<p style="text-align: justify;">DAS-59122-7 X NK603 (OECD identifier: DAS-59122-7 x MON-&Oslash;&Oslash;6&Oslash;3-6) maize is an F1 hybrid resulting from the hybridization of the insect-resistant maize inbred line DAS-59122-7 and the herbicide-tolerant maize inbred line NK603 (MON-&Oslash;&Oslash;6&Oslash;3-6). This stacked maize hybrid is a product of traditional plant breeding, and therefore is not automatically subject to regulation in all jurisdictions as are transgenic plants resulting from recombinant DNA technologies. Certain jurisdictions may request notification in advance of the release of a stacked hybrid, or may request information to conduct an environmental and food safety assessment. Examples of jurisdictions that require either notification or information about stacked hybrids prior to their release into the environment, and for use in human food and livestock feed are Japan and the Philippines.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The stacked hybrid DAS-59122-7 X NK603 expresses four novel proteins: the insect control proteins (delta-endotoxins) Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1, which are insecticidal to coleopterans such as the Corn Rootworm, together with phosphinothricin acetyl-transferase (PAT) and CP4 EPSPS which confer tolerance to the herbicides glufosinate ammonium and glyphosate, respectively. The CP4 EPSPS protein is produced by the <i>cp4 epsps</i> gene from NK603, and the insecticidal proteins Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1, by the <i>cry</i>34Ab1 and <i>cry</i>35Ab1 genes from DAS-59122-7. The PAT protein is produced by the <i>pat</i> gene, also from DAS-59122-7. The novel traits of each parent line have therefore been combined, using traditional plant breeding methods, to produce this new hybrid. For a full description of each parent line please refer to the individual product descriptions in the crop database for DAS-59122-7 and NK603.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The inserted genes and their gene products have a history of safe use, and have undergone review and approval by several regulatory agencies. No interactions among the gene products or negative synergistic effects are expected in the stacked hybrid. The Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1 proteins are not enzymes and therefore do not affect plant metabolism. The CP4 EPSPS has high affinity for its substrates phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and shikimate-3-phosphate, which are part of the shikimate metabolic pathway. Similarly, the PAT protein has a very high affinity for L-Phosphinothricin, the active ingredient in the herbicide glufosinate ammonium. PAT, CP4 EPSPS, Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1 are therefore not expected to interact within nor affect the metabolism of the stacked hybrid.</p>
