The study by Gilles-Eric Séralini and his colleagues was long overdue. It is amazing that no one had so far done such a study to look at long-term chronic effects of GM crops. The study has filled this long-felt gap. I have been on the editorial board of several major international scientific journals and a referee for several others.

I have no hesitation in saying that the publication of Séralini et al. is based on very carefully done scientific work. The continuance of genetically modified crops already being cultivated or approved for open release should be kept in abeyance until such a study as has been done by Séralini’s group is conducted for such crops by independent scientists.

Dr Pushpa M. Bhargava, founder and former director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India; former vice chair, National Knowledge Commission, Govt of India; former member, National Security Advisory Board; Nominee of the Supreme Court of India on the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee of the Govt of India