But people haven't actually done the real things they need to do, which is to stick it down animals' gullets and to try and make silage of this stuff, and to see what happens. And that is what we're doing. So far, the Heritage team has not found any active bla in bacteria from either the Bt corn-fed animals or the silage runoff. Heritage says he considers finding the gene in silage bacteria unlikely. They are used in biotechnology because their introduction into bacteria to which they are not native can alter the bacteria genetically.
Bacteria easily take up plasmids of many kinds.
Plasmid survival is much longer in the saliva of cattle. According to the Heritage team, this is the likeliest digestive site in cattle for plasmid absorption by any bacterium apt to absorb a particular plasmid. The researchers have found no transference of plasmid bla to bacteria in cattle saliva. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.