More food, cleaner food – gene technology and plants
Further Reading
14 July 2011
Greenpeace destroys CSIRO wheat GM trial (by Myles Gough)
Reports on a Greenpeace operation that destroyed a crop of GM wheat in a CSIRO farm.
14 July 2011
The sad, sad demise of Greenpeace (by Wilson da Silva)
A comment upon Greenpeace's action to destroy CSIRO GM wheat crops.
23 October 2008
Opinion: GM crops: solution to world food crisis? (by Albert Weale)
Discusses the ethics of GM crops and their potential to prevent malnutrition in developing countries.
20 July 2006
Genetically modified plant produces insulin ( AFP)
Reports on the achievement of a Canadian company to produce insulin from GM safflower plants.
28 July 2009
GM crop could thrive on salty soils (by Wagdy Sawahel)
Describes research in which scientists have enhanced plants' ability to tolerate high levels of salt.
June 2007, pages 28-29
Sweet solution to wheat fungus (by Simon Grose)
Looks at the development of a non-toxic antifungal agent from a simple sugar.
May 2007, pages 39-40
Opportunity knocks when GM moratoria expire (by Simon Grose)
Discusses the opportunities for farmers if the GM moratoria are not renewed.
October 2006, page 14
GM attitudes depend on type of food
Reports on a recent survey of attitudes to GM foods.
May 2006, pages 14-15
GM moratoria: Dominoes set to fall (by Simon Grose)
Suggests that industry pressure to remove moratoria in one state will cause others to follow.
March 2005, page 28-29
How to make a minority look like a majority (by Scott Campbell and Ellen Townsend)
The authors of this article reveal how the results of a UK report on public acceptance of genetic modification were misrepresented.
October 2003, pages 23-26
The puzzling logic of GM moratoria (by Jim Peacock)
Presents the case for genetically modified crops.
No. 141, 2008, page 34
Resistance warning given for GM herbicide-tolerant crops
Discusses the need for vigilance regarding weed control with the release of GM crops that are resistant to herbicides.
No. 135, 2007, pages 18-22
Gaining ground: Debating the growing impact of GM agriculture (by Graeme O'Neill)
Looks at the continuing debate over the role of GM agriculture in the 21st century.
9 September 2011
Dismay with GM maize (by Gerhart U Ryffel)
Discusses the complexities of the science involved with GM crops and public concerns surrounding the issue.
1 November 2004, pages 1031-1034
GM plants for your health (by Holger Breithaupt)
Suggests that GM crops may become acceptable to Europeans if they can offer benefits to the consumer.
A collection of Nature articles on GM plants is available.
12 October 2011
Brazil cooks up transgenic bean (by Jeff Tollefson)
Reports on the development of a transgenic pinto bean that can resist the golden mosaic virus.
20 July 2011
Transgenic grass skirts regulators (by Heidi Ledford)
Discusses new technologies used in producing GM crops and the accompanying regulatory implications.
11 July 2011
Kenya set to give green light to GM crops (by Natasha Gilbert)
Reports on the release of GM cotton in Kenya.
31 January 2011
Transgenic bacterium sparks row in French schools (by Barbara Casassus)
Discusses the ethical debate surrounding high school students conducting DNA-altering experiments.
2 September 2009
GM crops: Battlefield (by Emily Waltz)
Discusses the intensity of the debate over GM crops.
12 November 2008
Modified genes spread to local maize (by Rex Dalton)
Reports on the finding of modified genes in traditional maize crops.
A collection of stories on GM organisms is available.
5 January 2008, pages 28-31
Could new GM crops please the greens? (by Peter Aldhous)
Investigates a new generation of GM crops to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
10 November 2007, page 19
Modified crops ‘silence’ insect pests for good (by Andy Coghlan)
Reports on the development of genetically modified crops which kill insect pests.
16 December 2006, page 7
US citizens ignorant of genetically modified diet
Reveals that only one-quarter of Americans realise they are regularly eating GM food.
21 November 2005
GM pea causes allergic damage in mice (by Emma Young)
Describes a ten year research project that was dropped after tests showed that the GM protein caused lung damage in mice.
January 2006
Two articles that look at projects in Europe to study the segregation of GM and non-GM products.
The reality in the field
The strategy of coexistence
1 July 2006, page 86
How does a single somatic cell become a whole plant? (by Gretchen Vogel)
Answers the question about the process essential to the creation of genetically modified plants.
August 11, 2011
Blogs: Genetically Engineered Crops—What, How and Why (by Pamela Ronald)
Provides an overview of the issues surrounding GM crops.
August 6, 2010
Genetically Modified Crop on the Loose and Evolving in U.S. Midwest (by David Biello)
Reports on the discovery of GM canola found growing wild and cross pollinating with wild weed species.
March 30, 2010
Race to Introduce Genetically Modified Maize to Stave Off Climate Change Impacts in Africa (by Gayathri Vaidyanathan and Climatewire)
Reports on the potential of GM corn to help provide food under changing climatic conditions.
December 8, 2008
Genetically Modified Hawaii (by Robynne Boyd)
Reports on the increase in production of GM crops in Hawaii.
May 24, 2007
Genetically Modified Crops Survive Weed-Whacking Herbicide (by David Biello)
Describes the rise of herbicide-resistant weeds.
9 May 2005, pages 13-14
Defensive eating (by Luis Miguel Ariza)
Discusses some of the concerns about food vaccines.
21 September 2004
GM pollen spreads much farther than previously thought (by Don Monroe)
Reports on research that tracked the spread of genes from GM grass to measure how far wind carries their pollen.
20 September 2004
Fear of pharming (by Alla Katsnelson)
Discusses the difficulties of containing 'pharm' crops.
Page updated January 2012.