Banerjee et al. (2002) reported that the transgenic hairy root cultures of Atropa
belladonna (developed by introducing rabbit cytochrome P-450 2E1) can metabolize trichloroethane at very fast rate as compared to its wild type. Doty et al. (2007)
successfully performed the transgenic engineering of poplar plants (Populus
deltoides  Populus alba) overexpressing mammalian cytochrome P450 2E1
(CYP2E1) for the enhanced degradation of trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride
benzene, and chloroform.
6 Constraints, Risks, and Challenges in the Release
of Genetically Modified Organisms for Field Applications
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be produced by introducing the gene of
interest into other organisms to accelerate their performance. A variety of GMOs
have been developed through genetic engineering and utilized in the degradation and
detoxification of organic and inorganic pollutants in lab conditions (Pieper and
Reineke 2000; Furukawa 2003; Lovely 2003; Paul et al. 2005).
The introduction of GMOs in field applications may interbreed with the wild type
or sexually compatible relatives (Barac et al. 2004). The novel trait may disappear in
wild types unless it confers a selective advantage to the recipient. However, tolerance abilities of wild types may also develop, thus altering the native species’
ecological relationship and behavior. Faster growth of GMOs can enable them to
have a competitive advantage over the native organisms. This may allow them to
become invasive, spread into new habitats, and cause ecological and economic
damage. Pressure may increase on target and nontarget species to adapt to the
introduced changes as if to a geological change or a natural selection pressure
causing them to evolve distinct resistant populations. The effects of changes in a
single species may extend well beyond to the ecosystem. Single impacts are always
joined by the risk of ecosystem damage and destruction. Once the GMOs have been
introduced into the environment and some problems arise, it is impossible to
eliminate those (Prakash et al. 2011).
One risk of particular concern relating to GMOs is the risk of horizontal gene
transfer (HGT). HGT is the acquisition of foreign genes (via transformation, transduction, and conjugation) by organisms in a variety of environmental situations. It
occurs especially in response to changing environments and provides organisms,
especially prokaryotes, with access to genes other than those that can be inherited
(Martin 1999; Ochman et al. 2000; Prakash et al. 2011).
However, to overcome the associated constraint, researchers from around the
globe have made several efforts to delimit the uncontrolled proliferations and
survival of genetically engineered microbes (GEMs) and stop the horizontal gene
transfer (HGT) to the native microbes (Kolata 1985; Atlas 1992; Paul et al. 2005). In
addition, many of these risks are identical to those incurred with regard to the
introduction of naturally or conventionally bred species (Sayler and Ripp 2000).
But still the GMOs are neither safe nor they should be less scrutinized.
1 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Their Potential in. . .
11
belladonna (developed by introducing rabbit cytochrome P-450 2E1) can metabolize trichloroethane at very fast rate as compared to its wild type. Doty et al. (2007)
successfully performed the transgenic engineering of poplar plants (Populus
deltoides  Populus alba) overexpressing mammalian cytochrome P450 2E1
(CYP2E1) for the enhanced degradation of trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride
benzene, and chloroform.
6 Constraints, Risks, and Challenges in the Release
of Genetically Modified Organisms for Field Applications
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be produced by introducing the gene of
interest into other organisms to accelerate their performance. A variety of GMOs
have been developed through genetic engineering and utilized in the degradation and
detoxification of organic and inorganic pollutants in lab conditions (Pieper and
Reineke 2000; Furukawa 2003; Lovely 2003; Paul et al. 2005).
The introduction of GMOs in field applications may interbreed with the wild type
or sexually compatible relatives (Barac et al. 2004). The novel trait may disappear in
wild types unless it confers a selective advantage to the recipient. However, tolerance abilities of wild types may also develop, thus altering the native species’
ecological relationship and behavior. Faster growth of GMOs can enable them to
have a competitive advantage over the native organisms. This may allow them to
become invasive, spread into new habitats, and cause ecological and economic
damage. Pressure may increase on target and nontarget species to adapt to the
introduced changes as if to a geological change or a natural selection pressure
causing them to evolve distinct resistant populations. The effects of changes in a
single species may extend well beyond to the ecosystem. Single impacts are always
joined by the risk of ecosystem damage and destruction. Once the GMOs have been
introduced into the environment and some problems arise, it is impossible to
eliminate those (Prakash et al. 2011).
One risk of particular concern relating to GMOs is the risk of horizontal gene
transfer (HGT). HGT is the acquisition of foreign genes (via transformation, transduction, and conjugation) by organisms in a variety of environmental situations. It
occurs especially in response to changing environments and provides organisms,
especially prokaryotes, with access to genes other than those that can be inherited
(Martin 1999; Ochman et al. 2000; Prakash et al. 2011).
However, to overcome the associated constraint, researchers from around the
globe have made several efforts to delimit the uncontrolled proliferations and
survival of genetically engineered microbes (GEMs) and stop the horizontal gene
transfer (HGT) to the native microbes (Kolata 1985; Atlas 1992; Paul et al. 2005). In
addition, many of these risks are identical to those incurred with regard to the
introduction of naturally or conventionally bred species (Sayler and Ripp 2000).
But still the GMOs are neither safe nor they should be less scrutinized.
1 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Their Potential in. . .
11