President, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu, has described as sensational the claim that Genetically Modified (GM) seeds contain “epicyte” or sterilisation gene.
Uzochukwu stated this in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday, while reacting to a report by the anti GM writer who claimed that GM foods like corn contain “epicyte” or sterilisation gene.
She described the report as misleading, and lacks sources to support the claim.
According to him, genetic sterilisation, or gene-based sterilisation, is a method of using genetic manipulation to induce infertility or sterility. It can be achieved through a variety of techniques such ionizing radiation, gene silencing, gene knockout and others.
The BSN boss said the writer was seeking to mislead the public by deliberately providing a link that did not address the issue that was raised.
“There is no gene called the epicyte gene. Epicyte bio-lab is the name of a biotechnology company in San Diego announced in 2001 that it had created a ‘contraceptive corn’.
“This was after researchers discovered a rare class of human antibodies that make sperm sluggish. Shortly after the 2001 epicyte press release, all discussion of the breakthrough vanished.’’
The Professor of food science and biotechnology explained that nothing more was heard in any media about the development of the spermicidal corn, and the company no longer exists.
“So, what the writer is referring to is something that was mentioned more than 20 years ago which was abandoned, and no longer exists.
“No GM seed contains any ‘epicyte’ or sterilisation gene. It is all sensationalism.’’