99
complex environments that may lack nutrients and may contain inhibitory compounds. In this regard, Close et al. (2010) highlighted that the challenges in the
development of microbial biosensors are to keep the whole cells viable through a
long storage and to immobilize the cells tight and close to the transducers.
4.7 Risk and Regulations of Genetically Modified Organisms
Advanced biotechnological techniques have enabled the construction of microbes
through genetic modification with improved novel functions. These genetically
modified organisms have the potential role in various fields including agriculture,
bioremediation, environmental management, aquaculture, and forestry. Genetic
modification has the potential to confer improved tolerance or resistance to various
stresses and consequently improve the performance of the degradation of persistent
organic pollutants. Currently, biosensors are being used to monitor and degrade
various toxins in the environment. Though the benefits of genetically modified
organisms have many positive outcomes, accidental or deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment could have negative impacts on the
environment.
4.8 Limitation of Genetically Modified Bacterial Biosensor
Genetically modified microbial biosensors are most powerful and versatile tool than
other type of biosensors. However, there are several limitations for constructing
genetically modified biosensors such as interference by high background environmental pollutants; this leads to locking of selectivity.
The risks related to release of genetically modified organisms in the open environment are as follows:
• There is little prior experience about the combination of host and modified
organisms.
• The genetically engineered microorganism may persist and proliferate the host
without human intervention.
• Genetic exchange is possible between the wild-type and transformed organism.
• The improved traits of transformed organism confer an advantage over the native
species.
In order to reduce potential risk of genetically modified organisms in the environment, some genetic barriers are created. The spread of genes from genetically
modified organisms to other microorganisms may be limited by using transposons
without transposon gene or by removing conjugation genes from the recombinant
plasmid. Random horizontal gene transfer can be also diminished by inserting into
vector colE3 gene encoding colicin that cuts all prokaryotic 16S rRNA (ribosomal
4 Genetically Modified Microbial Biosensor for Detection of Pollutants in Water…
complex environments that may lack nutrients and may contain inhibitory compounds. In this regard, Close et al. (2010) highlighted that the challenges in the
development of microbial biosensors are to keep the whole cells viable through a
long storage and to immobilize the cells tight and close to the transducers.
4.7 Risk and Regulations of Genetically Modified Organisms
Advanced biotechnological techniques have enabled the construction of microbes
through genetic modification with improved novel functions. These genetically
modified organisms have the potential role in various fields including agriculture,
bioremediation, environmental management, aquaculture, and forestry. Genetic
modification has the potential to confer improved tolerance or resistance to various
stresses and consequently improve the performance of the degradation of persistent
organic pollutants. Currently, biosensors are being used to monitor and degrade
various toxins in the environment. Though the benefits of genetically modified
organisms have many positive outcomes, accidental or deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment could have negative impacts on the
environment.
4.8 Limitation of Genetically Modified Bacterial Biosensor
Genetically modified microbial biosensors are most powerful and versatile tool than
other type of biosensors. However, there are several limitations for constructing
genetically modified biosensors such as interference by high background environmental pollutants; this leads to locking of selectivity.
The risks related to release of genetically modified organisms in the open environment are as follows:
• There is little prior experience about the combination of host and modified
organisms.
• The genetically engineered microorganism may persist and proliferate the host
without human intervention.
• Genetic exchange is possible between the wild-type and transformed organism.
• The improved traits of transformed organism confer an advantage over the native
species.
In order to reduce potential risk of genetically modified organisms in the environment, some genetic barriers are created. The spread of genes from genetically
modified organisms to other microorganisms may be limited by using transposons
without transposon gene or by removing conjugation genes from the recombinant
plasmid. Random horizontal gene transfer can be also diminished by inserting into
vector colE3 gene encoding colicin that cuts all prokaryotic 16S rRNA (ribosomal
4 Genetically Modified Microbial Biosensor for Detection of Pollutants in Water…