Breeding changes genes more than gene technology

(08 April 2010) Risks and opportunities of green gene technology – i.e. the application of gene-technological processes in the breeding of plants – is a subject of public debate. A large role is assumed in this debate by the fear that unintended modifications may occur and affect human health in a negative manner. In the context of a project supported by the German Ministry for Education and Research, Professor Uwe Sonnewald and his team in the biochemistry faculty at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg now have been able to demonstrate that plants face greater changes through conventional breeding than through gene technology.

The scientists in Erlangen assessed thereby data that were obtained through collaboration between the University of Giessen and the Washington State University (WSU) of the USA. The results now have been published in the latest issue of the American magazine, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences".

For the project, researchers at WSU developed genetically modified barley varieties that contained a foreign gene for either chitinase or ß-glucanase. The goals of this modification were, on the one hand, an improved resistance to fungus and, on the other hand, enhancement of the nutritional qualities of the barley. Subsequently, the influence of these modifications on useful soil organisms was assayed in field trials through the University of Giessen. Afterwards, researchers at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg assessed the extent to which the genetic modifications influenced the content and gene activity of the barley plants.

Important contribution to realistic assessment

Results showed that the activity of the genes and the composition of content varied greatly between two varieties: in the conventional barley varieties ‘Golden Promise’ and ‘Baronesse’ more than 1,600 genes were made active in a different way. The function of the majority of these genes is unknown. In contrast and under comparison with the non-GM initial lines, only a few genes in the genetically modified plants were influenced in their activity. Furthermore, the interplay with useful soil organisms remained uncurbed. This study delivers thereby an important contribution to the realistic assessment of the risks associated with green gene technology.

Further information:

• Press release (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg)