affair affair controversy began protein scientist went public unpublished research conducting genetically modified potatoes claimed potatoes growth subjects immune systems gut severely criticized making announcement experiment complete peer reviewed experiment design analysis study eventually published triggering controversy suspended misconduct procedures seize data ban speaking publicly institute renew annual contract background peer reviewed studies published investigating safety genetically modified food human animal feeding trials commissioned million year research study assess safety genetically engineered red potatoes potatoes developed later renamed recently completed years field trials gene plant inserted potato allowing protein shown toxic insects studies proposed selected peer review proposal chosen combined team academics assembled coordinated tested potatoes commercial variety intended human consumption contract signed included profit sharing agreement potatoes developed technology approved released commercially earlier day feeding trials fed rats concluded significantly affect growth despite small slight decrease gut activity experiment experimental potatoes transformed gene plant allowing protein toxic insects rats fed raw cooked genetically modified potatoes red potatoes controls control group ate potato feeding experiments conducted short term days long term days experiment team said expected differences rats fed modified potatoes rats fed non modified ones potatoes chosen deemed substantially equivalent red potatoes study lines potato gene inserted grown conditions parent plant according potatoes substantially equivalent lines contained percent protein sugar contents varied percent lines claimed differences reason experimentation experiment showed significant difference thickness stomach rats fed raw cooked potato modified gene thicker rats fed potato length greater rats fed raw modified potato statistical difference observed rats fed cooked potato effects observed rats fed control potatoes concluded differences result transformation procedure presence collaborator said mosaic virus promoter likely cause observed changes announcement june revealed research findings interview current affairs programme world action titled eat genes given permission interview director press officer present start filming interview said concerns testing techniques thought necessary testing asked felt concerned said experiments feel concerned discussed results general terms later said time interview sure reveal results experiments completed think programme hostile genetically modified food estimated experiments percent complete interview conducted said rats experiments suffered growth suppressed immune systems safety research required said gave choice wouldn eat unfair use fellow citizens guinea pigs reaction world action issued press release day broadcast numerous phone calls institute government industrial non governmental media organisations james says dismayed unpublished data released withdrew media commitments morning eventually suspended misconduct procedures seize data banned speaking publicly renew annual contract confusion reigned experiments conducted mentioned lines genetically modified potatoes meaning lines reported media institute mistakenly assumed media talking second line transformed toxic mammals potatoes developed tested press releases issued 10th 11th praised research supported increased safety tests genetically modified food press releases said potatoes modified adding confusion claimed seen press releases went opportunity correct mistake james says drafted rewrote section final copy mistaken belief gene inserted potato led scientist sir robert agricultural minister release statements media saying findings surprising known poison added potato scientists dismiss work error work october concluded data support conclusions february scientists countries organised published memo responding stated independent examination supported conclusions concerned findings peer review february publicly announced committee review work world action reporters claimed unusual step normally conduct peer reviews data sent anonymous reviewers resulting review published june stated experiments poorly designed contained composition tested rats incorrect statistical methods lacked consistency experiments responded saying reviewers reviewed internal reports include design experiments response editors published editorial denounced parties involved criticizing announcing results television stating scientists publish results scientific press popular media editorial denounced review breathtaking publication data published letter october authored reported significant differences thickness gut rats fed genetically modified potatoes compared fed control diet differences growth immune system function suggested letter reviewed reviewers times usual number reviewers found acceptable revisions fifth thought flawed wanted published avoid suspicions conspiracy colleagues chance data sixth said flawed consulting publicly criticised agreeing publish study study data held subject veto work reported significant differences thickness gut control test subjects mention growth immunity problems published work criticised grounds potatoes fair control diet rats fed potatoes suffer protein responded criticisms saying experimental protein energy content food intake rats interview later said editor political motive publishing paper rejected according claim repeated academic critics assumed use suggested study failed peer review claimed received aggressive phone calling immoral threatening published paper implications personal position editor vice president biological secretary president acknowledged making denies threatened says discuss error judgment publishing letter discuss moral difficulties publishing bad science aftermath retired following publication claiming career options blocked high level survey concluded results obtained testing food feed indicate large fold safety margins exist animal exposure levels observed adverse effects estimated human daily intake studies relevant differences parameters tested control test animals given award
Pusztai affair