The vast majority of the corn and soybeans in United States grow from seeds that have been genetically modified.
The technology is barely 30 years old and the somewhat younger. But how did it even become possible?
First, a note about terminology. Genetic modification, gene transformation and genetic engineering, even biotechnology in an agricultural context, all refer to the same thing: taking a gene from one organism (usually bacteria) and inserting it into another.
The scientists who discovered this technology back in the 1980s weren鈥檛 even looking for ways to improve plants. Iowa State University agronomy professor worked was on the laboratory frontline then, working with biochemists studying agrobacteria and plant tumors.
鈥淭heir motivation [was] to cure human disease,鈥� she said. 鈥淏y working on the plant disease, they hoped [they] would get some knowledge, but they completely opened up a different can of worms.鈥�
Scientists discovered that certain agrobacteria could infect a plant, cause a tumor, and then leave the disease behind even after the bacteria was removed. It鈥檚 like if you had strep throat 鈥� a bacterial infection 鈥� but then after your course of antibiotics, the strep is gone but the sore throat remains 鈥攆orever. Sounds horrible, right? The researchers figured out that the evil bacteria had a particular plasmid that did the dirty deed.
鈥淲hat happens is a piece of the DNA comes off of this plasmid and it goes through [the] bacteria cell wall and cross[es] through [the] plant cell wall and then gets into [the] plant cell nucleus,鈥� Wang said.
Once inside, it integrates into the plant cell chromosome and permanently transforms the plant鈥檚 genetics. This understanding changed the course of the research, Wang said.
鈥淭he light bulb switched on and we say, hey, we have a tool!鈥� she said.
The research focus moved away from human cancer. Scientists in both academic and industry labs set about determining how they could harness this tool to move good traits. St. Louis-based emerged early as a leader in biotech. The company demonstrated successful gene transfer in tomato plants in 1987.
鈥淲e have scientists that figured out that gene that the bacteria moved? [We] take that gene out and we put a gene into the bacteria that we鈥檇 like to have moved, and the bacteria move the gene for us,鈥� said Tom Hoogheen, a tour guide at Monsanto鈥檚 Chesterfield Village Research Facility near St. Louis.
In a long dimly lit hallway, he pointed to a large flat-screen monitor showing an illustration of the soy bean genome. He said the key is to identify a protein that has a desired effect on a plant and then figure out what gene to transfer to force the plant to produce that protein.
鈥淲hat if I can find a protein that slows down sap flow in a corn plant? Doesn鈥檛 need as much water 鈥攄rought,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat if I can find a protein that allows a plant to photosynthesize a new way? So I can spray RoundUp over the top and not kill it?鈥�
RoundUp is Monsanto鈥檚 widely used herbicide, which previously farmers had to be careful not to spray on their crop plants, because it would kill everything. But inserting the bacterial gene in the soybean seed made the soyplants resistant to Round Up. Hoogheen noted that the researchers working on RoundUp resistance found the vital gene in bacteria living in the wastewater treatment plant at the place where RoundUp was made.
In 1996, after meeting newly established regulatory requirements, RoundUp Ready soy beans hit the market. So from 鈥渁-ha鈥� moment to farmers鈥� fields took less than 10 years.
And today, genetic engineering is ubiquitous 鈥� and controversial. With young technology, there鈥檚 only so much data about safety and long-term implications. And now that the technology is out of the lab and in people鈥檚 pantries, many people are skeptical of the science and fearful of the implications.
鈥淪ome people call it like Frankenseeds,鈥� said Mike Stahr, manager of the at Iowa State University, adding that public perceptions vary by culture. In Europe, GMO products remain more closely regulated than here.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just more of a concern for some reason in Europe about you鈥檙e messing with the genetics. I鈥檝e done a great deal of testing and people ask me whether I鈥檓 concerned about biotech seeds,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ell, I鈥檓 not.鈥�
Stahr has a small farm. Like many farmers, he鈥檚 seen good results 鈥� even during last year鈥檚 drought 鈥攆rom seeds containing modern traits, including genetically engineered ones. Within the scientific community, though, there is some recognition that the safety demonstrated today can鈥檛 predict the ultimate impact on humans, plants or the environment.
Several states, including Iowa and , are considering mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms 鈥� which is many. More than 90 percent of the country鈥檚 corn and soybeans contain GMOs, which means they鈥檙e in products from cereal to candy to soda.
