Research & Reports
This list of selected documents provides you with more information on GE tree issues from different actors. The links in the left column lead you to further publications of interest.
Please send us more publications on GE trees that should also be presented here.
2007
| Title: | Comment on the environmental assessment prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for a proposed field test of genetically engineered hybrid eucalyptus |
| Author: | Doug Gurian-Sherman |
| Organisation: | Union of Concerned Scientists |
| Source: | Letter, May 21, 2007 |
Abstract: UCS disagrees with APHIS’s risk assessment for two reasons. First, the types of genes involved could facilitate gene flow and spread of these transgenic trees into the environment, and second, APHIS has not supported its conclusions about gene flow or environmental impact with substantive data. Instead of data, APHIS bases its conclusions largely on poorly supported inference and selective interpretation of information about eucalyptus species. Although APHIS proposes several conditions to prevent gene flow, these conditions are inadequate to ensure that gene flow will not occur.
| Title: | Dwarfism Genes for Modifying the Stature of Woody Plants: A Case Study in Poplar |
| Author: | Elizabeth Etherington et al. |
| Organisation: | Oregon State University, Syngenta, Michigan Technological University, Purdue University, University of Wisconsin |
| Source: | Landscape Plant News, Spring 2007 |
Abstract: From an environmental viewpoint, dwarfed trees are unlikely to be a threat to spread because they will compete poorly with normal or wild trees. In fact, one advantage of the use of semi-dwarfism genes is that they should retard the spread of the exotic, and potentially invasive, trees that are commonly sold by nurseries. The genes would also provide a strong barrier to spread of more ecologically novel genes with which they may be intentionally linked by genetic engineers, such as genes for pest resistance derived from distant species. Given their potential value and safety, it seems likely that semi-dwarfism genes will find use in ornamental trees in the not-too-distant future.
until 2003