Practical Moral Codes In the Transgenic Organism Debate

In one study funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, people from North Dakota were interviewed to discover which moral principles they use in evaluating the morality of transgenic organisms and their introduction into markets. It was found that although the moral codes the human subjects employed were very similar, their views on transgenics were vastly different. In this paper, the codes that were used by the respondents are developed, compared to that of the academically composed Belmont Report, and then modified to create the more practical Common Moral Code. At the end, it is shown that the Common Moral Code has inherent inconsistency flaws that might be resolvable, but would require extensive work on the definition of terms and principles. However, the effort is worthwhile, especially if it results in a common moral code that all those involved in the debate are willing to use in negotiating a resolution to their differences.     

转Bt基因棉花抗虫萜烯类化合物时空动态的HPLC分析

利用高效液相色谱（HPLC）技术对转Bt基因棉花抗虫萜烯化合物种类、含量以及时空动态进行了初步研究。结果表明,被研究的抗虫棉品种抗虫萜烯类化合物在不同品种、不同组织器官间含量差异较大。叶片中杀实夜蛾素（包括H1、H2、H3、H4)含量较高,花及蕾中棉酚含量的比例明显高于叶片。总抗虫萜烯类（包括棉酚、半棉酚酮、杀实夜蛾素H1、H2、H3、H4以及甲氧基半棉酚酮等）均以铃、顶叶含量最高,蕾、花柱等器官次之。说明在棉花不同品种、同一品种不同器官中是不同的萜烯类化合物在起到抗虫作用。图3参16     

“The Moral Difference between Intragenic and Transgenic Modification of Plants”

Public policy on the development and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has mainly been concerned with defining proper strategies of risk management. However, surveys and focus group interviews show that although lay people are concerned with risks, they also emphasize that genetic modification is ethically questionable in itself. Many people feel that this technology “tampers with nature” in an unacceptable manner. This is often identified as an objection to the crossing of species borders in producing transgenic organisms. Most scientists reject these opinions as based on insufficient knowledge about biotechnology, the concept of species, and nature in general. Some recent projects of genetic modification aim to accommodate the above mentioned concerns by altering the expression of endogenous genes rather than introducing genes from other species. There can be good scientific reasons for this approach, in addition to strategic reasons related to greater public acceptability. But are there also moral reasons for choosing intragenic rather than transgenic modification? I suggest three interrelated moral reasons for giving priority to intragenic modification. First, we should respect the opinions of lay people even when their view is contrary to scientific consensus; they express an alternative world-view, not scientific ignorance. Second, staying within species borders by strengthening endogenous traits reduces the risks and scientific uncertainty. Third, we should show respect for nature as a complex system of laws and interconnections that we cannot fully control. The main moral reason for intragenic modification, in our view, is the need to respect the “otherness” of nature.     

Assays of PCB congeners and organochlorine insecticides with the transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco plants carrying recombinant guinea pig AhR and GUS reporter genes

Certain congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine insecticides are ligands of aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs) in animals. A recombinant guinea pig (g) AhR, XgDV, was constructed by fusing the ligand-binding domain of gAhR, the DNA-binding domain of LexA, and the transactivating domain of VP16. Then, the expression unit of β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene regulated by XgDV was introduced into Arabidopsis and tobacco plants. When the transgenic Arabidopsis XgDV plants were cultured on Murashige–Skoog (MS) medium containing PCB congeners, the GUS activity in the plants increased toxic equivalent (TEQ)-dependently. The GUS activity in the transgenic Arabidopsis XgDV plants cultured on MS medium containing the organochlorine insecticide dieldrin was also induced. On the other hand, in the case of DDT, the GUS activity induced by 3-methylcholanthere in the plants decreased. The transgenic Arabidopsis XgDV plants detected 1000 ng g^?1 PCB126 in 1 g of soils. Thus the XgDV plants seemed to be useful for convenient assays of PCB congeners and organochlorine insecticides, without any extraction and purification steps.     

转Bt基因克螟稻秸杆对淹水土壤细菌群落的影响

在实验室条件下通过秸杆还土试验比较了克螟稻Bt基因表达最高期秸杆和同一时期亲本稻秸杆的添加对淹水土壤可培养厌氧细菌数量和细菌群落组成的影响 .结果表明 ,与亲本对照相比 ,培养初期克螟稻秸杆的添加对淹水土壤厌氧发酵性细菌、产氢产乙酸细菌、反硝化细菌和产甲烷细菌的数量产生了显著性影响 ,但培养后期这种显著性差异基本消失 .PCR 变性梯度凝胶电泳 (DGGE)指纹图谱和主成份分析 (PCA)结果表明 ,两种秸杆处理土壤细菌群落组成在培养的第 3周和第 5周达到显著性差异 ,随着培养时间的延伸 ,两种秸杆处理土壤间细菌群落组成的差异逐渐减小 .到培养的第 1 1周 ,两种秸杆处理土壤间细菌群落组成的差异基本消失 .尽管如此 ,在培养的整个过程中 ,秸杆处理土壤中可培养厌氧性细菌数量和土壤细菌群落的组成均与纯土对照存在显著性差异 .试验结果表明 ,在实验室培养的条件下 ,没有观察到转Bt基因克螟稻秸杆对淹水土壤微生物明显的长期负面影响     

Effect of vegetation of transgenic Bt rice lines and their straw amendment on soil enzymes, respiration, functional diversity and community structure of soil microorganisms under field conditions

With the development of transgenic crops, there is an increasing concern about the possible adverse effects of their vegetation and residues on soil environmental quality. This study was carried out to evaluate the possible effects of the vegetation of transgenic Bt rice lines Huachi B6 (HC) and TT51 (TT) followed by the return of their straw to the soil on soil enzymes (catalase, urease, neutral phosphatase and invertase), anaerobic respiration activity, microbial utilization of carbon substrates and community structure, under field conditions. The results indicated that the vegetation of the two transgenic rice lines (HC and TT) and return of their straw had few adverse effects on soil enzymes and anaerobic respiration activity compared to their parent and distant parent, although some transient differences were observed. The vegetation and subsequent straw amendment of Bt rice HC and TT did not appear to have a harmful effect on the richness, evenness and community structure of soil microorganisms. No different pattern of impact due to plant species was found between HC and TT. It could be concluded that the vegetation of transgenic Bt rice lines and the return of their straw as organic fertilizer may not alter soil microbe-mediated functions.     

土壤添加不同粘土矿物对微囊藻毒素在生菜中生物富集的影响

土壤-作物系统中微囊藻毒素的生物富集会对人类健康造成潜在威胁.本研究通过生菜（Lactuca sativa L.var.ramosa Hort.）种植实验比较了土壤添加不同比例的3种粘土矿物（凹凸棒石、蒙脱石和沸石）对微囊藻毒素-LR（microcystin-LR,MC-LR）生物富集的影响,分析含10 μg·L^-1 MC-LR溶液灌溉土壤50 d后,不同处理的MC-LR在生菜中累积量及土壤中的有效态含量和总含量.结果表明,3种粘土矿物能够不同程度有效减少MC-LR在生菜根系和叶片中的富集.5%的凹凸棒石和蒙脱石处理的生菜叶片中MC-LR含量分别较空白处理降低53.0%和52.3%,使得摄入量降低到WHO组织要求的日允许摄入限量范围.添加粘土矿物显著降低了土壤中MC-LR有效态含量.相关分析发现,生菜根系和叶片中MC-LR的含量与土壤MC-LR有效态含量均呈显著正相关.实验结果为蓝藻污染地区削减微囊藻毒素的作物富集提供了科学依据.     

转基因食品安全性评价的研究进展

转基因食品的安全性问题在世界范围内倍受关注,国内外尤其国外已经开展和正在开展许多的研究工作。实质等同性原则在转基因安全性评价中得到广泛应用,但存在一定的局限性。目前已经进行了转基因马铃薯、大豆、番茄、棉花、西葫芦、水稻、烟草以及芦笋的食用安全性评价,积累了一些研究经验和方法,得到一些有意义的研究结果,但也存在着一定的争论。文中将从评价的方法、原则和结果等几个方面报道和讨论转基因食品安全性评价的研究进展,并且指出评价中存在的问题,对转基因食品的安全性问题作了一个相对全面而客观的报道,并且总结了转基因食品安全性评价中应该注意的几个问题,对开展安全性评价工作有一定的参考价值。     

江苏沿海地区转Bt基因抗虫棉对棉田昆虫种群的影响

2004-2005年,在江苏沿海地区采用系统调查与面上普查相结合的方法,比较分析转Bt基因抗虫棉(中棉所44)与常规棉(中棉所17)2类棉田昆虫种群的差异.结果表明,与常规棉田相比,Bt棉田棉铃虫、玉米螟、金刚钻、棉小造桥虫等鳞翅目害虫种群数量显著降低,而盲蝽象、红蜘蛛、棉蚜、烟粉虱等非靶标刺吸式害虫种群数量显著增加;蜘蛛、瓢虫等捕食性天敌种群数量显著增加,而棉铃虫的寄生性天敌种群数量则显著下降.转Bt基因抗虫棉对棉田昆虫种群的影响在数年间保持相对稳定的状态.