I can't help responding to concern over genetically-engineered
soybeans and ROUNDUP in formula.  My wife is an IBCLC and passed this
message on to me.  I am a college professor and teach cell biology,
immunology, molecular biology, etc.  My research interests include plant
disease resistance, as well as passive immunity and tolerance in neonates.
The two points I want to address are the dangers of transgenic plants and
the herbicide ROUNDUP.
        Let me say at the onset that I am an outspoken advocate of
breastfeeding and have sponsored a breastfeeding workshop for my students.
Until this workshop most of these college students had never seen a woman
nurse!
        Transgenic Plants:  IMHO there is more to be feared from
traditional (I mean crossing two plants and selecting the ones you like for
subsequent generations) plant breeding than from transgenic plants.  Sure,
it is possible to get some plant to produce a bacterial toxin that could
wipe out everyone stupid enough to eat those tasteless tomatoes that last
forever in the supermarket.  But traditional breeding is just as bad
...actually worse, because with genetic engineering it is possible, with
care, to transfer only a single gene into a known location in a plant
genome.  In contrast, traditional breeding involves doing crosses with
plants having substantial fractions of their genome unknown, mixing
portions of the genomes in unknown ways and then looking at a small
fraction of genes that are important for quality and yields.  The result
IMHO is the complete devastation of the germ plasm of most crop species,
e.g. most disease resistance has been lost.
        Just a little side note:  transfer of genes from species to species
happens all of the time.  Drug resistance genes spread through hospitals
with every handshake, because bacteria are incredibly promiscuous.  They
have sex with any species present using techniques not found in the
Kamasutra.  Bacteria also transfer genes to plants and animals .. viruses
are even less discriminating.  All humans harbor viral genes as part of the
genome that they pass on to their children.  I expect that more sensitive
probing will show that we also have bacterial and fungal genes in our
heritage.  Transgenic plants and animals are not new, people are just able
to make them deliberately now and make money.
        I think that transgenic plants have to be carefully controlled, but
the presence of foreign genes in and of themselves is not inherently
dangerous.  Getting to the point, I cannot imagine that a soybean plant
with an herbicide resistance gene can be harmful -- the gene just codes for
an enzyme that becomes part of the odiferous, septic mash in the baby bowel
(in contrast to the mild, yogurty smell of breastfed stools).  I would not
hesitate to eat the transgenic soybeans (properly cooked).  The point is
that formula in most uses is harmful.  I wouldn't mind reminding people
that formula is even more unnatural than they expected, i.e. transgenic
components, if it will lead to more breastfeeding.  I hope that people can
sort out what they actually fear.
        ROUNDUP:  As far as ROUNDUP is concerned.  Monsanto got lucky.
This is the only reasonable herbicide, beside the hoe, that I can think of.
It is the only herbicide I use.  As far as I can remember, it is a simple
amino acid (glycine) with a phosphate attached.  It blocks an enzyme found
only in plants (the enzyme is involved in making a unique plant product,
lignin, found in plant cell walls) and it breaks down almost immediately
upon contacting the soil (and I think also typical gut flora) yielding the
amino acid and phosphate.  A Pepsi is more dangerous.  So, once again, I
would not be above telling parents that soy-derived formula is not organic,
but I wouldn't fear ROUNDUP in my diet.


                Dr. Art Ayers, Ph.D.
                Biology Department
                Albertson College of Idaho
                Caldwell, Idaho 83605