Potential benefits from the use of genetically modified organisms--such as bacteria that biodegrade environmental pollutants--are enormous. To minimize the risks of releasing such organisms into the environment, regulators are working to develop rational safeguards.

This volume provides a comprehensive examination of the issues surrounding testing these organisms in the laboratory or the field and a practical framework for making decisions about organism release.

Beginning with a discussion of classical versus molecular techniques for genetic alteration, the volume is divided into major sections for plants and microorganisms and covers the characteristics of altered organisms, past experience with releases, and such specific issues as whether plant introductions could promote weediness. The executive summary presents major conclusions and outlines the recommended decision-making framework.

Contents

• COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION OF THE INTRODUCTION OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED MICROORGANISMS AND PLANTS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT
• SUBCOMMITTEE ON MICROORGANISMS
• BOARD ON BIOLOGY
• COMMISSION ON LIFE SCIENCES
• Preface
• 1. Executive Summary
  • PLANTS
  • MICROORGANISMS
  • FRAMEWORK
• 2. Introduction
  • THE GENETIC MODIFICATION OF ORGANISMS: MERGING CLASSICAL AND MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES
  • PLANT MODIFICATIONS—CLASSICAL TECHNIQUES
  • PLANT MODIFICATIONS—MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES
  • COMPARISON OF CLASSICAL AND MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES IN PLANTS
  • GENOME MODIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS—CLASSICAL TECHNIQUES
  • GENOME MODIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS—MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES
  • COMPARISON OF CLASSICAL AND MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES IN MICROORGANISMS
  • SUMMARY
• 3. Past Experience with Genetic Modification of Plants and Their Introduction into the Environment
  • TYPES OF GENETIC MODIFICATION IN PLANTS
  • THE RESULTS OF GENETIC MODIFICATION
  • MODIFICATIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON PERSISTENCE
  • CASE STUDIES OF INTRODUCED CROPS
  • PAST EXPERIENCE WITH CONFINEMENT
  • SUMMARY POINTS
• 4. Enhanced Weediness: A Major Environmental Issue
  • GENERAL PRINCIPLES
  • THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC PLANTS AND GENETICALLY MODIFIED PLANTS
  • THE ABILITY OF CROPS TO REVERT TO A WILD OR WEEDY CONDITION
  • HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN CROPS AND THEIR WILD RELATIVES
  • SUMMARY POINTS
• 5. Past Experience with the Introduction of Modified Plants: Molecular Genetic Techniques
  • PROPERTIES OF MOLECULAR GENETIC MODIFICATIONS
  • CASE STUDIES OF PLANTS MODIFIED BY MOLECULAR GENETIC TECHNIQUES
  • SUMMARY POINTS
• 6. Conclusions and Recommendations: Plants
  • WHAT DOES PAST EXPERIENCE TEACH US?
  • CONTROL AND CONFINEMENT OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED PLANT VARIETIES
  • LARGE-SCALE INTRODUCTIONS AND COMMERCIALIZATION
  • A FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING RISK
  • GEOGRAPHIC FRAME OF REFERENCE
  • OVERSIGHT CONSIDERATIONS
• 7. Past Experience with the Introduction of Microorganisms into the Environment
  • HISTORY OF BENEFICIAL USES OF MICROORGANISMS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE
  • SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CLASSICAL AND MOLECULAR METHODS
  • CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH UNFAMILIAR APPLICATIONS OF MICROORGANISMS
  • SUMMARY POINTS
• 8. Properties of the Genetic Modification
  • HISTORY
  • GENETIC CONSIDERATIONS
  • SUMMARY POINTS
• 9. Phenotypic Properties of Source Microorganisms and Their Genetically Modified Derivatives
  • PERSISTENCE
  • PHENOTYPIC PROPERTIES AFFECTING THE ECOSYSTEM
  • CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROBIAL PATHOGENS
  • GENERAL PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PATHOGENS
  • SUMMARY POINTS
• 10. Properties of the Environment Relevant to the Introduction of Genetically Modified Microorganisms
  • TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS
  • HABITABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTS
  • DISPERSAL
  • SUITABILITY OF MICROCOSMS FOR TESTING OF MICROBIAL INTRODUCTIONS
  • SCALE AND FREQUENCY OF INTRODUCTION
  • POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF MONITORING
  • MITIGATION
  • SUMMARY POINTS
• 11. Conclusions and Recommendations: Microorganisms
• Appendix Historical Overview of Nucleic Acid Biotechnology: 1973 to 1989
• Literature Cited
• Information on Committee Members

This study by the Board on Biology was funded by the Biotechnology Science Coordinating Committee composed of the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation, under grants numbers BBS 8820985 and 12-34-30-0024-GR.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Frank Press is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Samuel O. Thier is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and of advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Frank Press and Dr. Robert M. White are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.