The New Dark Age

A recent review by researchers from Environment Agency-Austria, Austrian Academy of Sciences and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation identifies critical biosafety and wider governance risks of environmental applications of genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs), including those developed by genome editing. It focuses on two case studies of commercialised applications: 1) GM microalgae for biofuel production and 2) GM soil bacteria for increased nitrogen fixation. GMMs are “fundamentally different to GM higher organisms”, raising specific challenges. Their microscopic size complicates detection of their environmental presence, hindering assessment and monitoring of their survival following intended or accidental release. Bacteria and microalgae also readily exchange DNA via horizontal gene transfer, raising the risk of spread of both intended and unintended engineered sequences and traits. Moreover, bacteria are capable of rapid genetic change, with the potential for evolutionary adaptation, providing “new opportunities to evolve, adapt, and spread”. Third World Network via GMWatch