TWN Info Service on Biosafety
23 September 2024
Third World Network
www.twn.my
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Unintended off-target risks of open-air spraying of genome editing machinery in the wild
Rather than developing a genetically modified organism (GMO) in the lab where, at least in theory, efficacy and risk can be assessed prior to release, certain applications of new genetic engineering technologies such as CRISPR are being developed to release genome editing machinery directly in the environment to modify wild organisms. This raises significant biosafety concerns due to the inability to control for unintended effects prior to release, and may open the door to mass environmental genetic engineering of wild populations.
A new study analyses the potential unintended effects of releasing CRISPR-based machinery into uncontrolled open environments, delivering the GM tools via irrigation, fumigation or fertilization. Using three scenarios, the study applies tools for assessing potential off-target unintended activity of RNA-interference based sprays (which function via regulatory RNAs that aim to target specific DNA sequences for gene silencing), to CRISPR systems, which also deploy a form of RNA to direct the CRISPR machinery to the DNA sequence of interest, for genetic modification.
The study assessed how open air CRISPR applications, designed to target and kill pests, would impact non-target organisms such as beneficial organisms, farm animals, people and crops. It identified numerous direct exposure routes to both target and non-target organisms through contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
As unintended genomic alterations may occur in unintended organisms, the study concludes that genome editing in uncontrolled environments require new risk assessment frameworks, which should also include assessment of environmental persistence. The findings emphasize the importance of precaution and the need to understand potential hazards and implement safety measures to protect human health and the environment.
With best wishes,
Third World Network
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Predicted multispecies unintended effects from outdoor genome editing
Aline Martins Hoepers, Jack A Heinemann, Caroline Bedin Zanatta, Philomena Chu, Tessa C Hiscox, Sarah Zanon Agapito-Tenfen
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116707
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9, a potent genetic engineering tool widely adopted in agriculture, is capable of introducing new characteristics into plants on a large scale and without conventional breeding methods. Despite its remarkable efficiency, concerns have arisen regarding unintended consequences in uncontrolled environments. Our aim was to assess potential activity in organisms that could be exposed to genome editing in uncontrolled environments. We developed three scenarios, using irrigation, fumigation and fertilization as delivery methods, based on outdoor uses in agriculture, namely pest and disease control. Using publicly available software (Cas-OFFinder, NCBI Genome Data Viewer and STRING), off-target effects were predicted in multiple species commonly found in the agroecosystem, including humans (16 of 38 (42 %) sampled). Metabolic enrichment analysis (gene IDs), by connecting off-target genes into a physiological network, predicted effects on the development of nervous and respiratory systems. Our findings emphasize the importance of exercising caution when considering the use of this genome editing in uncontrolled environments. Unintended genomic alterations may occur in unintended organisms, underscoring the significance of understanding potential hazards and implementing safety measures to protect human health and the environment.