafe

IDEA-Venezuela

INTA-Nicaragua

IICA´s Biotechnology Network • Mailing list

– Internal: [email protected]

– External: [email protected]

• Institutional Web – http://www.iica.int – http://www.infoagro.net

Contact

10

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.iica.int/


http://www.infoagro.net/






– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

11

Advances in Genomics: Sequencing

12

Sequencing system

Pacific Bio Ionic

torrent 454 GS FLX

Illumina Hi Seq 2000

SOLiDv4 Sanger

Method Single-molecule real-time sequencing (Pacific Bio)

Ion semiconductor (Ion Torrent sequencing)

Pyrosequencing (454)

Sequencing by synthesis (Illumina)

Sequencing by ligation (SOLiD

sequencing)

Chain termination (Sanger sequencing)

Read length (bp) 2900 200 700 50 to 250 50+35 or 50+50 400 to 900

Accuracy 87% (read length mode),

99% (accuracy mode) 98% 99.9% 98% 99.9% 99.9%

Reads per run 35–75 thousand up to 5 million 1 million up to 3 billion 1.2 to 1.4 billion N/A

Time per run 30 min. to 2 hours 2 hours 24 hours

1 to 10 days, depending upon sequencer and

specified read length

1 to 2 weeks 20 min. to 3 hours

Cost per 1 million bases (in US$)

2 1 10 0.05 to 0.15 0.13 2400

Advantages Longest read length. Fast. Detects 4mC, 5mC, 6mA

Less expensive equipment

Fast

Long read size. Fast

Potential for high sequence yield, depending upon sequencer model

and desired application

Low cost per base Long individual reads.

Useful for many applications

Disadvantages

Low yield at high accuracy

Equipment can be very expensive

Homopolymer errors

Runs are expensive Homopolymer

errors

Equipment can be very expensive

Slower than other methods

More expensive and impractical for larger sequencing projects

Source: Liu, L. et al. 2012. Comparison of Next-Generation Sequencing Systems. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology. Vol. 2012, Article ID 251364, 11 pages. doi:10.1155/2012/251364

Advances in Genomics

13

To 8th February 2013 Number

Total of genomes 21 571

Sequenced genomes 4 129

Archea 181

Bacteria 3 765

Eukaryots 183

On going projects 17 402

Metagenomes 369

Source: http://www.genomesonline.org y http://www.phytozome.net

Total Genome Transcrip

tome Re-

sequencing No

cultivated

Archea 453 430 16 5 81

Bacteria 19 065 18 607 14 213 830

Eukaryots 3 140 1 729 776 487 4

• Potential application in diagnostics of pest and diseases

– Detection is more precise, faster and cheaper.

Single Cell Genomics

14 Source: Yilmaz S & Singh AK. 2012. Single cell genome sequencing. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 23:437-443.






– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

15

• Use of fermentation and composting techniques, essential for organic- and ecological- and conventional-agriculture. –Methodologies used by a large number of farmers in the world.

• There is heterogeneity in their use and results.

• Improper management involves harmful effects on human, animal and environment or low productivity.

• Seufert, V; Ramankutty N; Foley JA. 2012. Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture. Nature 485:229–232.

• Smith-Spangler, C; et al. 2012. Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives? Ann. Intern. Med. 157:348-366.

–Opportunity to incorporate scientific research and strengthen extension.

Bio-products Production

16

• Business opportunities for biotechnology companies and laboratories. –Quality assurance (traceability, efficiency, stability).

–Opens possibility for utilization of biodiversity for commercial purposes.


17

Bioprospection

Lab. research Scaling

Product development Commercialization Field Research

In silico and “paper” research

Registration & Certification

Biotechnology

• Increasing trend to put bio-products to market. –First biofungicide (Fungifree AB) to prevent anthracnose in mango

and improve productivity. • Developed by Institute of Biotechnology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma

de México (UNAM and researchers of the Center for Food Research and Development, Unit Culiacán).

• Twelve years of research.

• To market in 2013 (Agro&Biotecnia). – Mango, avocado, papaya

– Brazil, Ecuador y EE.UU.

• http://www.portalfruticola.com/2013/02/08/nace-el-primer-biofungicida-quemejorara-la-productividad-del-mango-mexicano/?pais=argentina


18

Source: Inforganica 2013-05

http://www.portalfruticola.com/2013/02/08/nace-el-primer-biofungicida-quemejorara-la-productividad-del-mango-mexicano/?pais=argentina




































– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

19

Advances in Transgenesis: Global area of GM crops

20

Source: James, C. 2012. Executive summary. Global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops:2012. Brief 44.

Mill

ion

he

ctar

es

Advances in Transgenesis

21

Source: James, C. 2012. Executive summary. Global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops:2012. Brief 44.

• 170 M ha

• Annual growth rate of 6%

• 28 countries planted GM crops

– 20 developing countries

• Sudan (Bt cotton) and Cuba (hybrid Bt maize) planted GM crops for first time.

– Cuba grew 3,000 ha in a “regulated commercialization”

– The initiative is part of an ecologically sustainable pesticide-free program featuring biotech maize hybrids and mycorrhizal additives.

– The Bt maize was developed by the Havana-based Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB).

• Europe situation:

– Germany and Sweden could not plant the biotech potato, Amflora because it ceased to be marketed

– Poland discontinued planting Bt maize because of regulation inconsistencies between the EU and Poland

– Spain, Portugal, Czechia, Slovakia and Romania planted 129 071 ha of Bt maize,

GM Crops 2012

22

• 17.3 M farmers, 90% small scale

• 52% of GM crops in 2012 were grown in developing countries

• Growth rate of GM crops was 11%in developing countries

• Between 1996-2011 cumulative economic benefits were US$49.6 billion in developing countries (vs. US$48.6 billion by industrial countries). – For 2011 alone US$10.1 billion for developing countries (US$9.6 billion for developed countries)

• Economic gains at the farm level of ~US$98.2 billion globally (period 1996 to 2011) – 51% due to reduced production costs (less ploughing, fewer pesticide sprays and less labor)

– 49% due to substantial yield gains of 328 million tons.

• Stacked traits occupied 25% of the global 170 M ha

• Conserving biodiversity, biotech crops are a land saving technology

• Reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint

• Helping mitigate climate change and reducing greenhouse gases

GM Crops 2012

23

Sources: Céleres. 2013. Os beneficios econômicos da biotecnologia agrícola no Brasil: 1996/97 – 2011/12. 7p. 24

Advances in Transgenesis in Brazil

Summary of traits introduced into

GM crops

25

2,4-D

Dicamba

Glifosato

Glufosinato

Isoxaflutol

Oxinil (v.g. bromoxinil)

Sulfonilurea

Coleópteros

Lepidópteros

Múltiples insectos

Bean Golden Mosaic virus (BGMV)

Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV)

Plum pox virus (PPV)

Potato Virus Y (PVY)

Cucumber Mosaic Cucumovirus (CMV)

Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Potyvirus (ZYMV)

Watermelon Mosaic Potyvirus 2 (WMV2)Tolerancia a

estrés abióticoSequía

Producción de fitasa

Esterilidad masculina

Senecencia/madurez retardada

Ablandamiento retardado

Flores con color modificado

Modificación de ácidos grasos y aceites

Modificación de almidón /carbohidratos

Modificación de aminoácidos

Modificación de alfa amilasa (termoestabilidad)

Síntesis de nopalina

Reducción de nicotina

Tolerancia inmune a alergenos

Marcadores de selección con antibióticos

Metabolismo de manosa

Marcadores visuales para selección

Calidad de

producto

Selección de

eventos

Tolerancia a

Insectos

Tolerancia a

enfermedades

(causadas por

virus)

Resistencia a

herbicidas

Based in several sources: BCH, ISAAA

Summary of genetically

modified plants

26

Álamo Populus sp.

Alfalfa Medicago sativa

Algodón Gossypium hirsutum

Arroz Oryza sativa

Calabaza Cucurbita pepo

Césped Agrostis stolonifera

Chicoria Cichorium intybus

Ciruela Prunus domestica

Clavel Dianthus caryophyllus

Colza argentina Brassica napus

Colza polaca Brassica rapa

Fríjol Phaseolus vulgaris

Lino Linum usitatissumum

Maiz Zea mays

Melón Cucumis melo

Papa Solanum tuberosum

Papaya Carica papaya

Petunia Petunia hybrida

Pimentón Capsicum annuum

Remolacha Beta vulgaris

Rosa Rosa hybrida

Soja Glycine max

Tabaco Nicotiana tabacum

Tomate Lycopersicon esculentum

Trigo Triticum aestivum

Based in several sources: BCH, ISAAA

Plant Transgenesis Evolution

27

Álamo Alfalfa Algodón Arroz Calabaza Césped Chicoria Ciruela ClavelColza

argentina

Colza

polacaFríjol Lino Maiz Melón Papa Papaya Petunia Pimentón Remolacha Rosa Soja Tabaco Tomate Trigo

Populus

sp.

Medicago

sativa

Gossypium

hirsutum

Oryza

sativa

Cucurbita

pepo

Agrostis

stolonifera

Cichorium

intybus

Prunus

domestica

Dianthus

caryophyllus

Brassica

napus

Brassica

rapa

Phaseolus

vulgaris

Linum

usitatissumum

Zea

mays

Cucumis

melo

Solanum

tuberosum

Carica

papaya

Petunia

hybrida

Capsicum

annuumBeta vulgaris

Rosa

hybrida

Glycine

max

Nicotiana

tabacum

Lycopersicon

esculentum

Triticum

aestivum

2,4-D C C

Dicamba C

Glifosato C C C C C C C C C C

Glufosinato C C C C C C C C

Isoxaflutol X

Oxinil (v.g. bromoxinil) C C X

Sulfonilurea C C C C C

Coleópteros C C

Lepidópteros X C C C C X

Múltiples insectos C C C

Bean Golden Mosaic virus (BGMV) X

Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV) C

Plum pox virus (PPV) X

Potato Virus Y (PVY) C

Cucumber Mosaic Cucumovirus (CMV) X X X

Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Potyvirus (ZYMV) X

Watermelon Mosaic Potyvirus 2 (WMV2) XTolerancia a

estrés abióticoSequía C

Producción de fitasa C X

Esterilidad masculina C C C

Senecencia/madurez retardada X X X

Ablandamiento retardado C

Flores con color modificado C X

Modificación de ácidos grasos y aceites C C

Modificación de almidón /carbohidratos C

Modificación de aminoácidos C

Modificación de alfa amilasa (termoestabilidad) C

Síntesis de nopalina C

Reducción de nicotina X

Tolerancia inmune a alergenos X

Marcadores de selección con antibióticos X C X X C X C C C X C C C C C C

Metabolismo de manosa C

Marcadores visuales para selección C X C C C X

Calidad de

producto

Selección de

eventos

Especies Vegetales Genéticamente Modificadas (GM)

Características introducidas

Tolerancia a

Insectos

Tolerancia a

enfermedades

(causadas por

virus)

Resistencia a

herbicidas

C = Commercial events X = Experimental evento s

Taken from: Rocha (2013) en preparation, based in several sources: BCH, ISAAA

Transgenics

28

chamanismognostico.webs.com

www.medicinajoven.com

tusaludpuravida.blogspot.com

www.taringa.net

Transgenics, misperception

29

poster.4teachers.org

www.ecotumismo.org

www.ecotumismo.org

alumnossecundariaqm.blogspot.com

www.gastronomiaycia.com www.taringa.net comunidadecologicapenalolen.bligoo.com

transgenicounaamenaza.blogspot.com

www.taringa.net

Transgenics, misperception

30

poster.4teachers.org

www.ecotumismo.org

www.ecotumismo.org

alumnossecundariaqm.blogspot.com

www.gastronomiaycia.com www.taringa.net comunidadecologicapenalolen.bligoo.com

transgenicounaamenaza.blogspot.com

www.taringa.net

Irresponsible messages

31

www.lagarbancitaecologica.org

musulmanesdecostarica.blogspot.com

identidadandaluza.wordpress.com www.redes.org.uy

www.elciudadano.cl

Irresponsible messages

32

www.lagarbancitaecologica.org

musulmanesdecostarica.blogspot.com

identidadandaluza.wordpress.com www.redes.org.uy

www.elciudadano.cl






– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

33

GM maize, egos, cancer and rats

34

19th September 2012

GM maize, ego, cancer and rats

35

Foto: Nature (11 Oct. 2012). Vol 490:158


36


Experiments´ description

• He wanted to test the effect of GM maize on the (potential) occurrence of cancer in rats.

Treatments 50ng/l 400 mg/kg 2,25g/l

Conventional (0% GM maize)

Mix with 11% GM maize NK603



M F M F M F

• Analysis:

– Microscopy and pathology observations

– Multivariate analysis

Glyphosate

Die

t

Sex

2 years

37


38

Inaccurate, vague

So, how was the weed control?

Which was the third one?


39

This type of rats prematurely develop spontaneous tumors (weeks 13 to 26, Prejean

JD; et al. 1973. Spontaneous tumors in Spregue-Dawley rats and Swiss mice. Cancer Research 33:2768-2773.)

What if normal rats were used or at least they do not develop cancer early?

Lefterov EA. 2011. A rat in а street of Sofia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Street-rat.jpg 40

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Street-rat.jpg




41

This type of rats prematurely develop spontaneous tumors (weeks 13 to 26, Prejean

JD; et al. 1973. Spontaneous tumors in Spregue-Dawley rats and Swiss mice. Cancer Research 33:2768-2773.)

So, rats were maintained with glyphosate solutions for two years?

Glyphosate

Location Half Life Reference

Soil < 60 days (9 weeks) U.S. EPA, 1979

Sandy soil 119 to 133 days (17 to 19 weeks)

Ghassemi et al., 1982

Silty loam soils 21 days (3 weeks)

Foliage and fallen leaves

10,4 to 26,6 days Newton et al. (1984)

Exposed soil 40,2 days

Soil with litter 29,2 days

Experiment LD50

(mg/kg) Reference

Glyphosate without surfactants in rats

4873 Bababunmi et al., 1978

Glyphosate without surfactants in mice

1568

Intraperitoneal injection in rats

235 Olorunsogo & Bababunmi, 1980

Intraperitoneal injection in mice

130

Source: National Toxicology Program (NTI). 1992. NTP Technical Report on Toxicity Studies of Glyphosate (CAS No. 1071-83-6) Administered in Dosed Feed to F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice. PC. Chan & JF Mahler. Toxicity Reports Series No. 16, NIH Publication 92-3135.

42

Herbicide LD50 in mg/kg (classification)

LC50 in ppm (classification)

Half life (in days)

Atrazine 3080 (Mod.) (Slightly) Long life ND

2,4-D y 2,4-DP 375 (Mod.) 100 (Slightly) 28

Dicamba 1707 (Mod.) 35 (Slightly.) 14

Fluazifop 4096 (Mod.) 5,4 (Mod.) 21

Glyphosate 4873 (Slightly) 86 (Slightly) 60

Hexazinon 1690 (Mod.) 274 (no) 30

Imazapyr 5000 (Slightly) 100 (Slightly) 27

Metsulfron 5000 (Slightly) 150 (no) 42

Picloram 8200 (Slightly) (Slightly) 63

Sethoxydim 2676 (Mod.) (Slightly) 11

Sulfometuron 5000 (Slightly) 12,5 (Slightly) 10

Triclopyr 713 (Mod.) 117 (no) 46

Paraquat 120 (Ext.)

LD50 Reference: Nicotine 9 (Extremely), caffeine 192 (Extremely), bleach 192 (Extremely.), ammonia 350 (Moderate), kitchen salt 3000 (Moderate)

Based on: McNabb K. 1996. Forestry herbicide facts. ANR-0629. 18p. En http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0629/ Fishel, F; et al. 2005. Herbicides: How toxic are they? Univ. Florida PI-133. En http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/PI/PI17000.pdf

43

Glyphosate

• Herbicide (weed killer) systemic post-emergence. – It is absorbed by the soil, not easily washed. – Its mobility in soil is affected by soil type, pH level and phosphates. – High absorption in clay and organic matter rich soils when compared to sandy soils. – Susceptible to degradation by bacterial metabolism (Sprankle et al., 1975) – It does not bioaccumulate in living cells (Ghassemi et al., 1982) due to its high solubility in water.

• Median lethal dose of glyphosate: 4873 mg / kg (slightly toxic) – Toxicity is measured in mammals and fish – The median lethal dose (LD50) is the amount of chemical required to kill 50% of a population of

test animals (rats). – It is expressed in mg of chemical per kg of animal weight in test. – The lethal concentration (LC50) is the amount of product dissolved in water which is lethal to 50%

of a population of fish.

• Physiological effects previously described – Santillo DJ; et al. 1989. Response of small mammals and habitat to glyphosate application on clearcuts. Journal of Wildlife Management 53(1):

164-172); Conicet, 2009. Evaluación de la información científica vinculada al glifosato en su incidencia sobre la salud humana y el ambiente. 132p.

• There are other more toxic herbicides. However, it is still a poison, not water!

Source: National Toxicology Program (NTI). 1992. NTP Technical Report on Toxicity Studies of Glyphosate (CAS No. 1071-83-6) Administered in Dosed Feed to F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice. PC. Chan & JF Mahler. Toxicity Reports Series No. 16, NIH Publication 92-3135.

44

Descripción del Experimento

45

A classic test to compare mortality rates between various treatments is the Chi-square test.

Results

46

Results

47

What these shocking pictures bring to the results of that “scientific” paper?

Are these pictures relevant for the paper?

Results

48

How to explain that more die in the control that in the diet at 33%?

Results

49


The trends are almost the same,

how to differentiate GM effect from the effect of herbicide?

And how to isolate the natural

susceptibility of rats to tumors?

Results

50




And how to isolate the natural

susceptibility of rats to tumors?

How to explain that groups with 22% and 33% of GM maize die 3 times less than the controls?

Results

51




Y ¿cómo aislar la susceptibilidad

natural de las ratas a los tumores?

How to explain that groups with 22% and 33% of GM maize die 3 times less than the controls?

Seralini et al. (2012) Conclusions

52

Seralini et al. 2012. Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize. Food and Chemical Toxicology 50:4221-4231.

1

2 3

4

Seralini et al. (2012) Conclusions

53

Seralini et al. 2012. Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize. Food and Chemical Toxicology 50:4221-4231.

1

2 3

4

Data do not support conclusions

• He wanted to test the effect of GM maize on the (potential) occurrence of cancer in rats.

Treatments 50ng/l 400 mg/kg 2,25g/l

Conventional (0% GM maize)




M F M F M F • Analysis:

– Microscopy and pathology observations

– Multivariate analysis

Glyphosate

Die

t

Sex

2 years

54

BUT:

• Dawley Sprague rats (susceptible to cancer) were used – Bacause “this strain … is preferentially used by some agencies such the National Toxicology Program” – but this strain is used for

testing anti-cancerigens not to test potential carcinogens.

• “water” used was a diluted solution of glyphosate, because “glyphosate is contaminating regular tap water!”

• Two year period for a tumor growing rat observation is unethical, tumors are presented from week 26 and information about it is available since 1973.

• Experiment has just one repetition because is a “long term experiment!”

Seralini et al. (2012) paper MUST be revoked and removed from scientific literature

• Scientific community dismisses the experimental design, execution, findings and publication.

• Evaluation system of the journal is questioned.

• Scientific community has asked the publisher to withdraw the paper.

• Access to full information on the experiment was required.

• Such experiments must be repeated by other groups.

55


• Technical oppositions were presented by scientists around the world and the journal gave Seralini the opportunity to respond to the questions.

56

Seralini et al. (2012) study is not valid because it does not pass statistical tests

58

Seralini´s reply and supporters

59

Statistics validates itself, does not depend on who evaluates a paper

"If it takes longer to read an article, its quality increases"

FALSE

Accepting this postulate is to disqualify more than 150 years of scientific demonstrations and facts

Independent study shows that Daweley Sprague rats were not the best choice for that experiment

60


61


62


63


64

• El artículo de Seralini et al. (2012) debe ser revocado y retirado por las serias limitaciones en el diseño de los experimentos y por la manera poco transparente de presentar los resultados.


65



66

2004 2003 2006

Fuente: Amazon.com


Consequences

Positive • Greater control and rigorous in the peer review systems of scientific

journals. • Proper (but late) response of the international scientific community.

Negative • Fear was generated. • Negative public perception towards science. • On the quality of the magazine and French science. • Economic Implications (imports closure [Russia], altering market

dynamics). • Threatens the world's food security. • Unfounded, puts into question the decisions of acceptance of GM corn

made up yto now by the world's biosafety committees. • If quantifying, how much did cost and will cost the hasty and

unsubstantiated conclusions of Seralini´s paper?

67

Life is not perfect, but you can always make

your own choices

68






– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

69

• Advances in genetic modification of plants against nematodes (Atkinson et al. 2012, Curr. Opin.

Biotech. 23:251-256).

• GM plants that use phosphite as phosphorus source (López-Arredondo DL; Herrera-Estrella L. 2013,

Nature biotech. 30(9):889-893).

• Production and field trials of cassava (Manihot esculenta) GM for low amylose production in Indonesia (Koehorst-van Putten HJJ; et al. 2012. Transgenic Res 21:39–50).

• GM banana (rice genes) resistant to black zigatoka (Kova´cs G; et al. 2013. Transgenic Res 22:117–

130)

• First example of GM potatoes modified with three resistance genes against Phytophthora infestans (Zhu S; et al. 2012. Transgenic Res 21:89–99).

• Approved Elelyso production (taliglucerasa alpha) in bioreactors of GM carrot cells (Fox J.

2012. Nature biotech. 30(6):472)

• GM silkworms to produce spider protein (Teule F; et al. 2012. PNAS USA 109:923-928).

• Transgene Promoters DataBase (TGP, http://wwwmgs.bionet.nsc.ru/mgs/dbases/tgp/home.html)

• GM cloned cow expressing omega-3 fatty acids (Wu X. 2012 Transgenic Res. 21(3): 537-543).

Advances in Transgenesis

70

http://wwwmgs.bionet.nsc.ru/mgs/dbases/tgp/home.html

Advances in Transgenesis: GM Plants and nematodes control

71 Taken from: Atkinson HJ; Lilley CJ; Urwin PE. 2012. Strategies for transgenic nematode control in developed and developing world crops. Curr. Opin. Biotech. 23:251–256.

Advances in Transgenesis: GM plants to use phosphite as P source and weed control

72 Taken from: López-Arredondo DL; Herrera-Estrella L. 2013, Engineering phosphorous metabolism in plants to produce a dual fertilization and weed control system. Nature Biotech. 30(9):889-893.

Advances in Transgenesis: GM cassava with low-amylose starch

73 Taken from: Koehorst-van Putten et al. 2012, Field testing and exploitation of genetically modified cassava with low-amylose or amylose-free starch in Indonesia. Transgenic Res. 21:39-50.

Advances in Transgenesis: GM Banana resistant to Black Zigatoka

74 Taken from: Kova´cs G; et al. 2013. Expression of a rice chitinase gene in transgenic banana (¨Gross Michel¨, AAA genome group) confers resistance to black streak disease. Transgenic Res 22:117–130.

Leaf disk bioassay with Mycosphaerella fijiensis on 9-month old greenhouse ´Gross Michel´ banana plants transformed with one of two rice chitinase genes.

• Elelyso is a recombinant form of human glucocerebrosidase (taliglucerasa alpha).

• It is produced in a call ProCellEx technology platform that enables cultivation of the plant cells (carrot) to produce complex recombinant proteins similar to those produced by human cells.

• Elelyso is injectable and replaces the human enzyme for treating Gaucher's disease.

– It prevents lipid accumulation in organs and tissues and the liver and pancreas damage.

• Protalix BioTherapeutics-ProCellEx.

Advances in Molecular farming

75

Advances in Transgenesis: GM Silkworm for spider silk fibers

76

Taken from: Chung, H; Yong Kim T; Yup Lee S. 2012. Recent advances in production of recombinant spider silk proteins. Curr. Opin. Biotech. 23:957-964. Teule F; Miao YG, Sohn BH, Kim YS, Hull JJ, Fraser MJ Jr; Lewis RV, Jarvis DL. 2012. Silkworms transformed with chimeric silkworm/spider silk genes spin composite silk fibers with improved mechanical properties. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109:923-928.




– Bioproducts production


– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

77

• The wide range of measures, policies and procedures that deal with preserving the biological integrity, minimizing the potential negative effects or risks that could eventually represent biotechnology on the environment or human health (SCBD, 2003).

Biosafety

78

Technical (Biological &

Environmental)

Economical

BIO- SAFETY

Political

(Social)

Advances in Biosafety for LAC

Company

CTNBio

Forms Documents

Fares

Concepts

Evaluations Risk analysis

Open consultation Experts

Files

Minister YES

Research Implementation

79

Approval resolution

Research in Biosafety of GMOs

80 Ricroch AE. 2013. Assessment of GE food safety using omics techniques and long-term animal feeding studies. New Biotechnology. Vol. 29(Supplement):S25 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt2012.12.001

• Are additional tests necessary to ensure the safety of GMO products?

Methodology

• Use of the latest technology ("omics") to analyze animals fed conventional and GM crops.

• 16 generations of animals were studied.

Results

• Genetic modification has less impact on the expression of genes of plants compared with the conventional improvement.

• Environmental factors (location of the lot, time of sampling or agricultural practice) have more impact than transgenesis itself.

• Neither “omic” study profile showed the need for new concerns about GM varieties or on long-term studies on multigenerational animal.

Conclusions

• No need for long-term studies on a case unless a reasonable doubt that result from feeding trials at 90 days.

• It is not necessary to carry out additional mandatory toxicological studies on the current commercialized GM events.



Omics interaction in Agriculture

Chen, N. et al. 2012. Metabolic network reconstruction: advances in in silico interpretation of analytical information. Current opinion in biotech. 23(1): 77-82.

Bioinformatics

82

• Are additional tests necessary to ensure the safety of GMO products?

Methodology

• Use of the latest technology ("omics") to analyze animals fed conventional and GM crops.

• 16 generations of animals were studied.

Results

• Genetic modification has less impact on the expression of genes of plants compared with the conventional improvement.

• Environmental factors (location of the lot, time of sampling or agricultural practice) have more impact than transgenesis itself.

• Neither “omic” study profile showed the need for new concerns about GM varieties or on long-term studies on multigenerational animal.

Conclusions

• No need for long-term studies on a case unless a reasonable doubt that result from feeding trials at 90 days.

• It is not necessary to carry out additional mandatory toxicological studies on the current commercialized GM events.



Important information in Biosafety

• VI COP-MOP (The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (Hyderabad-India)

– 1,200 delegates (Government, civil society and industry)

• USA Elections

– Proposition 37, on labeling of GMO products (California) was rejected 6th November 2012.

• Decisions on approval of GM maize in Mexico

• Submission of applications for authorization of GM maize planting for seed production and export in Costa Rica.

• Rule of Law 29,811 on GM moratorium in Peru (13th November 2012).

• Presidential Repositioning GM crops in Ecuador. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4kn41nIvss)

• Presidential Support position CONBIO in Paraguay.

Election Votes Donations

(U$D)

Yes 6 088 714 9,2 million

No 6 442 371 46 million http://votersedge.org/california/ballot-measures/2012/november/prop-37/funding

youtube.com

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– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

85

Final Considerations

About biotechnology

• Biotechnology (broadly sense) develops rapidly and is becoming a key tool for different types of agriculture.

• The vast majority of the tools of biotechnology can be considered useful clean technologies in agriculture.

• At present and in terms of information gathering and analysis, the most powerful biotechnologies are genomics and bioinformatics.

• In terms of impact and adoption, the predominant biotechnology is transgenesis.

• In terms of use of small producers, biotechnologies that allow the production of bio-products (fermentation, composting, etc.) are the most used.

86


About transgenics

• Since 1996, messages questioning the safety of GMOs have been generated. – The Internet is full of unscientific views regarding the impact of GMOs on monarch

butterflies, bees, beetles, cows, rats and humans.

• In response to such questions, scientific research has shown that none of the GM crops currently on the market have harmful effects on the health of humans, animals or the environment.

• The “opinions" on GMOs have led to misinformation and worse to create fear and terror. – Unfortunately, the messages based on validated results of experimental science have

not had the same circulation.

• Is scientists' apathy to debate with dogmatic people partly allowing that

the irresponsibility has wings and take flight? No!

87


About Science

• Science in its search for truth has based its rigor in the scientific method.

• New technologies and biotechnologies in particular must meet all the tenets of the scientific method. – E.g. Reproducibility and genomic sequencing experiments.

• No analysis systems can accept unsubstantiated tests

• It is the responsibility of the scientific community to draw attention to those results presented as technical but who do not meet the quality, impartiality and rigor that characterize science.

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– Biosafety

• Final Comments

Content

89

IICA Sede Central http://www.iica.int

AB&B

Pedro J. Rocha, Ph.D.

E-mail: [email protected]

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