Science Facts & Fallacies

The Non-GMO Project recently endorsed seedless watermelon on Twitter, thereby giving an accidental thumbs up to many other genetically engineered crops. Traces of glyphosate have again been found in breastmilk. Should mothers worry about the risk to their children? Misleading nutrition studies routinely hit the headlines, and a new review has zeroed in on the source of many of these dubious results.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 183 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Viewpoint: Non-GMO Project promotes genetically-modified seedless watermelon

This summer, the Non-GMO Project endorsed seedless watermelon as a "GMO-free" food. The problem? Seedless watermelon absolutely is genetically modified. By exposing young watermelon plants to a chemical called colchicine, scientists create mutant organisms with two sets of chromosomes. These crops still produce fruit, but they're sterile and mostly seedless—the delicious summer treat we enjoy at July 4th barbecues. What does this situation tell us about the "GMO" debate?

* Glyphosate traces in breast milk? Weedkiller causes neurological disorders? How activists leverage social media to distort science and spread bogus health concerns

A recent study found that women in rural Brazil had detectable levels of the weedkiller glyphosate in their breastmilk. The researchers qualified their results, acknowledging that they did not identify a health risk. Nevertheless, anti-pesticide groups amplified the paper on Twitter to bolster their ongoing campaign against glyphosate. The lesson, as always, is that we have to be skeptical consumers of information; taking news stories and social media posts at face value is a risky business.

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Should agricultural scientists take research funding from corporations? A pair of studies suggests that a 'lab-leak' origin for SARS-CoV-2 looks increasingly unlikely. What did the researchers actually find? A federal court recently ruled that Bayer and BASF are to blame for farmers who misused pesticides and damaged their neighbors' farms. Was the decision justified?

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 182 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Should university agricultural research scientists partner with industry?

We routinely hear that industry funding biases the results of scientific research. Indeed, this has happened over the years; some companies have financed and published questionable studies in the past. But does industry funding necessarily generate unreliable results? One scientist says "no."

* New evidence refutes ‘lab-leak’ theory of COVID-19 origins

The origin of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a mystery, though the two competing hypotheses—a natural "jump" from animals to humans or a laboratory accident—have sparked a ferocious partisan fight. Will we ever get to the bottom of the controversy? A pair of recently published studies claims that the virus probably originated at the Wuhan wet market with infected wildlife, initially identified as the likely source of SARS-CoV-2. While the authors acknowledge that their work has not refuted the lab-leak hypothesis, it does make that explanation less likely. Are the researchers correct?

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Organic activist groups led Sri Lanka's economy over a cliff by pushing a ban on pesticides and fertilizers. Will they be held accountable for proffering disastrous policy advice? Meanwhile, in California, bees are now considered fish for regulatory purposes. What is the Golden State thinking? Anti-pesticide litigators are going after a weedkiller called paraquat, claiming it causes Parkinson's. Do they have a case? No, they do not.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 181 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Viewpoint: Collapse of the organic-farming experiment in Sri Lanka has not shamed activist-philosopher Vandana Shiva and other GMO rejectionists

Shortly after banning imports of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, Sri Lanka collapsed into chaos. Food prices spiked as the supply of staple crops dwindled, exacerbating existing economic trouble and political unrest and ultimately forcing the president to leave the country. His decision to ban the tools growers depend on was influenced by organic-food activists, most notably Vandana Shiva.

Despite her recommendations leading to disaster, neither Shiva nor any of her allies have so much as apologized their role in driving millions of people back into poverty. Why do politicians continue to take these activists seriously?

* Video: Reason TV examines California ruling that re-classifies bees as fish as a means to ‘protect’ them

Most people would correctly assume that bees and fish are very different animals. But basic taxonomical categories don't apply in California, where anti-pesticide groups recently used a legal loophole to convince a judge that bees and fish are, in fact, the same as far as the state's environmental regulations are concerned. Farmers now have to pay attention to which "fish" buzz around their farms in order to avoid running afoul of California's Byzantine pesticide rules.

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CRISPR gene editing has already proved to be a useful biomedical tool, but a recent study indicates it may damage DNA and rarely lead to cancer. How worried should we be? Vitamin B6 may help mitigate the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Is it time to start popping vitamin pills again? COVID-19 abruptly forced scientists into the political spotlight, turning a pandemic into a partisan battle. Can we learn from this mistake before another public health crisis comes along?

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 180 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* CRISPR may not always be safe: Study finds gene editing can damage genome and in extreme cases cause cancer

Recently published evidence indicates that CRISPR gene editing may cause unintended changes to a patient's DNA that could, in rare circumstances, lead to cancer. The results raise a pressing question: what steps can experts take to mitigate serious, though uncommon, risks linked to a useful, even life-saving genetic technology already used to treat patients?

* Vitamin B6 shown effective in treating depression and anxiety

Anxiety and depression are treated with cognitive behavioral therapy and a wide range of FDA-approved drugs. According to a recent study, however, a simple vitamin B6 supplement could augment these standard treatments and help mitigate the symptoms associated with these mental health conditions. What do the study's results actually tell us? More importantly, what don't they tell us?

* Viewpoint: Groupthink — How the COVID pandemic made scientists into politicians, with equally loyal followers

During the COVID-19 pandemic, science became politicized like never before. Career academics and federal regulators were suddenly thrust in front of microphones and cameras and expected to make authoritative statements about a virus nobody knew very much about. The predictable result was vitriolic partisan clashes, during which some experts and their supporters attacked other scientists and their supporters.

Can we learn from these unfortunate circumstances and incorporate the lessons into our preparations for the next public health emergency—before it arrives?

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow ACSH on Twitter @ACSHorg

The Biden Administration just overruled its own scientists at the EPA, mandating regulations that effectively ban the low-risk, effective weedkiller atrazine. Why? Beer made with genetically engineered yeast went on sale in San Francisco recently; the traditionally anti-GMO Bay Area has welcomed these biotech-enhanced brews with open arms. Has the herbicide glyphosate saturated our environment? A panel of organic-food activists made that case during a July 19 webinar. Let's take a closer look at their claims.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 179 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Viewpoint: Science-Free Webinar: Carey Gillam's Latest Glyphosate Hysteria, Debunked

Have farmers "drenched" their crops in glyphosate, allowing the weedkiller to permeate our environment? That was the theme of a recent webinar featuring Carey Gillam, Kelly Ryerson (the self-described "Glyphosate Girl") and other anti-pesticide activists. The panel featured no dissenting voices and the speakers took no questions. A careful review of the facts indicates that the panelists radically diverged from the scientific evidence.

* Viewpoint: Follow the science? Biden Administration politicizes EPA by ignoring its own scientists in backdoor way to ban atrazine. It will harm farming and increase food prices

The weedkiller atrazine has been in use since the 1950s. It's a useful crop-protection tool for corn growers because it inhibits photosynthesis in a wide variety of weeds, but the crop itself detoxifies atrazine, mitigating its herbicidal effects. The EPA has routinely reviewed the evidence surrounding the weedkiller and re-approved its use by licensed pesticide applicators. Yet, the Biden Administration, in opposition to the EPA's experts, has mandated restrictions that effectively ban atrazine. What has driven the administration to this decision?

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There's probably minute quantities of weedkiller in your urine. Should you panic? No. Will technological advances in farming reduce or amplify the risk of another pandemic? A new study offers some helpful insights. Finally, we're getting closer to pinning down the evolutionary origins of modern dogs.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 178 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Glyphosate detected in 80% of urine? Reason for alarm or deceptive data distortion?

A recent study found that 80 percent of people have detectable levels of glyphosate in their urine. The result set off a media firestorm, led by Guardian contributor Carey Gillam, a longtime critic of the widely used weedkiller. News reports emphasized just how "disturbing" the study's result was, but none of the media coverage appropriately contextualized the data. Should we really be worried that small quantities of glyphosate show up in our urine?

* Viewpoint: Anti-technology activists claim coronavirus outbreaks could be exacerbated by intensive farming. Here’s why they are dead wrong

Environmental groups routinely assert that "industrial" farming could unleash another pandemic by committing additional land to agriculture and herding domesticated animals in confined spaces. This combination, activists say, boosts our exposure to exotic animals and the viruses they harbor and encourages their spread among animals we raise for food production. While this threat is real, it has been exaggerated as part of an effort to oppose technological advances in farming. In fact, it is those innovations that will help us prevent the next pandemic.

* We finally know how modern dogs arose from ancient wolf populations

It's well known that dogs are descended from grey wolves, though their ancestry is much more complicated that we thought, according to research just published in Nature. The authors examined 72 genomes from ancient wolves going back 100,000 years and compared these with genomes of the dog breeds we keep as pets today. Conclusion: dogs are most similar to ancient Siberian wolves, but they likely descended from two different wild populations, one from Asia and the other from Europe.

The results suggest that humans domesticated dogs before the advent of agriculture, but important question have yet to be answered. “We still can’t tell whether there were two independent domestication events followed by merging of those two populations, or if there was just a single domestication process, followed by mixing from wild wolves,” Dr Anders Bergström, first author of the research at the Francis Crick Institute, told The Guardian. Future research will have to pin down the geographical origins of modern dogs, he added.

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter

Do pesticide residues on food counteract the benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables? The FDA recently approved a genetically engineered wheat variety that can withstand drought conditions. When will farmers be allowed to grow this enhanced crop? Finally, can DNA-based diets better help you achieve your fitness goals?

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 177 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Pesticides Negate Benefits of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption? No

A recent study suggested that pesticide exposure through food may offset the benefits eating fruits and vegetables. The paper drew a lot of media attention, though nobody discussed the study's significant limitations. Do pesticide residues really cancel out the benefits of consuming produce, or is this more hype than science?

* Gene-edited HB4 wheat clears FDA evaluation in ‘key step’ towards commercializing GM wheat in USA

Drought-tolerant wheat containing a sunflower gene may help farmers preserve their crop yields amid a changing climate. The new trait was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration; however, regulatory delays and trade restrictions in other countries could slow the release of this enhanced crop. When will farmers around the world begin to benefit from this drought-tolerance technology?

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* Viewpoint: DNA diets—Can knowing your genes help you nutritionally optimize your meal choices?

Our genetics exert influence over our health and behavior in a wide variety of ways. Is it possible that our genes impact the nutritional choices we make? Can understanding your DNA help you eat healthier? No—or at least not yet. Our knowledge of the human genome isn't quite good enough to dispense this sort of personalized dietary advice.

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @...

The Non-GMO Project has targeted synthetic biology on behalf of consumers, but does the public really need protection from a technology that promotes sustainable food production? DNA sequencing technology has given scientists an unprecedented looked at the function of our genes. What have they found thus far? Is it time to give up daily multivitamins? A new paper indicates that these supplements aren't doing much to improve public health.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 176 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Viewpoint: The disinformation-promoting Non-GMO Project takes on synthetic biology on behalf of the consumer. Are they really on your side?

Synthetic biology enables scientists to produce mass quantities of ingredients used in a variety of foods, even dairy proteins utilized to make "animal-free" ice cream. The Non-GMO Project has taken exception to this development, warning consumers that they have a new source of "GMOs" to worry about. The project's assertion does not stand up to careful scrutiny.

* A map of the human genome shows the function of every gene we know so far

Thanks to CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, researchers can tweak specific bits of DNA and observe the impact of those changes in real time using modern sequencing techniques. The technology has helped produce a remarkably detailed map of the human genome, helping us gain a better understanding of the functions our genes play.

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* Rethink your daily multivitamin: Most vitamin supplements likely useless at preventing cancer or strokes

Are multivitamins useless? For many of us, the answer might be "yes," according to the results of a recent meta-analysis. After surveying the available evidence, the researchers concluded that only pregnant women and people with diagnosed vitamin deficiencies and other health conditions may benefit from daily supplementation. Is it really time to throw out our multivitamins?

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta

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Right-wing newspaper the Epoch Times recently published an anti-glyphosate story you might expect to see from a progressive activist group. Why have the fringes of both political parties endorsed the same techno-phobic claims about modern agriculture? Paxlovid is the best COVID-19 therapy we have. So why are some patients displaying symptoms after treatment with this anti-viral drug? Melatonin is widely consumed as a safe, "natural" sleep aid. But it may carry more risks than we thought—especially for children.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 175 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Viewpoint: Rightwing The Epoch Times circulates anti-GMO hysteria and disinformation usually found on the ‘natural’ left

Activists on opposite sides of the political spectrum disagree about almost everything. One of the few exceptions appears to be their mutual willingness to deny the safety and efficacy of modern pesticides, most notably the weedkiller glyphosate. Why do people with such drastically different worldviews agree on this particular issue?

* Should COVID sufferers avoid Paxlovid because of symptoms?

Of the few treatments we have for COVID-19, the anti-viral Paxlovid is currently the most effective. Experts were briefly puzzled when they began to see patients recover from infection after using the drug then quickly develop new symptoms. We're they reinfected shortly after treatment, or is there another explanation for so-called "Paxlovid rebound"?

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* Is melatonin a safe and risk-free sleep aid — as many doctors contend?

Many smokers don't get lung cancer. But why do so many non-smokers end up with the disease? A preliminary study suggests that fetal facial scans could help physicians detect serious diseases in unborn children. Does "industrialized" farming really threaten biodiversity? Not exactly. In fact, one agricultural scientist says advances in plant breeding can help preserve the environment.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 174 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Unraveling the mystery of who gets lung cancer — and why

The question has frustrated epidemiologists for decades: why do so many non-smokers develop lung cancer? A number of environmental contributors have been proposed over the years, though solid evidence for any one of them remains elusive. Fortunately, advances in DNA sequencing have begun to offer some helpful insights. Research has shown that smokers and non-smokers typically develop different kinds of lung cancer with unique genetic signatures that even respond differently to the same treatment. Will scientists ever fully explain this mystery?

* How fetal facial scans can help identify serious diseases early

Could facial scans performed during pregnancy help doctors identify serious diseases? A team of researchers from India say—maybe. They've conducted a small study of 102 children which suggests that certain morphological features identified during an ultrasound could help diagnose inherited genetic disorders that went undetected previously. The results are encouraging, but the study authors stressed the need for more research to confirm their results.

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* Is conventional ‘industrialized’, technology-driven farming ‘destroying biodiversity’ as critics claim — or saving it?

Environmental activist groups have long opposed "industrialized" farming. While these organizations champion ‘low input agroecology-based farms,’ scientists are trying to harness the power of plant breeding to make conventional agriculture more intensive. The goal? Produce crop varieties ready to withstand the withering effects of climate change and the onslaught of plant diseases that can devastate a farmer's yields. Have these research projects achieved any success thus far? And what sort of progress can we expect in the future?

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter