Leading scientists have called for a halt on research to create “mirror life” microbes amid concerns that the synthetic organisms would present an “unprecedented risk” to life on Earth. The international group, including Nobel laureates, warn that mirror bacteria, constructed from mirror images of molecules found in nature, could become established in the environment and slip past the immune defences of natural organisms, putting humans, animals and plants at risk of lethal infections that could spread without check. Although a viable mirror microbe would probably take at least a decade to build, a new risk assessment raised such serious concerns about the organisms that the 38-strong group urged scientists to stop work on them.

GMWatch takes the scientists’ commentary and report at face value. We appreciate their caution and believe that they are sincere in warning humanity about the dangers of mirror life. Even so, it’s possible that some could have additional motives. Several scientists and medics who have spoken out against the reckless “gain-of-function” (GoF) research on viruses which likely caused the COVID pandemic that sickened over 770 million people and killed over seven million have commented on X that focusing on future possible risks is a dangerous distraction from the immediate problem of ongoing GoF virology research that could create another pandemic right now. GMWatch

 

 

A bill to introduce a complete labelling system for GMOs has been introduced in South Korea's National Assembly. With discussions related to this topic continuing for over a decade, attention is focused on whether the bill will pass the plenary session this time. Nam In-soon, a member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party, presented the amendment to the Food Sanitation Act and the Health Functional Foods Act. The main point is to require labelling as GMO even if GM DNA and proteins are absent from the product. It also includes provisions to label products that do not use GM foods as "Non-GMO". Due to the strong opposition from the food industry, labelling of GMO status is currently limited to items specified by the minister rather than applying to all items. Chosun Biz

 

 

Nigeria's House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology has urged the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to ensure that all GMOs are clearly labelled in line with global best practices. The advice was given following the presentation of the director general of NABDA, Prof Abdullah Mustapha, at a budget defence with the committee. The director general had, in response to a question, attempted to justify GMOs, saying that if you buy cereal from the US, you are already consuming GMOs. But the committee was uncomfortable with his reaction and further insisted that such products be labelled to enable Nigeria to know what they are consuming. New Telegraph

 

 

Bayer AG’s Monsanto unit stopped making toxic PCBs a half century ago, but the legal fallout lingers even as many of the building materials made with the chemicals are no longer used in US homes, schools and factories. On Tuesday Bayer was hit with a US$100 million (RM450.12 million) verdict in the most recent case blaming it for students and faculty at a Seattle-area public school being sickened by exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, contained in ageing fluorescent-light fixtures. The company faces billions of dollars in exposure from a growing number of lawsuits over PCB products filed by state and local governments, school districts and individuals. Bloomberg via The Edge Malaysia

 

We hope you’ve found this newsletter interesting. Please support our work with a one-off or regular donation. Thank you!