April 2, 2008

Researchers find GMO seeds more persistent than thought
 

Researchers in Sweden have found that a field planted with experimental genetically modified oilseed rape a decade ago, still has transgenic specimens growing there despite intensive efforts in the intervening years to remove seeds, the BBC reports on its Web site Wednesday (April 2, 2008).

After the trial of herbicide-resistant genetically modified rape, the Swedish Board of Agriculture sprayed the field intensively with chemicals that should have killed all the remaining plants. And for two years, inspectors looked specifically for volunteer plants and killed them.

Even so the study found 15 plants had sprung up 10 years later carrying the genes that scientists had originally inserted into their experimental rape variety.