Bt in crops - interesting Comments

[buffycat]

http://www.biotech-info.net/bt_cummins.html

The present work has been designed to study the effect of feeding on transgenic potatoes, which carry the CryI gene of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki strain HD1, on the light and electron microscopic structure of the mice ileum, in comparison with feeding on potatoes treated with the -endotoxin isolated from the same bacterial strain. The microscopic architecture of the enterocytes of the ileum of both groups of mice revealed certain common features such as the appearance of mitochondria with signs of degeneration and disrupted short microvilli at the luminal surface. However, in the group of mice fed on the -endotoxin, several villi appeared with an abnormally large number of enterocytes (151.8 in control group versus 197 and 155.8 in endotoxin and transgenic-treated groups, respectively). Fifty percent of these cells were hypertrophied and multinucleated. The mean area of enterocyte was significantly increased (105.3 =B5m2 in control group versus 165.4 =B5m2 and 116.5 =B5m2 in endotoxin and transgenic-treated groups, respectively). Several forms of secondary lysosomes or auotophagic vacuoles were recognized in these cells. These changes were confirmed with the scanning electron microscope which revealed a remarkable increase in the topographic contour of enterocytes (23 =B5m = in control group versus 44 =B5m and 28 =B5m in endotoxin and transgenic-treated groups, respectively) at the divulged surface of the villi. The basal lamina along the base of the enterocytes was damaged at several foci.

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Great article for those interested in the proliferation of GM variants and Bt. Especially wrt the CCD we are currently witnessing.

As an organic gardener I have been watching this for some time now, the use of Bt whether as a spray or actually encoded into the genetics of the plants is something that we should all be aware of and careful of. Personally, I don't like science playing G-d in this way.