Fw: Gene-altered corn likely fatal to Monarchs

[ricardo]

This article was printed in the Houston Chronicle today.

Plant a threat to butterfly
by Rick Weiss

        A popular new variety of corn plant that has been genetically
modified to resist insect pests may also be taking a toll on the Monarch
butterfly.
        The gene-altered corn, which exudes a poson fatal to corn-boring
caterpillars, was introduced in 1996 and now accounts for more than
one-quarter of the nation's corn crop- much of it in the path of the
Monarch's annual migration.
        Pollen from the plants can blow onto nearby milweed plants, the
exclusive food upon wyich young monarch larvae feed, and get eaten by the
teger=striped caterpillars.
        In studies at Cornell University, the engineered pillen killed
nearly half of those young before they transormed into the brilliant
orange, black and white butterflies well known throughout North America.
        Scientists said Wednesday that if the study's results are correct
then Monarchs may soon appear on the endangered species list.
        The Monarch's popularity is likely to put pressure on the already
embattled agricultural biotechnology industry and on the Environmental
Portection Agency, which approved the crops.
        The corn in question is one of five varieties that will be planted
on about 22 million U.s. acres this year. It contains a bacterial gene
called Bt, which makes a chemical deadly to corn borers.  The borers cause
$1 billion of damage annually.  Cornell entomologist John E. Losey
sprinkled Bt pollen on milkweed leaves and allowed Monarch larve to feed on
them within four days, 44 persent were dead, scientists reported in today's
issue of the journal Nature.

Catherine Urban
Cockrell Butterfly Center and Insect Zoo
Houston Museum of Natural Science

curban at hmns.org
Tel:  713-639-4752
FAX:  713-639-4788


regards

Ricardo