Biosafety Issues of Genetically Modified Organisms

Abstract

Genetic engineering (GE) and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) provide powerful tools for sustainable development in agriculture, healthcare and many other industries. GMOs are those which were genetically engineered in a laboratory by incorporating a small foreign DNA fragment carrying a gene of interest into the native DNA of the organism. The foreign gene is attached with the necessary regulatory elements to help its expression in the new genetic environment. This expression pattern may be different from its original expression to the extent that GMO may overproduce, under produce, differently produce or may not produce the protein it has been known to produce. Until recombinant-DNA is engineered in a laboratory and transferred into an organism, it is within the confines of the specialized laboratory with skilled scientists and people handling the GMO who are trained to deal with the positive and negative outputs as well the unperceived consequences which may comprise of the risks involved. When it comes out of the laboratory confinement, the element of risk associated with it passes into the hands of those who may not be aware about the unique features of the GMO or who may not have complete understanding of the technologies used. Hence, GMO requires to be handled within the confinements until it is established by tests and trials that its release into the environment would not be harmful. Even post-release monitoring plays a crucial role in environmental risk assessment and management, and it is undertaken to gather information on long-term effects of the GMO on the environment, if any [1].