Abstract
Numerous genetically modified (GM) crops expressing proteins for insect resistance have been commercialized following extensive testing demonstrating that the foods obtained from them are as safe as that obtained from their corresponding non-GM varieties. In this paper, we report the outcome of safety studies conducted on a newly developed insect-resistant GM rice expressing the cry2A* gene by a subchronic oral toxicity study on rats. GM rice and non-GM rice were incorporated into the diet at levels of 30, 50, and 70 % (w/w), No treatment-related adverse or toxic effects were observed based on an examination of the daily clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, and organ weight or based on gross and histopathological examination. These results demonstrate that the GM rice with cry2A* gene is as safe for food as conventional non-GM rice.
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Abbreviations
- Bt:
-
Bacillus thuringiensis
- GM:
-
Genetically modified
- WHO:
-
World Health Organization
- EU:
-
European Union
- OECD:
-
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
- ANOVA:
-
One-way analysis of variance
- EPA:
-
Environmental Protection Agency
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Prof. Yongjun Lin of Hua Zhong Agricultural University for providing the GM rice with cry2A* gene for the study. The work was supported by the National GMO Cultivation Major Project of New Varieties (2011ZX08011-005 and 2014ZX08011-005).
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Zou, S., Huang, K., Xu, W. et al. Safety assessment of lepidopteran insect-protected transgenic rice with cry2A* gene. Transgenic Res 25, 163–172 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-015-9920-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-015-9920-6