Safety assurance for environmental introductions of genetically-engineered organisms. (NATO AS1 series G: Ecological sciences, Vol. 18). Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, London, Paris, Tokyo: Springer-Verlag, 1988. 282 pp., DM 148,–, ISBN 3-540-18561-5

✍ Scribed by L. Wünsche

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 59 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0138-4988
• DOI: 10.1002/abio.370100203

✦ Synopsis

Possible endangering of inm and environment by biotechnologicnlly employed microorganisms, especially genetically-engineered strains, is intensely discussed in modern biotechnology. This report contains the contributions of an international group of scientific and regulatory experts who participated in a NATO workshop held in Rome, Italy, June 6-10, 1987 to a special aspect of biotechnology, the risk connected with the direct introduction of genetically modified microorganisms, especially viruses and bacteria, into the natural environment. Eleven papers deal with general problems of risk analysis and assessment, with suitability and applicability of the available methods, and the corresponding research needs in biological sciences and related disciplines. Regulatory problems and perspectives both a t the international level and in some leading countries in the field of biotechnology are reviewed by five further contributions.

As summary of the workshop recommendations are given for a scientific approach to safety assurance for environmental introductions of genetically-engineered microorganisms. One of the conclusions that genetically-engineered microorganisms cannot be regarded as basically dangerous organisms in comparison with other biotechriologically employed microbial strains is very helpful not only in this spec-ial field of biotechnology. Risk analysis and assessment should be based on the investigation of the relevant properties of the microorganisms and their possible relations to the environment and not on the method of the selection or (if any) the genetic optimization. This report should be of interest to scientific institutions working in the corresponding fields of genetics, ecology, biotechnology and agriculture as well as to authorities responsible for health control, hygiene and, especially, for environmental monitoring and protection.