2-Plants: Scientists create a genetically modified elm

[GENET <genetnl@xs4all.be>]

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TITLE:  Scientists create a genetically modified elm
SOURCE: The Independent, UK, by Paul Kelbie
        http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=90944
DATE:   August 28, 2001

------------------ archive: http://www.gene.ch/genet.html ------------------


Dear GENET-news reader,
some weeks ago the media was full of good GE news that tomatoes have been 
modified to thrive in salty soil. But if you read the scientific 
publication, you will recognize that those GE tomatoes never have seen 
salty soil in their life yet but were risen in nutrient solution. The below 
posted message on GE elms will be used for PR purposes as well. Starting 
with great claims about a possible solution of the elm desease, the article 
as its end states that those GE elm never have been tested whether they 
exhibit any sort of fungal resistance or not.

In the case of the famous Monarch study, GE proponents very quickly 
declaring the results as meaningless with regard to the "real world" 
situation because they merely stem from a laboratory study. I miss this 
cautious approach when GE proponents report about their own simple lab 
studies with GE plants and announce solutions for environmental and 
agricultural problems.

Yours,
Hartmut Meyer

*****

Scientists create a genetically modified elm

Dutch elm disease, which has destroyed more than 20 million trees across 
Britain in the past 30 years, may have met its own nemesis. Scientists at 
the University of Abertay in Dundee have created a batch of genetically 
modified elms that are resistant to the fungus, which brings certain death 
to the hardwood trees. They claim that their "ground-breaking initiative" 
could lead to elm trees being re-introduced into their native habitats.

"This is an example of environmentally friendly biotechnology," said 
Professor Kevan Gartland, the head of molecular and life sciences at the 
university. "This work could help tackle damaged landscapes and ecosystems 
blighted by tree fungal diseases, such as Dutch elm disease and chestnut 
blight, throughout the world."

Elm trees, of which more than 40 species exist, first appeared about 40 
million years ago and can live for up to 300 years. But since 1970, more 
than 20 million have fallen victim in the UK while, over the past 70 years, 
more than 70 per cent of mature elms in the United States have died. 
However, a team of eight scientists at Abertay has found that anti-fungal 
genes transferred into the elm genome could give the trees the capacity to 
fight off the killer fungus.

The fungus that causes Dutch elm disease is carried by elm bark beetles 
which, as their name suggests, breed under a tree's outer bark. The fungus 
quickly spreads through the tree, preventing water and nutrients from 
reaching the branches and leaves. Once this diseased stage takes hold, 
trees can die within weeks. So far, experiments to try to halt the disease 
using traditional plant-breeding methods have failed.

"The Abertay discovery marks the culmination of a decade's work in the 
forest biotechnology area," Professor Gartland said. "It's all down to hard 
work, perseverance and a bit of ingenuity. We used two methods to transfer 
the genes into the elm genome: through the use of agrobacterium Ð nature's 
own genetic engineer Ð and by firing minute DNA-coated ball-bearings at elm-
leaf pieces using a helium-powered gun. Both methods produced good results; 
some of the trees have reached one and a half metres in height already."

As yet, all of Abertay's genetically modified English elms have been 
cultivated under strict laboratory conditions and have not been released 
into the environment. Professor Gartland said: "When the time is right, the 
trees will undergo rigorous testing in an effort to establish their 
resistance to Ophiostoma-novo-ulmi, the Dutch elm disease fungus."

A spokesman for the Forestry Commission, which has been funding the project 
since 1992, said yesterday: "Much of the devastation over the last 30 years 
has been caused by a mutated and highly virulent strain of Dutch elm 
disease which we believe orginated in north America.

"We are obviously watching the Abertay project with great interest but 
there is no possibility as yet of these trees being released into the 
environment. Our policy is that nothing should be released into the 
ecosystem until we are satisfied that it is safe to do so and that it would 
be a significant advantage to forestry. At the same time, we don't want to 
close our minds to the advantages that this technology could bring."



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| European NGO Network on Genetic Engineering |
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