The European Union food authority EFSA holds for antibiotic resistance marker genes (ARMG) in genetically changed (GV) plants for harmless. However not all EFSA experts divide this estimate. Two scientists warn before uncalculable consequences.
Most GV-plants cultivated today contain ARMG. These genes serve to proving success the genetic change in the manipulated cells. If the cells grow on a fertile soil soaked with the respective antibiotic, the operation was successful. Genetic engineering critics fear that these resistance genes could turn into with a cultivation on ground bacteria and on a long-term basis arrive thus into the food chain and to humans.
The EFSA considers this risk of a horizontal gene transfer very small and argues that such resistances would anyway already occur in ground bacteria. In a common appraisal both for genetic change organisms came as well as for biological dangers responsible scientist committees (GMU and BIOHAZ) to the result, the fact that negative effects on the human health and the environment by the transfer of the two antibiotic resistance marker genes nptII and aadA of genetically changed plants on bacteria in connection with the use of genetically changed plants according to the present realizations is improbable. Two high-ranking BIOHAZ scientists contradicted however. They do not consider the risks of the Tranfers and possible effect assessable due to the available data.
Of importance the EFSA appraisal, because the GV-potato Amflora waiting for the cultivation permission contains the ARMG nptII, is conciliatory a resistance against that in the medicine used antibiotics Kanamycin. With reference on the associated risks the European Commission had so far shifted a decision over the cultivation. In opinion of the Amflora producer to BASF give the appraisal of the entire European Commission the concluding scientific clarity, in order to permit Amflora. The environment organization Greenpeace however referred on Bedeutungder both Minderheitenvoten. the EFSA came the first time to no unanimous opinion over the security of a gene plant. The fact that it gave nevertheless again green light for the Amflora is negligent, warned genetic engineering expert Stephanie Töwe.