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 A recent issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
reports the results of a study on the ability of a genetically modified (GM) grass, bentgrass, to transfer its genes in the environment (view the full text of the journal article
). In this study, conducted as part of EPA’s ongoing work to develop methods with which to investigate gene transfer from GM crops, EPA scientists in Corvallis, OR, tracked the transfer of genes from experimental plots of GM bentgrass to native grass. Results showed genes from the genetically modified bentgrass were transferred as far as 13 miles from the experimental plots though most gene transfer occurred within 2 miles of the experimental plots.
This study is significant because cross pollination between genetically modified and native plants may have unintended ecological effects such as increasing the weediness, invasiveness, or vigor of naturally occurring plants. This work is also important because the methods developed for this project will be useful to other investigators who are interested in the development and monitoring of these types of crops.
It is important to note that while, this study looked at how far live genetically modified pollen could move and whether the genes could be transferred, it did not address whether the transferred genes could become established in native, weedy, or naturalized plants or what the consequences of that might be. It is also important to consider that bentgrass pollen is very small and can easily be blown long distances by wind, whereas pollen from other common GM crops such as corn and soybeans is much larger and thus typically cannot travel as far. These results highlight the importance of considering the biology of particular crop species and their genetically modified traits when evaluating the potential for pollen movement, gene transfer, and unintended ecological effects.
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