For years molecular biologist Gilles-EÌric SeÌralini dreamed of carrying out a long-term comparative study of mice fed genetically modified organisms and maize treated with Roundup, an herbicide manufactured by Monsanto since 1975. The project came into being through collabora- tion with the Committee for Research and Independent Information on Genetic Engineering (CRIIGEN). The results of the 2-year study published in September 2012 unleashed heated controversy but also provi- ded convincing evidence for the association between feeding genetically modified foodstuffs and the occurrence of tumors in the experimental animals.
