Virginia, USA
August 5, 2013

http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2013/Aug13.pdf

Table of Contents

REGULATORY NEWS

Court Dittos PTO Board Decision, GE Alfalfa Epic Abides and Monsanto Wins on Appeal
Phill Jones

During December 2012, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided the case, In re Ditto, an appeal about patent claims to a hybrid cat. The US Patent and Trademark Office patent examiner rejected all claims because, among other reasons, the claims were anticipated by prior art references.
The Assiduous Fight against GE Alfalfa
In May 2003, Monsanto and Forage Genetics submitted a petition to the US Department of Agriculture, requesting nonregulated status for two Roundup Ready® alfalfa lines. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service decided that it was unnecessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and unconditionally deregulated the genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa. This summary highlights events of the next eight years.
Another Misfire for a Preemptive Strike
During March 2011, the Public Patent Foundation filed a lawsuit in a New York federal district court against Monsanto and on behalf of family farmers, seed businesses, and organic farming agricultural organizations. It was a preemptive strike intended to prevent Monsanto from raising a successful patent infringement suit against a farmer whose crops became accidentally contaminated with Monsanto’s GE seeds.

Genetically Engineered Ornamental Plants: Regulatory Hurdles to Commercialization
Stephen Chandler

Genetic engineering techniques offer new opportunities for breeders of ornamental plants. The global value of the ornamentals sector of the horticulture industry is estimated to be 250 – 400 billion USD. Despite their value, few varieties of GE ornamental plants have been field tested, and the only GE ornamental products that have thus far been released for marketing are color-modified varieties of carnation and rose. The cost of obtaining regulatory approval is the major factor preventing commercialization.

PLANT NEWS

Current Developments of Intragenic and Cisgenic Crops
P. Diaz-Vivancos, M. Faize, C. Petri, L. Burgos and J.A. Hernández

Plants are constantly challenged by different environmental biotic and abiotic stresses, which cause substantial losses in fruit yield and quality. A common consequence of such stresses is the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the establishment of a ROS-mediated oxidative stress leading to metabolic damage and finally to cell death. There is recent evidence suggesting that even under stress conditions ROS production is not only a symptom of cellular dysfunction but could also act as second messenger in adjusting the cellular machinery to the altered conditions.
 

Website: http://www.isb.vt.edu

Published: August 6, 2013