Are we ready for "Corntraceptives?"

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University reportedly have succeeded in growing corn that produces a contraceptive.

The corn is genetically modified to produce human antibodies to sperm. When harvested from the corn seeds and processed, the antibodies can be added to a lubricant to help avoid pregnancy.

Dr. Kevin Whaley of Johns Hopkins said the technology is inexpensive and could be used globally. The experimental corn, grown in a San Diego greenhouse, has been licensed to the biotechnology company Epicyte.

The sperm-fighting antibody is produced in fewer than one percent of all women, but the researchers were able to isolate it and clone the white blood cells in which it resides. The genetic material was then mixed in with the corn's DNA.

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There had been some debate on the listserv, involving myself, as to whether the corn-based contraceptive "jelly" in development by Epicyte/Dow/JHU could be ingested ("eat your contraceptives, Johnny") or would be a topical spermicidal jelly.  It seems that it will indeed be added to a spermicidal lubricant as a topical jelly rather than an ingested jelly.  It remains to be seen whether the corn possessing the gene for this anit-sperm monoclonal antibody would be an effective contraceptive if used as a food.

Best,

  Alison Crane