National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH)

Topics in Animal Health Research 2004

24. The genetically modified insect-resistant maize Bt11 does not affect the performance of mice over 5 generations

Japanese

 The effect of the genetically modified insect-resistant maize, Bt11, on the performance such as fertility, growth, reproduction and life span of mice was assessed. An experimental diet containing 68% of Bt11 maize (Bt) with sufficient nutrient composition and a control diet containing non-genetically modified isoline maize (non-Bt) were designed. These diets were fed to male and female ICR mice through 5 generations to examine the growing, mating, gestation and milking periods. The results showed that there were no differences in the fertility, percentage of embryonic death, litter size, newborn sex ratio or body weight (21-60 days after birth) between these groups of mice. Moreover, the life span of the third-generation mice did not differ between Bt and non-Bt groups after 1,189 days of observation.
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