Genetically modified corn
Release time : 03/09/2026 09:30:05
From the initial transgenic potatoes and transgenic rice to today's transgenic corn, people have a great curiosity about genetically modified foods.
What is genetically modified corn? This is a topic of interest for many corn enthusiasts, and they would like to know more about it.
For transgenic corn, Mom's Web Dictionary is about to reveal it in detail.
What is transgenic corn? From an academic perspective, transgenic corn refers to the use of modern molecular biological techniques to introduce genes from distantly related and useful plant species into the genetic material of corn that requires improvement, resulting in offspring exhibiting traits of stable genetic characteristics desired by humans.
In layman's terms, genetically modified corn is the result of combining the advantages of other types of corn into one variety.
The core technology of transgenic maize is the transgenic technique, which is to transfer exogenous genes into the receptor organism by using DNA recombination technology, and make it produce directional and stable genetic changes so that new receptor organisms have new characteristics.
Characteristics of transgenic corn: In terms of appearance, the transgenic corn with insect resistance gene has large kernels, gloss, uniform size, neat and beautiful appearance without worm holes.
The Bt protein gene is currently being introduced into corn through genetic engineering, which results in the expression of the Bt protein in the corn and produces an anti-insect effect.
This protein does not alter the appearance of corn, so genetically modified corn and conventional corn appear the same to the naked eye.
To effectively distinguish between GMO corn and non-GMO corn, it is possible to conduct experiments or molecular analyses. Current commonly known GMO corn varieties include Bt-176 corn, NK603 corn, MON810 corn from Monsanto, and BVLA430101 corn developed by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
1. Bt-176, a genetically modified corn resistant to insect pests such as the corn borer and to herbicides like glyphosate, possesses unique traits.
Since the first permit for unrestricted planting in the United States in 1995, Bt-176 maize has been widely planted and used as food and feed in many countries and regions including Japan (1996), Canada (1996), Argentina, and EU member states (1997).
2. The genetically modified corn NK603 developed by Monsanto Corporation in the United States is resistant to the herbicide Roundup, which is produced by Monsanto Corporation.
So farmers can use Roundup without harming their crops or incurring costs.
However, a research team at Cain University discovered that mice fed on NK603 and Roundup-contaminated feed had a high incidence of tumors and other internal injuries.
3. It is worth mentioning that Monsanto is currently the only company authorized to grow genetically modified corn in the European Union. However, recent reports from foreign media have announced that the French Ministry of Agriculture has declared that it will prohibit the cultivation, use, and sale of Monsanto's MON810 genetically modified corn.
The main reason is that the MON810 transgenic corn will have harmful effects on the environment.
4. According to the review information released by the Biosafety Network of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, the approved genetically modified corn-BVLA430101 applied by China Academy of Agricultural Sciences is currently mainly produced and applied in Shandong Province. The validity period of the safety certificate is from August 17, 2009 to August 17, 2014.
The dangers of genetically modified corn have long been a topic of controversy. Despite the lack of reliable experimental evidence that genetically modified foods are harmful, food safety agencies and experts alike emphasize that GM foods are not more dangerous than traditional ones. However, public trust in genetically modified crops remains low, with many industry insiders also expressing concerns about their potential risks.
Today, Mom's Net Dictionary will discuss the dangers of genetically modified corn with everyone.
It is understood that Mexico currently prohibits the cultivation of genetically modified corn.
The European Union has temporarily suspended the import of genetically modified foods.
Japan, Australia, New Zealand and other countries have all required to label the content of genetically modified food.
Many big supermarkets in the UK have banned the use of genetically modified organisms as ingredients in their food.
There are examples of news about the harms of genetically-modified corn around the world. One is that in 1999, researchers at Cornell University in the US reported in the journal Nature that feeding caterpillars with leaves covered with Bt genes from genetically-modified corn resulted in 44% of the larvae dying.
2. In Brazil, years ago, the planting of genetically modified crops began, resulting in a high rate of infertility among Brazilian women, reaching 44%.
3. In 2001, the "Mexico corn genetic contamination incident" occurred, and in 2002, the "transgenic corn mixed into American soybeans incident" also appeared.
4. In 2007, French scientists confirmed that a genetically modified corn produced by Monsanto, the world's largest seed company, is toxic to human liver and kidney.
5. In 2008, American scientists also confirmed that mice fed with transgenic corn for a long time will suffer from immune damage. This research result was published in the same year's "Agriculture and Food Chemistry" magazine.
Is it possible that genetically modified corn could harm human fertility? From potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries to rice, a wide variety of genetically modified foods have quietly crept into ordinary households. The debate over whether genetically modified foods are harmful to health has never ceased.
Recent debates about whether genetically modified corn harms fertility have been ongoing. Let's delve into the issue to find out if GM corn really poses a threat to reproductive health.
According to data, in Brazil, after years of planting genetically modified crops, a large number of Brazilian women have developed sterility, reaching 44%, which means nearly half of the families are barren.
In China, Guangxi Province, it has been found that nearly half of the male college students (56.7%) have infertility due to poor semen quality caused by the promotion of genetically modified corn for more than ten years.
This also means they will have no offspring.
On November 11, 2008, the Austrian government released the latest scientific research, which for the first time confirmed that genetically modified corn will lead to decreased reproduction ability in mice.
The results of the experiment showed that after 20 weeks, the offsprings of mice fed with 33% transgenic corn had significantly lower body weight, body length and number.
At the same time, the study on biochemical indicators found that after feeding transgenic corn to white mice, there were differences in kidney, spleen and pancreas organs. These may indicate the impact of transgenic crops on physiological metabolism.
Consumers are puzzled about what might happen if they consume these genetically modified corns. The consequences remain uncertain.
Although mice and humans are different, it is impossible to predict whether they have an impact on human fertility.
At present, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that genetically modified foods are safe.
The study indicates that genetically modified foods pose potential risks to human health, and once again reminds us that when approving genetically modified foods in China, we should be even more cautious.
*The medical information provided in this text is for reference only.
In the event of discomfort, it is advised to seek medical attention immediately. The diagnosis and treatment should be based on the medical advice provided during a face-to-face consultation.