Austrian scientists find transgenic maize cause lower fertility

After long researches and observations, Austrian scientists have discovered that test mice show lower fertility with lighter and weaker offspring after long-term consumption of transgenic maize.(File Photo)
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VIENNA, Nov. 11 (Chinese media) -- After long researches and observations, Austrian scientists have discovered that test mice show lower fertility with lighter and weaker offspring after long-term consumption of transgenic maize.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)

released on Tuesday the findings of the research which is entrusted by Austrian

Federal Ministry of Health, Family and Youth (BMGFJ) and carried out by

Veterinary University Vienna.

The research was led by Professor Juergen Zentek of

Veterinary University Vienna, aiming at discovering whether long-term

consumption of transgenic maize would have harmful effect on mice. The

scientists divided the test mice into two groups, one of which were fed with

American "NK603xMON810" transgenic maize and the other with common Austrian

local maize.

After twenty weeks, the offspring of the two groups

of mice began to differ. The transgenic maize fed mice gave birth to less and

lighter offspring. After several generations, the reproductive organs of female

mice, eating transgenic maize for ever, began to change.

However, Professor Juergen Zentek noted in the press

release about the research findings that we can not assert it is the same with

human-beings simply by the result derived from test mice. He emphasized that the

harmful effect of transgenic maize on other animals' fertility needs further

researches.