Animal testing genetically modified animals

While most strains respond consistently to this paradigm due to its independence from motor activity, specific mouse strains (e.g., FVB/N) have considerably higher baseline body temperatures and should be avoided in this model (21). However, this procedure has been shown to effectively induce hyperthermia to varying degrees in all inbred and outbred strains tested (41) and is also an effective indicator of stress in genetically modified animals (34). 

Animal models of human disease can also be informative for physiological studies of genetic and environmental factors, and can be used to test novel therapeutics (7,8). For both Mendelian and complex diseases, genes that modify disease severity can also be investigated in animal models by studying animal strains that are severely or mildly affected by the same gene defect, combined with knock-out and knock-in models. 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Updated information on field test notifications and modifications of genetically modified plants can be obtained from several Internet addresses via gopher, ftp, telnet, or WWW (http //) including "ftp.nbiap.vt.edu,... 

Opposition, initially based on unproven fears of latent risks to the environment and to consumer health, as well as on the aggressive tactics used by such multinational chemical companies to move into and dominate food production systems, has intensified as evidence of risks has accumulated in recent years. For example, Danish researchers have produced findings that the new genes added to such crops can and do flow to related plants in the natural environment British researchers have demonstrated that genetically-modified potatoes harm the health of laboratory test animals Brazilian health officials have confirmed that consumers allergic to nuts have been harmed by unlabeled foods containing nut genes and American researchers have found that new pest resistant com interferes with the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly (Bureau of National Affairs, 2000 Baram 2000). 

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