9-14 IAN Bug Resistance

 Trouble on the Horizon for GM Crops?

Pests are adapting to genetically modified crops in unexpected ways, researchers have discovered. The findings underscore the importance of closely monitoring and countering pest resistance to biotech crops.

As an example, resistance of cotton bollworm to insect-killing cotton plants involves more diverse genetic changes than expected, an international research team reports in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Here’s Dr. Daniel Stotlte, From the University of Arizona Department of Engineering Science:  “The general story is that insects are beginning to adapt to genetically modified crops that make bacterial proteins that are designed to kill those insects. We have some degree of resistance now in about 9 test species around the world, and this is after about 15 years of exposure to the genetically modified crops in the field. Bt toxins kill certain insect pests but are harmless to most other creatures including people. These environmentally friendly toxins have been used for decades in sprays by organic growers and since 1996 in engineered Bt crops by mainstream farmers.”

Over time, scientists have learned, initially rare genetic mutations that confer resistance to Bt toxins are becoming more common as a growing number of pest populations adapt to Bt crops.