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Worldwide, 81% of cultivated soybeans is genetically modified. Soy is just one of the 68 products on the European list of approved GMOs for import, along corn, rapeseed, cotton. Cross-border exchanges lead to the introduction of GMOs on the market, requiring careful monitoring of food with the help of appropriate testing techniques. According to the EU legislation, the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms is mandatory, therefore being set a limit of 0.9% per ingredient. The research presented in this article have targeted the testing of 10 samples of forages and soybeans traded on the Romanian market, in order to verify the conformation to the labeling legislation. The detection and quantification of GMO soy was carried out through conventional PCR methods and real time PCR - using the analyzer Light Cycler. In all of the analyzed samples, there was detected the presence of genetically modified insert (AND-RRS), while the recorded quantitative values were between 1.25 and 56.56%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethane modified epoxy based on glycerol monooleate (PME-GMO) was synthesized. GMO as polyol for synthesis of PME-GMO was synthesized via Fisher Esterification between oleic acid from palm oil and glycerol by using sulfuric acid as catalyst with time variation i.e. 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours at 160°C. Characterizations of GMO were carried out by analysis of acid number, hydroxyl value and FTIR. The data show that the conversion of oleic acid to ester compound is directly proportional with the increasing of reaction time but the enhancement is not significant after 3 hours. Furthermore, GMO product was used as polyol for modification of epoxy with polyurethane. Modification of epoxy with polyurethane was performed by reacted epoxy, tolonate and GMO simultaneously in one step. In this research, the reaction condition was varied i.e. time reaction (0.5; 1; 1.5; 2; 2.5 hours), composition of polyurethane used (10%, 20% toward epoxy) and rasio of tolonate and GMO (NCO/OH ratio) as component of polyurethane (1.5 and 2.5). Characterization of polyurethane modified epoxy based on glycerol (PME-GMO) was conducted by viscosity and FTIR analysis. The viscosity of PME-GMO increased with increasing of reaction time, polyurethane composition and NCO/OH ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how the scientific discipline is depicted in GM crop coverage of selected Philippine media channels. The researchers focused on the Bt eggplant issue in the Philippines, a rare case when science became the subject of public debate, forcing scientists to defend Bt eggplant field trials as they engaged with the media, the public, and the courts. The researchers inductively and qualitatively analyzed media coverage of the issue. The researchers found that coverage of the issue portrays scientific research against a background of absolutist science, which demands absolute proof and certainty, an image that is not consistent with scientific practice. While the depiction of absolute science persists, no proof or evidence will ever be enough for those opposed to genetic modification. Further research and practice should seek to criticize this depiction, so that future coverage might reflect a more realistic image of how science is practiced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically modified organisms and foods derived from GMOs placed on the market must meet the requirements of European legislation regarding labeling and traceability. As European Union law assess, the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms is obligatory, the imposed threshold being of 0.9% for each ingredient. In Romania, until 2007 (the year of EU admission) Roundup Ready soybean was no longer cultivated in Romania, but cross-border exchanges can lead to its introduction on the market of food, so closer monitoring of food products derived there from is required, using appropriate testing techniques. The following work presents the results of a study concerning food and feed containing soya and soya beans existing on the market in Romania, in order to detect the presence or absence of GM soya and its quantification in the samples found to be positive. Regarding this matter, we analyzed 15 samples using the PCR technique in real time (using analyzer Light Cycler), of which, five food samples, 4 soybeans' samples and 5 samples of feed were found positive in identifying the specific gene of the plant (lectin) and the genetically modified insert (RRS-DNA). Only for one sample (soybeans, aboriginal production), no DNA was detected specific to the line GTS 40-3-2 (Roundup Ready). The results obtained in real time PCR quantification, of samples that were tested positive, showed percentage values situated between 0.25% and 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]