TC6275

TC6275 is a variety of genetically engineered glufosinate tolerant Bt corn made by Dow Agrosciences and Mycogen Seeds. It was deregulated in the U.S. in 2004. Line 6275 has been engineered for European Corn Borer resistance and so it can survive being sprayed with the herbicide glufosinate. Line 6275 produces an insecticidal protein that is naturally made by a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), in every cell of the plant. The Bt protein the corn produces kills lepidopteran insects, including the European corn borer. However, by 2011, pests evolved resistance to Bt.

Deregulation

On June 30, 2003, Dow Agrosciences and Mycogen Seeds petitioned the USDA to deregulate its corn line 6275. The line was similar to their previously deregulated line 1507. On August 17, 2004, the USDA published notice in the Federal Register, soliciting comments, due by September 16, 2004. The USDA conducted an environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and issued a "finding of no significant impact" (FONSI). Corn line 6275 was deregulated on October 20, 2004.

The USDA wrote in the Federal Register:

"Like the antecedent organism, corn line 6275 has been genetically engineered to express a Cry1F insecticidal protein derived from the common soil bacterium Bacillus thurigiensis subsp Aizawi (Bt aizawi). The Cry1F protein is said to be effective in controlling certain lepidopteran pests of corn, including European corn borer, black cutworm, fall army worm, and southwestern corn borer. Corn line 6275 also contains the bar gene isolated from the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus. The bar gene encodes a phosphinothricin acetyltransferase enzyme which confers tolerance to the herbicide glusofinate. The antecedent organism contains the pat gene derived from the bacterium Streptomyces viridochromogenes. The pat gene encodes a phosphinothricin aceytltransferase (PAT) protein, which also confers tolerance to glufosinate herbicide. Corn line 6275 was developed through use of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, while microprojectile bombardment was used to transfer the added genes into the antecedent organism and corn line 6275 was the public line designated Hi-II.

"Corn line 6275 expresses an insecticidal crystal protein identical in amino acid sequence to the Cry1F protein expressed in line 1507, both lines express an identical protein which confers tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate, and the recipient line used in both lines was the same public line Hi-II."

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• GE Corn
• Biotechnology
• Glufosinate
• GMO Policies by Country
• Herbicide Tolerant Crops
• Bacillus thuringiensis
• Bt-Resistant Insects
• Genetically Modified Organisms
• DuPont
• Pioneer Hi-Bred

External articles

• G. Chandrashekhar, "Monsanto hopes India will clear Bt corn in 3 years," The Hindu, September 10, 2011.
• Stephanie Bodoni, "French ban of modified maize dealt blow in court: Monsanto, 10 other companies, challenged action," STLToday.com, September 10, 2011.
• Jack Kaskey, "Monsanto Corn Falls to Illinois Bugs as Investigation Widens," Bloomberg, September 2, 2011.
• Clay Dillow, "Pests Are Developing Resistance to Monsanto's Engineered Supercorn," Popular Science, August 30, 2011.
• Associated Press, "Monsanto shares slip on bug-resistant corn woes," Forbes, August 29, 2011.
• Scott Kilman, "Monsanto Corn Plant Losing Bug Resistance," Wall Street Journal, August 29, 2011.
• Dan Piller, "Beetle resistance reported to Monsanto BT corn," Des Moines Register, August 28, 2011.
• Mike Gray, "Severe root damage to Bt corn confirmed in northwestern Illinois," Aces News, August 24, 2011.