He flew away, but promised to return

With Seralini (Gilles-Eric Seralini) you will not get bored . A scandalously known French researcher, claiming that genetically modified corn can lead to diseases and death of rats, again with us. All the same rats of the SPRAGUE-Dawley line, inclined to get cancer, even in ideal conditions, all the same neglect of the conclusions of statistical analysis (yes trifles, it is a matter of everyday life!). Nothing, in fact, has changed except the magazine. This time, the article on the dangers of the GMO was approved by Environmental Sciences Europe [1]. It is useful for experts to know that this magazine is not indexed by ISI Web of Knowledge and Pubmed - the most important search platforms that combine abstract databases of publications in scientific journals (which significantly reduces pathos news). Earlier, the article by Seralini with these very data was published in the scientific journal Food and Chemical Toxicology [2], but then the magazine recalled it [3] not without good reason - see the list of critical articles [4]; The article was also strictly criticized by most scientific organizations in Europe [5, 6]. Contrary to the statements of the authors, the use of standard statistical tests was shown by the absence of statistically reliable differences in mortality and the frequency of cancerous tumors between rats of rats that used genetically modified corn and control groups. Earlier we have already conducted a detailed statistical analysis of the data presented in the work of Seralini [7]. A similar analysis was published in Food and Chemical Toxicology [8]. We will not repeat all the details, we only note the meaning of objections. Suppose we threw the coin 10 times and the eagle fell 4 times. Then we uttered a magic spell, threw the coin 10 times and the eagle fell 6 times. Does this mean that the magical spell has increased the chance of an eagle’s loss one and a half times? Of course not. The difference between the series of throws is within the framework of statistical error. Similarly, all the differences between the groups of rats in the article by Seralini were explained without problems.

In addition, it was noted that by one and a half years of life, 45% of rats of the used SPRAGUE-Dawley line get cancer. Therefore, in vain the general public is shocked at the sight of the photos provided by Seralini with tumors that still appear in the media.

Since the new Seralini article uses data on the same rats, the results of statistical tests have not changed either and the conclusions remain the same: there are no grounds to assume that GM-Kukuruz is not of increased mortality in rats. But this does not interfere with Seralini to approve the opposite and continue to ignore the conclusions of statistical analysis. In response to a new-old article by Seralini, Nature magazine published a note [9], in which it is rightly noted that the change of magazine does not convince critics of the ability of genetically modified corn to cause rats of rats. The recommendation for the public about the article by Seralini is as follows: calm, only calm! However, it is expected that television artists will come now and tell the next bike about the danger of GMOs.

Alexander Panchin

1. SERALINI GE et al. Republined Study: Long Term Toxicity of a Roundup Herbicide and A Roundup-Tolerant Genetically Modified Maize. ENVIRONMENTAL Sciences Europe. 2014; 26:14.
2. SERALINI GE et al. Long Term Toxicity of A Roundup Herbicide and Roundup-Tolerant Genetically Modified Maize. Food chem toxicol. 2012; 50 (11): 4221-4231.
3. Retraction Notice to “Long Term Toxicity of a Roundup Herbicide and a Roundup-Tolerant Genetically Modified Maize” [Food chem. Toxicol. 50 (2012). 4221-4231]. Food chem toxicol. 2014; 63: 244.
4. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22999595
5. Ruslan Radchuk. Imaginary threats of GMOs. TRV-hunger No. 116, 11/06/2012.
6. Ruslan Radchuk. Seralini, GMOs and rats: final chord. TRV-hunger No. 118, 12/11/2012.
7. Alexander Panchin. GMO increases the life expectancy of males of rats. TRV-hunger No. 114, 10/09/2012.
8. Panchin Ay Toxicity of Rounduptolent Genetically Modified Maize Is Not Supported by Statistical Tests. Food chem toxicol. 2013; 53: 475.
9. Carassus B. Paper Claiming Gm Link with Tumows Republished. Nature. 06.24.2012. Doi: 10.1038/Nature 2014.15463.