Genetic engineering environmental release

Shaw, J.J., Dane, F., Geiger, D. Kloepper, J. W. (1992). Use of bioluminescence for detection of genetically engineered microorganisms released into the environment. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 58, 267-73. 

Genetic Control. Manipulation of the mechanisms of inheritance of the insect pest populations has occurred most successhiUy through the mass release of steri1i2ed males, but a variety of other techniques have been studied, including the environmental use of chemostetilants and the mass introduction of deleterious mutations, eg, conditional lethals and chromosomal translocations (58 ndash 60) (see Genetic engineering). 

Research on the genetic engineering of microbes to degrade toxic wastes has been underway for at least two decades. Progress has been relatively slow, partially attributed to societal concerns over the possible release of new, untested microorganisms that in themselves could create environmental and health threats As one researcher in the field has pointed out, No one wants to release organisms before the possible consequences are known, but the possible consequences will remain unknown until the organisms arc released. ... 

Stotzky, G. 2002. Release, persistence, and biological activity in soil of insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis. In Letournear, D.K. and B.E. Burrows (Eds.), Genetically Engineered Organisms Assessing Environmental and Human Health Effects. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. p 187-222. 

Containment systems may be valuable addenda to released microbe genetic systems to reduce liability exposure, enhance investment, and expedite evaluation of environmental safety. Even non-engineered microbes can be effectively constrained by auxotrophy or developmental blocks. 

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