What is the Risk of a Genetically Engineered "Superbug"?

Genetic engineering, also known as gene splicing technology and DNA recombination technology, uses molecular genetics as the theoretical basis and modern methods of molecular biology and microbiology as the means. Hybrid DNA molecules are constructed in vitro and then introduced into living cells to change the original genetic characteristics of the organism, obtain new varieties, and produce new products. Genetic engineering technology provides a powerful means for studying the structure and function of genes.

Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering(

1) Cross-species

The most prominent advantage of genetic engineering is that it breaks the boundaries between species that are difficult to break through conventional breeding. It can make genetic information between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, between animals and plants, and even between humans and other organisms. Transfer. Human genes can be transferred to E. coli for expression, and bacterial genes can be transferred to plants for expression. ^[1]

At the beginning of the 20th century, genetic engineering was not used in humans, but

United Kingdom: As early as the mid-1980s, the United Kingdom had its first biotechnology company, the earliest in Europe. Today it has 560 biotech companies, with the UK accounting for half of the 70 listed biotech companies in Europe.

Germany: The German government recognizes that biotechnology will be the key to maintaining Germany's future economic competitiveness, so it passed legislation in 1993 to simplify the approval procedures for biotechnology companies, and allocated 150 million marks to establish 3 biotechnology research centers. In addition, the government plans to spend 1.2 billion marks in the next five years on the research of the human genome project. In 1999, German researchers applied for 14% of biotechnology patents in Europe.

France: The French government s funding for biotechnology has increased 10-fold in the past 10 years. The most typical project is a science and technology park called Gene Valley, established near Paris in 1998, where France has the most potential. Emerging biotechnology company. Another 20 French cities are also preparing to build their own biotechnology parks following the "Geneval Valley".

Spain: Mal Pharma is a representative of the country's biotechnology companies, which specializes in finding anticancer substances from marine life. The most valuable of these is ET-743, a red anticancer drug extracted from the bottom of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea. ET-743 is planned to be produced in Europe in 2002. It will be used to treat bone cancer, skin cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and many other common cancers.

India: The Indian government funds more than 50 research centers across the country to collect human genome data. Due to the unique "caste system" and the intermarriage customs of some remote tribes, the Indian population's gene bank is the most complete in the world, which is a very valuable database for scientists to find the pathology and treatment of genetic diseases. But India's private biotechnology companies are still in their infancy.

Japan : The Japanese government has planned to increase funding for biotechnology research by 23%. A private company has also set up the Dragon Gene Center, which will be Asia's largest genomic research institution.

Singapore : Singapore has announced a $ 60 million genetic technology research project to study how disease affects Asians and Caucasians differently. The program focuses on analyzing genetic differences and what treatments work for Asians to ultimately gain new knowledge for identifying and treating diseases; and setting up high-tech companies to manufacture drugs and medical products derived from this institute.

China : Participated in the Human Genome Project and determined 1% of the sequence, which brings light to the Chinese bio industry in the 21st century. This "1% project" has enabled China to enter the international advanced ranks of the bio-industry, and it has made China rightly share all the achievements, resources and technologies of the human genome project.

tool

(1) Enzymes: restriction endonucleases, DNA ligases,

(2) Vector: plasmid vector, phage vector, Ti plasmid, artificial chromosome

1. Extract the gene of interest

Obtaining the gene of interest is the first step in implementing genetic engineering. Such as plant disease resistance (antiviral and antibacterial) genes,

The scientific community predicts that the 21st century will be a century of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is the artificial intervention of biological genetics at the molecular level. To understand it,

In 1866,

Agriculture, animal husbandry, food industry

The use of genetic engineering technology can not only cultivate high-quality, high-yield, and resistant new crops of livestock and poultry, but also cultivate animals and plants with special uses.

Genetically modified fish

Genetically modified fish with fast growth, poor environmental tolerance and good meat quality (China).

2. Genetically modified cattle

Humans in milk

Since the mid-1980s, China's biotechnology has boomed and achieved impressive results. As the national high-tech research plan (the "eight-six-three" plan), the key research plan, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China have given priority to supporting biotechnology as a priority area for development, China's overall level of biotechnology research has rapidly improved and achieved a high Level of research results, emerging for China

There is no scientific consensus on the safety of GMOs. Nevertheless, genetically engineered crops have been put on a large scale, and biomedical applications are increasing. GMOs have also been put into industrial use and environmental restoration, but little is known about the public. In recent years, more and more evidence has proved that there are ecological, health hazards and risks, which also have adverse effects on farmers.

Genetically engineered bacteria affect soil organisms, causing plant death

Research published in 1999 exemplifies how the release of genetically engineered microorganisms into the environment can lead to widespread ecological disruption.

When genetically engineered strains of Klebsiella and sand and wheat crops were added to the microsomes, the number of bacteria and fungi feeding on nematodes increased significantly, leading to plant death. When parental non-genetically engineered strains are added, only the number of bacteria feeding on nematodes increases, and the plant does not die. The introduction of any strain into the soil without plants does not alter nematode communities.

Klebsiella is a common soil bacterium that ferments lactose. Genetically engineered bacteria are made to produce enhanced ethanol concentrates in fermentation tanks that convert agricultural waste to ethanol. Fermentation residues, including genetically engineered bacteria, can also be improved in soil.

Studies have shown that genetically engineered bacteria in some soil ecosystems can survive long-term under certain conditions, long enough to stimulate changes in soil organisms and affect plant growth and nutrient cycling processes. Although the extent of such in-situ observations is still unknown, the discovery of plant deaths caused by genetically engineered bacteria also suggests that the use of this soil improvement may kill crops.

Fatal genetically engineered mousepox virus accidentally produced

Australian researchers have accidentally created a killer virus that can completely kill mice when they develop genetic engineering of the relatively harmless mousepox virus.

Researchers inserted the interleukin 4 gene (naturally produced in the body) into a mousepox virus to promote antibody production and created a rodent-prevention vaccine for rodent control. Very unexpectedly, the inserted gene completely suppressed the mouse's immune system. The mousepox virus usually causes only mild symptoms, but after adding the IL-4 gene, the virus killed all animals within 9 days. To make matters worse, this genetically engineered virus is unusually resistant to vaccination.

Although the modified mousepox virus has no effect on humans, it is closely related to smallpox, making people worry that genetic engineering will be used in biological warfare. A researcher who said why they decided to publish research results said, "We want to warn the general public that this potentially dangerous technology is now available." High-risk deadly creatures are not too difficult. "

Much of the increase in pesticide use is due to the increased use of HT crops, especially HT soybeans, which can be traced to the heavy dependence on HT crops and the use of a single herbicide (glyphosate) for weed management. . This has led to the transfer to more difficult to control weeds, and genetic resistance has also emerged in some weeds, forcing many farmers to spray more herbicides on genetically engineered crops to properly control weeds. Glyphosate-resistant marestail in HT soybean first appeared in the United States in 2000, and it has also been identified in HT cotton [27].

Other studies have shown that genetically engineered crops themselves also become resistant to the herbicides they use, triggering serious self-growing crop problems (plants that have germinated earlier crop seeds in the same field later become weeds) and force further Use herbicides. Canadian scientists have confirmed the rapid evolution of genetically engineered canola that is resistant to multiple herbicides. This kind of crop combines the properties of monovalent herbicides developed by different companies due to the long-distance spread of pollen.

In addition, scientists confirmed in 2002 that genetically modified genes can be moved from Bt sunflowers to nearby wild sunflowers, making hybrids stronger and more resistant to chemicals, because hybrids are 50% more than without genetic control. Seeds, and the seeds are healthy, even under drought conditions.

Research from the University of North Carolina has shown that crosses between Bt rape and related weeds and bird herbivores can produce insect resistant hybrids, making weed control more difficult.

All of these events have highlighted prevention methods and strict biosafety management. The precautionary principle has been reaffirmed in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the international law governing genetically modified microorganisms. In particular, Article 10 (6) states that in the absence of scientific conclusions, Parties may restrict or ban the import of genetically modified organisms in order to avoid or minimize adverse effects on biodiversity and human health.