French study finds tumours in rats fed GM corn

[catjac1975]

TOP NEWS
French study finds tumours in rats fed GM corn
Wed, Sep 19 07:00 AM EDT
LONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Rats fed a lifetime diet of Monsanto's genetically modified corn or exposed to its top-selling weedkiller Roundup suffered tumours and multiple organ damage, according to a French study published on Wednesday.

Although the lead researcher's past record as a critic of the industry may make other experts wary of drawing hasty conclusions, the finding will stoke controversy about the safety of GM crops.

In an unusual move, the research group did not allow reporters to seek outside comment on their paper before its publication in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology and presentation at a news conference in London.

Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen and colleagues said rats fed on a diet containing NK603 - a seed variety made tolerant to dousings of Roundup - or given water containing Roundup at levels permitted in the United States died earlier than those on a standard diet.

The animals on the GM diet suffered mammary tumours, as well as severe liver and kidney damage.

The researchers said 50 percent of males and 70 percent of females died prematurely, compared with only 30 percent and 20 percent in the control group.

Seralini was part of a team that flagged previous safety concerns based on a shorter rat study in a scientific paper published in December 2009 but this takes things a step further by tracking the animals throughout their two-year lifespan.

Monsanto said at the time of the earlier research that the French researchers had reached "unsubstantiated conclusions."

Seralini believes his latest lifetime rat tests give a more realistic and authoritative view of risks than the 90-day feeding trials that form the basis of GM crop approvals, since three months is only the equivalent of early adulthood in rats.


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[journey11]

I'd heard that too. So much stuff sprayed on it, no wonder.

 

[hoodat]

Monsanto is attacking the study, saying it was purposely skewed to get the results the researchers wanted. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!!
Monsanto research resembles the kind the tobacco companies did to "prove" that cigarettes were harmless.

 

[seedcorn]

I wish the study was done by feeding GMO corn only. Giving them glysophate to drink voids it all as no one should drink any pesticide of any kind. People that drink pesticides need to be given their "sign" to carry.

Would they have given them pesticides to drink since they didn't get the results they wanted by feeding GMO's??? That has been done for over 10 years now in the USA with no side effects.

 

[amandacv86]

I'm not trying to defend GMO's at all, but when I had pet rats almost every female got a tumor at some point, and I fed them a pretty healthy diet. I had 12 at one time. They're just really prone to them. That's a big reason why I don't have them anymore.

 

[bobm]

There are strains of laboratory rats specifically bred for their ability to have tumers. My friend Oscar, bred thausands of rats at UCD rat colony for reaserch projects. Some strains to be susseptable and some to be immune to a great extent. Also,some rats were produced in sterile isolation rooms and birthed by Cessarian Section for special pathogen free experiments. I would question the study author as to the strain of rat used, number of rats used, as well as results for a control group of tumer susseptable and non susseptable rats. Then there is the glaring part of NO PEER REVIEW prior to publication of their results by a lead researcher with a past record as a critic of GMs .

 

[897tgigvib]

On the point of no peer review being allowed, I agree completely with you BobM.
On the point of Rats being susceptible naturally, or bred to be susceptible, it does say a control was used.

But the failure to allow peer review negates the results of this experiment. The Rats need to all be checked to ensure approximately equal susceptibility and initial health, and enough need to be used to give a good chi square level of accuracy...mathematical averages thing.

This same experiment needs to be repeated with stringent controls, and at multiple laboratories around the world, and with a full peer review board of not only medical experts, but also scientists with the major scientific journals. (Those are the magazines where every other word has 15 syllables with names like "Nature", "Science", and "JAMA", and others.)

I also think that they should run more kinds of experiments in addition to these that have been done, as SeedCorn said. What trace quantity of glyphosate is the tolerance? The experiment needs to be bigger.

See guys, we disagree sometimes, and sometimes we agree.

But I would add that I think these tests should be done real soon.

If ceretain results are obtained following set parameters in an abstract guideline, second tier experiments should be performed. I would see no need for third tier, human volunteers, experimentation, but I am not an expert at all. Third tier testing is for new pharmaceuticals. Thanks to third tier testing thousands of lives have been spared from dangerous pharmaceuticals.

My bleeding heart self has to add that experiments on Rats should be done as humanely as possible. This is one of the experiments that has human life implications that is done on living animals and is necessary in that it could save lives. Lab animals potentially giving their lives to save ours should be well treated.

 

[Dave2000]

It seems there is no mention that the control group fed a "standard diet" was fed an equal quantity of non-GM corn. The validity of the study could hinge on this variable.

 

[bobm]

Why do some of the bleeding hearts automatically think that laboratory animals are somehow NOT well treated ? Have they actually cared for these animals ? Well, I have at a Veteriary Medicine Teaching Hospital as well as at a private lab . I have cared for and assisted in research experiments ( desease, hormone, antibody production, genetic markers) with hundreds of rats, mice, rabbits,guinea pigs, chickens, sheep, cattle, and horses . The animals are raised in cages or pens what is equivalent to a room at a 4 star hotel with all meals, lighting, air conditioning, maid service, and health care provided for.
Doing otherwise would be self destructive of one's reputation and loss of employment as ones's research results would be proven false by other researchers. Any animal that is not in top physical condition at the start or during the trial, unless the desease / injury/ adverse reaction to test material will cause an animal to have poor health, will NOT provide very accurate results. Not to mention the loss of funding for continued research. You know... publish or parish.

 

[OldGuy43]

Personally, I believe that tumors and cancer are hereditary in laboratory rats.