Release of Genetically- Engineered Microorganisms in the Environment: Risk of Horizontal Genetic-Transfer

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the risk assessment of horizontal genetic-transfer because of release of genetically-engineered microorganisms in the environment. Genetically-engineered microorganisms (GEMs) have been applied for more than one decade in research laboratories. Since a few years, they are also employed for industrial purposes. In these, small and large scale applications, the GEMs are readily controlled by effective biological and physical containment. Effective containment will minimize the possibility of random spread of GEMs. Deliberate release of GEMs (for biological control in agriculture, for soil, or waste water detoxification) raises the question: how to prevent uncontrolled spread of the GEMs or their DNA. There are many biological interactions in the environment, where microorganisms play a vital role. If, one is familiar with the precise nature of such interactions and if, the involved microorganisms are well known, engineering of the microorganisms could help to manipulate the interactions.