Contained use versus release to the environment
Mae-wan Ho
Director, Institute of Science in Society
FOR biosafety purposes, it is customary to distinguish between contained uses of genetically engineered organisms and their releases to the environment. Contained uses occur inside a physical facility designed to prevent escape into the open environment. It can be controlled in principle, and made as safe as possible, though the current laws on contained use are far from adequate, and in most developing countries there are no laws at all.
Releases of genetically engineered organisms to the environment consist of all uses that occur outside a physical facility. Apart from commercial releases and open field trials, they should also include caged transgenic organisms placed in open water, gene therapy and vaccinations and transgenic wastes disposed into the environment. All of these are capable of spreading transgenic DNA by horizontal gene transfer. Released genetically engineered organisms and transgenic DNA cannot be controlled nor recalled, which is why great care must be taken in advance of release.
Most industrial processes involve both contained use and environmental releases. Some examples of contained uses include:
_ Genetically modified micro-organisms to produce pharmaceuticals and enzymes
_ Genetically modified livestock to produce pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals
_ Genetically modified livestock destined for environmental release
_ Production of new vectors for manipulating and transferring genes
_ Transformation of plant tissues to create transgenic plants destined for environmental release
_ Production of new vaccines destined for environmental release
_ Research in cancer genes (oncogenes)
_ Genetically modified cell lines
_ Gene cloning, including amplifications with PCR
_ Gene therapy research
_ Transgenic laboratory animals for research such as mice, fruitflies, fish and flatworms
_ Production of transgenic micro-organisms, including pathogens, in research
_ Production of transgenic viruses, including pathogens, in research
_ Biological warfare research
Examples of environmental releases include:
_ All commercial plantings
_ All marketing of genetically engineered organisms and products made from these organisms
_ All field trials
_ All caged aquatic genetically engineered organisms (fish, shellfish, etc.) placed in open water
_ Vaccinations
_ Gene therapies
_ Escapes from contained uses
_ Waste products from contained uses (air, water and solids)