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MEXICAN ECOLOGY INSTITUTE DISCOVERS PRESENCE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN

The National Institute of Ecology (INE) released a study that corroborates the presence of transgenic organisms in native corn of Oaxaca (Sierra Juarez) and Puebla.

The INE president, Exequiel Ezcurra, and researcher Sol Ortiz, presented the study during a press conference on Thursday, December 19, 2002. "Of a total of 2,128 plants analyzed in 21 towns, 7.6 percent gave positive results", Ortiz said. The frequency of genetic modification in these towns is variable, with a range that oscillates between 1 and 18 percent. The impact of these figures still is unknown, as it is the first case of this type in the world.

These results seem to confirm the investigation published in the magazine 'Nature' in November of 2001 by the Mexican molecular biologist, Ignacio Chapela, of the University of California at Berkley [sic]. Moreover, the study's findings knocks down the predominant criticism of a large part of the scientific community that material from genetically modified organisms could not be passed over to other plants.

INE pointed out that it is uncertain how Bt genes could affect the national biodiversity and when genes were introduced. (Source: Reforma, La Jornada, Milenio; 12/20/2002).