The Nature Institute
20 May Hill Road
Ghent, New York 12075
Telephone: (518) 672-0116
Fax: (518) 672-4270
Email: info@natureinstitute.org
For directions to the Institute, click here.

 

 

   
 
 
Unintended Effects of Genetic Manipulation



Type of Unintended Effect: Morphological (Animals)

atlantic_salmon_001: Atlantic salmon expressing transgenic growth hormone experienced numerous changes to their cardiorespiratory system.


coho_salmon_001: Atlantic salmon expressing transgenic growth hormone experienced numerous changes to their cardiorespiratory system.

coho_salmon_002: Transgenic coho salmon expressing growth hormone had enlarged heads, reduced viability, and accelerated development of their life cycle.


pig_001: Transgenic pigs expressing bovine growth hormone had lower appetites, enlarged organs, gastric ulcers, and other health problems.

pig_002: Sheep growth hormone expression was highly variable in transgenic pigs, whose bodies had more protein and water and less fat.

pig_003: Transgenic pigs with elevated levels of growth hormone were infertile, pre-diabetic, and experienced joint problems.

pig_004: Transgenic expression of a mouse milk protein impaired mammary development and function in pigs.


sheep_001: Transgenic expression of sheep growth hormone in sheep increased the incidence of reproductive problems and premature death.


tilapia_001: Tilapia fish engineered for transgenic expression of growth hormone had deformed heads and backs, atrophied gonads, and lower mineral content.



Type of Unintended Effect: Morphological (Plants)

alfalfa_002: Plant height and flowering were altered in alfalfa genetically engineered to reduce lignin content.


apple_001: Apples over-expressing a fruit-ripening enzyme lacked flowers and had malformed stomata and altered composition of cell walls.


arabidopsis_001: Plants producing a biodegradable polyester were smaller, never produced seeds and showed severe changes in metabolism.

arabidopsis_002: Suppression of DHS enzyme in Arabidopsis (a mustard plant) was associated with enlarged leaves, greater root mass, and enhanced seed yield.


barley_001: Barley expressing a heat-stable enzyme showed highly variable expression of the enzyme, an anomalous distribution of expression in the grain, and dramatically reduced weight of individual grains.

barley_002: Transgenic barley plants over-expressing a zinc transport protein had smaller seeds and did not accumulate more zinc when grown in zinc-deficient soil.


canola_001: Canola plants over-expressing a bacterial phytoene synthase gene also had a reduced level of chlorophyll, changed structure of plastids, changed composition of fatty acids, and delayed germination.


cotton_004: Glyphosate-resistant cotton showed abnormal reproductive development when sprayed with glyphosate.

cotton_005: Fruiting morphology was altered when glyphosate-resistant cotton was sprayed with glyphosate.


dandelion_001: Dandelions manipulated to have compound leaves showed irregular leaf form and did not flower.


potato_004: Insect-resistant transgenic potatoes had less foliage and altered levels of leaf-glycoalkaloids.


rice_002: Bt rice showed signs of dwarfism and other abnormalities.


soybean_001: Herbicide-resistant soybean plants were shorter, with less chlorophyll, lower weight, and increased susceptibility to stem-splitting at high temperatures.


sugarcane_001: Lectin transgene for stemborer resistance alters growth of sugarcane.


tobacco_002: Discoloration and DNA rearrangements were observed in transgenic tobacco plants expressing HIV proteins.


tomato_001: Tomato plants overexpressing phytoene synthase gene were stunted in growth.

tomato_003: Suppression of DHS gene in tomatoes was associated with lack of fruiting, altered leaf morphology, higher rate of photosynthesis and other changes.

tomato_004: Transgenic tomatoes altered with a marker gene construct showed significant changes in morphological and physiological characteristics.


wheat_003: Spring wheat with scab-resistance transgene was not scab resistant and showed localized death of leaf tissue.

wheat_004: Wheat expressing transgenic glutenin shows reduction in yield, varying production of glutenin, and altered morphology.



--> Back to top of this page

--> Main Unintended Effects Search Page


About Us | Become a Friend | Bookstore | Contact Us | Search | Calendar of Events | Our Education Programs | Our Publications | Content Areas | Writings Ordered by Author | Resources and Links | Home