Transgenic crops: Tell-tale markers in traditional maize

One of the concerns voiced by opponents of genetically modified crops is that the genetic diversity of native landraces could be compromised. The discovery of transgenic DNA markers in the genome of traditional maize varieties in the remote mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, thousands of miles from recent plantings of the transgenic crop, has therefore caused alarm. Mexico imposed a moratorium on planting transgenic maize in 1998, so possible explanations for the appearance of these markers include pre-1998 transfer, local planting after 1998 or dispersal by contact with US farms.

Transgenic DNA introgressed into traditional maize landraces in Oaxaca, Mexico
DAVID QUIST & IGNACIO H. CHAPELA
Nature 414, 541-543 (29 November 2001)
| First Paragraph | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information |

29 November 2001 table of contents