DAS-59122-7

DAS-59122-7 is a variety of glufosinate tolerant Bt Corn made by Dow Agrosciences/Mycogen Seeds and Pioneer Hi-Bred International (DuPont). It was deregulated in the U.S. in 2005. DAS-59122-7 is corn that has been genetically engineered to produce an insecticidal protein that is naturally made by a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), in every cell of the plant. It is marketed as corn rootworm resistant. Additionally, it has been genetically engineered so that it survives being sprayed with the herbicide glufosinate. Bt crops, glufosinate tolerant crops, and genetically modified organisms are controversial throughout the world.

Deregulation
On December 19, 2003, Mycogen Seeds and Dow Agrosciences petitioned the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to deregulate DAS-59122-7. APHIS published a notice in the Federal Register on July 1, 2005, soliciting public comments, which were due by August 30, 2005. APHIS performed an Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act and concluded a "finding of no significant impact" (FONSI). DAS-59122-7 was deregulated in the U.S. on September 23, 2005.

APHIS wrote in the Federal Register:
 * "Corn line DAS-59122-7 has been genetically engineered to express a plant incorporated protectant (PIP) that controls certain corn rootworm. The PIP is an insecticidal crystal protein (ICP) from Bacillus thuringiensis strain PS149B1. The ICP is made of two proteins Cry34Ab1, approximately 14 kDa, and Cry35Ab1, approximately 44 kDa in molecular weight. Transcription of the Cry34Ab1 coding sequence is controlled by the maize ubiquitin promoter (UBI1ZM PRO). Transcription of Cry35Ab1 is controlled by a wheat (Triticum aestivum) peroxidase (TA Peroxidase) promoter. The termination sequences for these two genes were derived from the potato (Solanum tuberosum) proteinase inhibitor II (PINII). The PIP is expressed throughout the plant and confers resistance to northern corn rootworm (nCRW), western corn rootworm (wCRW), and Mexican corn rootworm (mCRW).


 * "Corn line DAS-59122-7 has also been genetically engineered to express the enzyme phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT), which confers tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate. The expression of the pat gene, derived from the bacterium Streptomyces viridochromogenes, is under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S RNA promoter and a CaMV termination sequence (CAMV35S TERM). The DAS-59122-7 corn line was generated through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the publicly available corn line Hi-II."

Commercialization
Dow Agrosciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred International branded the DAS-59122-7 trait as "Herculex® RW" and they sell it in the following products:
 * Herculex® RW
 * Herculex® RW Roundup Ready® Corn 2 (NK603 and DAS-59122-7)
 * Herculex® Xtra (TC1507 and DAS59122-7)
 * Herculex® Xtra Roundup® Corn 2 (TC1507, NK603, and DAS59122-7)
 * SmartStax™ (MON 88017, MON 89034, TC1507, and DAS59122-7)

Additionally, due to a cross-licensing agreement with Dow Agrosciences, Monsanto also sells corn with the DAS59122-7 in its product Genuity® SmartStax® (MON 88017, MON 89034, TC1507, and DAS59122-7).

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Corn Rootworm Resistant Corn
 * Bt Corn
 * GE Corn
 * Bt Crops
 * Genetically Modified Organisms
 * Biotechnology
 * GMO Policies by Country
 * Bacillus thuringiensis
 * Bt-Resistant Insects

External resources

 * Know Before You Grow, National Corn Growers Association.
 * A Compendium of Biotech Corn Traits, Purdue University.

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.