D
Dr. Jai Maharaj
Guest
Forwarded message from [email protected]
Cancer-Promoting Transgenic Rice
The Institute of Science in Society
Science Society Sustainability http://www.i-sis.org.uk
General Enquiries [email protected] Website/Mailing
List press-release@i- sis.org.uk ISIS Director m.w.ho@i-
sis.org.uk
ISIS Press Release 09/03/04
Cancer-Promoting Transgenic Rice
Transgenic rice containing human insulin-like growth
factor, known to promote cancer, is being developed
government-funded academic researchers in Canada for
commercial production. Prof. Joe Cummins exposes yet
another gross violation of biosafety.
Biotech corporations, government and academia have
joined up to devote intense efforts into producing
pharmaceutical products in transgenic crop plants in
Canada. There have been many field trials, and at
least one crop, rice genetically modified to produce
human lactoferrin and lysozyme is being promoted for
commercial production in the field.
Even though the development of such pharm crops has
begun to create a great deal of public concern and
discussion in the United States, it has aroused scant
attention among the Canadian public, still under the
impression that pharm crops are restricted to the
United States.
Nevertheless, extremely hazardous pharm crops have
been field tested in Canada with little or no safety
precaution or regulatory oversight. The Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) is but a minor sub-department
of Agriculture Canada, which actively promotes and
develops transgenic crops. The Canadian news media
have either ignored the extensive field trials or gave
them favourable reports, in total disregard of the
dangers resulting from contamination of the food crops
that are mainstay of the Canadian economy.
Recently, researchers from the University of Ottawa
and the National Research
Council of Canada reported that they had developed
transgenic rice and tobacco plants to produce human
insulin like growth factor (hIGF). The transgene is a
synthetic form of the human gene, altered in DNA
sequence to enhance production in plants. The activity
of the protein produced in the plants was tested using
an assay based on the promotion of growth of brain
cancer cells.
The Canadian investigators claimed that hIGH would be
useful in treating a range of disorders: growth
deficiency in children, insulin resistant diabetes,
osteoporosis and AIDS. However, they have singularly
failed to comment on the cancer-promoting abilities
of hIGF and the dangers of exposing humans and
animals to it, nor the potential contamination of
food crops with hIGF. Scientific reviewers and
journal editors have similarly neglected to discuss
the risks of hIGF production of plants while
promoting the clinical benefits.
There is voluminous literature on the role of hIGF in
cancer cell transformation and proliferation. For
example, there is evidence on the increase in breast
cancer risk associated with increased hIGF. Increased
IGF has been observed in the milk of cattle treated
with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) and rBGH
milk is considered a potential risk factor for both
breast and gastrointestinal cancers.
In 2001, carcasses from 386 pigs modified with IGF
transgenes were "accidentally" marketed and consumed
by residents of Florida. The threat to public health
from such exposures was largely played down by
government agencies and the news media.
In Canada, dangerous immune-suppressive interleukin-10
was produced in a transgenic crop planted near a
population centre with little control over the spread
of the transgene or the protein, the environmental and
health impacts of the test were completely ignored.
Canadian politicians and news media have taken a
passive, if not outright submissive approach, allowing
extensive testing of pharm crops without informing the
public, let alone public consultation or discussion
The Institute of Science in Society (www.i-
sis.org.uk) has circulated numerous reports on the
hazards and long term threats of transgenic pharm
crops, which should be consulted for background
information for all those fortunate enough to uncover
clandestine field tests or production facilities near
where they live. It is essential that testing and
production of pharm crops be done with complete
transparency, and full disclosure of the genetic
makeup of the crop, its location and measures for
monitoring the spread of the transgene(s) and
product(s). The Canadian practice of undertaking
testing and production near population centres must be
made illegal. Monitoring of the testing or production
facilities should be done by independent
organizations, and the producers should provide quick
tests, such as dip-sticks.
Finally, in Canada, the CFIA is responsible for
permitting and monitoring field tests of
biopharmaceutical crops, even though they lack expert
knowledge in the area of pharmaceuticals, the
pharmaceutical regulator Health Canada is not involved
until final production facilities are established.
Regulation of hazardous biopharmaceuticals by a
government sub-department answering to the agriculture
department that both promotes and develops transgenic
crops spells disaster for Canada's food crop
production.
End of forwarded message
Jai Maharaj http://www.mantra.com/jai Om Shanti
Panchaang for 21 Phalgun 5104, Thursday, March 11, 2004:
Shubhanu Nama Samvatsare Uttarayane Moksh Ritau Kumbh Mase
Krshn Pakshe Guru Vasara Yuktayam Vaishakh-Anuradha Nakshatr
Harshan Yog Gar-Vanij Karan Shasthi Yam Tithau
Hindu Holocaust Museum http://www.mantra.com/holocaust
Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org http://www.hindunet.org
The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate
o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used
for the educational purposes of research and open
discussion. The contents of this post may not have
been authored by, and do not necessarily represent
the opinion of the poster. The contents are protected
by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of
copyrighted works. o If you send private e-mail to
me, it will likely not be read, considered or
answered if it does not contain your full legal name,
current e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice
telephone number. o Posted for information and
discussion. Views expressed by others are not
necessarily those of the poster.
Cancer-Promoting Transgenic Rice
The Institute of Science in Society
Science Society Sustainability http://www.i-sis.org.uk
General Enquiries [email protected] Website/Mailing
List press-release@i- sis.org.uk ISIS Director m.w.ho@i-
sis.org.uk
ISIS Press Release 09/03/04
Cancer-Promoting Transgenic Rice
Transgenic rice containing human insulin-like growth
factor, known to promote cancer, is being developed
government-funded academic researchers in Canada for
commercial production. Prof. Joe Cummins exposes yet
another gross violation of biosafety.
Biotech corporations, government and academia have
joined up to devote intense efforts into producing
pharmaceutical products in transgenic crop plants in
Canada. There have been many field trials, and at
least one crop, rice genetically modified to produce
human lactoferrin and lysozyme is being promoted for
commercial production in the field.
Even though the development of such pharm crops has
begun to create a great deal of public concern and
discussion in the United States, it has aroused scant
attention among the Canadian public, still under the
impression that pharm crops are restricted to the
United States.
Nevertheless, extremely hazardous pharm crops have
been field tested in Canada with little or no safety
precaution or regulatory oversight. The Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) is but a minor sub-department
of Agriculture Canada, which actively promotes and
develops transgenic crops. The Canadian news media
have either ignored the extensive field trials or gave
them favourable reports, in total disregard of the
dangers resulting from contamination of the food crops
that are mainstay of the Canadian economy.
Recently, researchers from the University of Ottawa
and the National Research
Council of Canada reported that they had developed
transgenic rice and tobacco plants to produce human
insulin like growth factor (hIGF). The transgene is a
synthetic form of the human gene, altered in DNA
sequence to enhance production in plants. The activity
of the protein produced in the plants was tested using
an assay based on the promotion of growth of brain
cancer cells.
The Canadian investigators claimed that hIGH would be
useful in treating a range of disorders: growth
deficiency in children, insulin resistant diabetes,
osteoporosis and AIDS. However, they have singularly
failed to comment on the cancer-promoting abilities
of hIGF and the dangers of exposing humans and
animals to it, nor the potential contamination of
food crops with hIGF. Scientific reviewers and
journal editors have similarly neglected to discuss
the risks of hIGF production of plants while
promoting the clinical benefits.
There is voluminous literature on the role of hIGF in
cancer cell transformation and proliferation. For
example, there is evidence on the increase in breast
cancer risk associated with increased hIGF. Increased
IGF has been observed in the milk of cattle treated
with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) and rBGH
milk is considered a potential risk factor for both
breast and gastrointestinal cancers.
In 2001, carcasses from 386 pigs modified with IGF
transgenes were "accidentally" marketed and consumed
by residents of Florida. The threat to public health
from such exposures was largely played down by
government agencies and the news media.
In Canada, dangerous immune-suppressive interleukin-10
was produced in a transgenic crop planted near a
population centre with little control over the spread
of the transgene or the protein, the environmental and
health impacts of the test were completely ignored.
Canadian politicians and news media have taken a
passive, if not outright submissive approach, allowing
extensive testing of pharm crops without informing the
public, let alone public consultation or discussion
The Institute of Science in Society (www.i-
sis.org.uk) has circulated numerous reports on the
hazards and long term threats of transgenic pharm
crops, which should be consulted for background
information for all those fortunate enough to uncover
clandestine field tests or production facilities near
where they live. It is essential that testing and
production of pharm crops be done with complete
transparency, and full disclosure of the genetic
makeup of the crop, its location and measures for
monitoring the spread of the transgene(s) and
product(s). The Canadian practice of undertaking
testing and production near population centres must be
made illegal. Monitoring of the testing or production
facilities should be done by independent
organizations, and the producers should provide quick
tests, such as dip-sticks.
Finally, in Canada, the CFIA is responsible for
permitting and monitoring field tests of
biopharmaceutical crops, even though they lack expert
knowledge in the area of pharmaceuticals, the
pharmaceutical regulator Health Canada is not involved
until final production facilities are established.
Regulation of hazardous biopharmaceuticals by a
government sub-department answering to the agriculture
department that both promotes and develops transgenic
crops spells disaster for Canada's food crop
production.
End of forwarded message
Jai Maharaj http://www.mantra.com/jai Om Shanti
Panchaang for 21 Phalgun 5104, Thursday, March 11, 2004:
Shubhanu Nama Samvatsare Uttarayane Moksh Ritau Kumbh Mase
Krshn Pakshe Guru Vasara Yuktayam Vaishakh-Anuradha Nakshatr
Harshan Yog Gar-Vanij Karan Shasthi Yam Tithau
Hindu Holocaust Museum http://www.mantra.com/holocaust
Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org http://www.hindunet.org
The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate
o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used
for the educational purposes of research and open
discussion. The contents of this post may not have
been authored by, and do not necessarily represent
the opinion of the poster. The contents are protected
by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of
copyrighted works. o If you send private e-mail to
me, it will likely not be read, considered or
answered if it does not contain your full legal name,
current e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice
telephone number. o Posted for information and
discussion. Views expressed by others are not
necessarily those of the poster.