Modified

modifiedgmopodcast

Join me as we dig into a heaped serving of GMO crops through the lens of science, history, and culture. From the Victorian origins of plant genetics through to the genetically modified world we live in today. I’m Dr. Orlando de Lange and I’ll be your guide as we explore true stories that just might change how you think about the past, present and future of food. 

  1. 1D AGO

    The colorful world of GMOs

    From glowing petunias to purple tomatoes - this episode is a roundup of some of the lesser known GMO crops that are nonetheless out there in our world.    Key references   Glowing plants I Bought a Glowing Plant. It Led Me Down a Rabbit Hole. Scientific American. 2024 Glowing Plant US Patent www.light.bio  - to buy your own glowing plant.    Blue Roses https://www.suntoryapplause.com/ https://www.suntory.com/sic/story/bluerose/ Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_rose    Pink Pineapples https://www.pinkglowpineapple.com/ US Patent Purple tomatoes Martin C, Butelli E. The Purple Tomato Story; From Laboratory Bench to the Consumer. ACS Food Sci Technol. 2024 GM Purple Tomato Gets Approval in the United States. ISAAA. 2024 https://www.norfolkhealthyproduce.com/   Rainbow Papaya https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Gonsalves   Arctic apples https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02648725.1998.10647966 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Apples#Commercialization   GMO poplar trees https://www.livingcarbon.com/ For the First Time, Genetically Modified Trees Have Been Planted in a U.S. Forest. New York Times. 2023 Wang G, Dong Y, Liu X, Yao G, Yu X, Yang M. The Current Status and Development of Insect-Resistant Genetically Engineered Poplar in China. Front Plant Sci. 2018 Tao, Y.; Chiu, L.-W.; Hoyle, J.W.; Dewhirst, R.A.; Richey, C.; Rasmussen, K.; Du, J.; Mellor, P.; Kuiper, J.; Tucker, D.; et al. Enhanced Photosynthetic Efficiency for Increased Carbon Assimilation and Woody Biomass Production in Engineered Hybrid Poplar. Forests 2023

    50 min
  2. MAR 22

    Your Questions Answered - Part 2

    From glowing fish to feminizing tofu - the second and final installment of me answering your questions about GMO.  References relevant to Question 1 - Soy Phytoestrogens Article on use of the term “Soy boy” Messina, M., Mejia, S. B., Cassidy, A., Duncan, A., Kurzer, M., Nagato, C., … Barnes, S. (2022). Neither soyfoods nor isoflavones warrant classification as endocrine disruptors: a technical review of the observational and clinical data. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 62(21), 5824–5885.  Povey AC, Clyma J-A, McNamee R, et al; Participating Centres of Chaps-UK. Phytoestrogen intake and other dietary risk factors for low motile sperm count and poor sperm morphology. Andrology. 2020;8:1805–1814.   References relevant to Question 2 - GMO animals Wikipedia article on GloFish - provides a good summary of the history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GloFish 2003 discussion forum - discussing merits of brand new GloFish product.  Bratspies, Rebecca. (2005). Glowing in the Dark: How America's First Transgenic Animal Escaped Regulation.  CAPITOL ALERT ‘Glowing fish’ exempt from proposed ban on gene-edited pets in California By Kate Wolffe Updated February 5, 2026 2:20 PM Wikipedia article on AquaAdvantage Salmon 2024 AquaBounty press release announcing sell off of assets.  References relevant to Question 3 - Health impacts of GMOs Shen, C., Yin, XC., Jiao, BY. et al. Evaluation of adverse effects/events of genetically modified food consumption: a systematic review of animal and human studies. Environ Sci Eur 34, 8 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-021-00578-9

    46 min
  3. FEB 21

    Bt Crops - GMOs go mainstream

    The NewLeaf potato was a failure, appearing and disappearing in under a decade. But it was the first of a new wave of GMO crops that have endured to the present day - Bt crops.    Key references Insect Resistance in Crops: A Case Study of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and its Transfer to Developing Countries. 1997.   The chronicle of the ups and downs that made Bacillus thuringiensis a natural insecticide by Ninfa Rosas-Garcia, 2023.    https://dfg-vk-darmstadt.de/Lexikon_Auflage_2/BerlinerErnst.htm Biographical details about Ernst Berliner.  https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-practices-management/biotechnology → 2025 USDA data on Bt crops   https://farmingfirst.org/2025/12/how-africa-can-benefit-from-south-africa-success-with-gm-crops/ ⇒ GMO crops in South Africa.    https://farmingfirst.org/2025/12/how-africa-can-benefit-from-south-africa-success-with-gm-crops/ ⇒ GMO crops in Kenya Rise and fall of the New Leaf Potato - https://krautnah.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/15_7_2_Thornton.pdf.  https://time.com/archive/6925559/why-mcdonalds-pulled-frankenfries-from-menu/TIME article about lack of commercial interest in NewLeaf potato.  Resources on Bt and milkweed https://news.cornell.edu/stories/1999/04/toxic-pollen-bt-corn-can-kill-monarch-butterflies https://academic.oup.com/jee/article/116/2/297/6968925 → 2023 review paper on Bt crops and resistance https://www.monarchscience.org/single-post/2020/09/02/a-look-back-at-the-time-when-the-entire-world-thought-bt-corn-was-killing-monarchs → Blog post summarizing the incident https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0001415 → Bt crops and bees https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.241503398 → read this and see if its useful

    40 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Join me as we dig into a heaped serving of GMO crops through the lens of science, history, and culture. From the Victorian origins of plant genetics through to the genetically modified world we live in today. I’m Dr. Orlando de Lange and I’ll be your guide as we explore true stories that just might change how you think about the past, present and future of food.