Tropes

ScienceDaily_2013 09468.txt

#RNA-interference pesticides will need special safety testingstandard toxicity testing is inadequate to assess the safety of a new technology with potential for creating pesticides and genetically modifying crops according to a Forum article published in the August issue of Bioscience. The authors of the article Jonathan G. Lundgren and Jian J. Duan of the USDA Agricultural research service argue that pesticides and insect-resistant crops based on RNA interference now in exploratory development may have to be tested under elaborate procedures that assess effects on animals'whole life cycles rather than by methods that look for short-term toxicity. RNA interference is a natural process that affects the level of activity of genes in animals and plants. Agricultural scientists have devised however successfully artificial interfering RNAS that target genes in insect pests slowing their growth or killing them. The hope is that interfering RNAS might be applied to crops or that crops might be engineered genetically to make interfering RNAS harmful to their pests thus increasing crop yields. The safety concern as with other types of genetic modification and with pesticides generally is that the artificial interfering RNAS will also harm desirable insects or other animals. And the way interfering RNA works means that simply testing for lethality might not detect important damaging effects. For example an interfering RNA might have unintended the effect of suppressing the action of a gene needed for reproduction in a beneficial species. Standard laboratory testing would detect no harm but there could be ecological disruption in fields because of the effects on reproduction. Lundgren and Duan suggest that researchers investigating the potential of interference RNA pesticides create types that are designed to be unlikely to affect non-target species. They also suggest a research program to evaluate how the chemicals move in real-life situations. If such steps are taken Lundgren and Duan are optimistic that the flexibility adaptability and demonstrated effectiveness of RNA interference technology mean it will have an important place in the future of pest management. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by American Institute of Biological sciences. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference e

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