What are genetically modified (GM) microorganisms?
A GM microorganism is a virus, bacterium or yeast in which the DNA has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally.
Initial efforts in genetic modification had focused on microorganisms because of the relative simplicity of their structure, and a number of commercial processes now use GM microorganisms to produce materials in a cheap and efficient way.
What are the applications of GM microorganisms?
Microorganisms have been used for centuries in the manufacturing of food and feed. With the advancement of gene modification techniques, GM microorganisms have now found wide applications in the following fields:
Enzyme Production
By far, the most common application of GM microorganisms is in enzyme production. These microorganisms range from fungi like Aspergillus to bacteria like Bacillus and are usually selected by the availability of genetic tools and their capabilities to produce and/or secrete enzymes. The enzymes produced may be used in making “washing powders” (lipases), in food production, or they may have important medical uses.
Production of Pharmaceuticals
GM microorganisms are also being used for the commercial production of pharmaceutical products such as insulin, interferon, human growth hormone & viral vaccines. Prior to such advances in biotechnology, the few protein drugs available were taken directly from human and animal corpses. For instance, human growth hormone was taken from human corpses and insulin required to treat diabetes was collected from slaughtered pigs. These drugs were expensive as they were available only in limited supplies. Biotechnology offers a cheap and efficient way of producing high quality drugs. More information can be found under the FAQ subsection on GMOs in Biomedical Sciences.
Biodegradation/Bioremediation of Xenobiotics
There is potential in using GM microorganisms for biodegradation and/or bioremediation purposes in waste treatment or in the cleaning of contaminated land and water.
Crop Production & Protection
This can be done through biological control of insects, fungal diseases, and frost damage.
Extraction of Metals from Ores
Some GM microorganisms should be able to provide significant benefits in the management of the environment systems.
A variety of economic, market and regulatory pressures have however limited the commercial use of GM microorganisms, particularly in bioremediation.
What are the potential hazards associated with GM microorganisms?
Many commercial applications of GM microorganisms are conducted in closed production facilities, that is, under 'contained use’. For example, drugs derived from GM microorganisms are produced under such conditions. Because of the tight controls on 'contained uses’ of GM microorganisms, these applications are very unlikely to offer threats to the environment.
However, for GM microorganisms which are developed, or being considered, to solve environmental problems (e.g. for cleaning up contamination), there may be concerns about possible risks to the environment and to human health upon their release.
Many microorganisms do not cause diseases and are normally harmless to human health. However, when a microorganism is manipulated genetically, there is a chance that the modification may increase its virulence or pathogenicity. To minimize risks, scientists who work on GM microorganisms must observe proper measures to ensure biosafety. |
