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From 2011.igem.org

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Safety

Biosafety: what exactly is it?

Biosafety is defined as the prevention of 1) Persons being exposed to organism as well as toxic chemicals that can cause disease 2) The accidental release of the aforementioned organisms or chemicals

The major biosafety concern tackled herein is the prevention of unwanted/detrimental effects on the environment caused by the release of genetically modified organisms.

Biosafety of genetically modified plants: Why should we be concerned?

The overall reason to test genetically modified organisms before their release is because humankinds total impact on ecosystems services (i.e. ecological processes that benefit human kind) from previous introduction of new technologies is substantial (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) 2005). It has been learned from the past 100 years of industrial –technological development that all environmentally related technological development came with a price – many of which outweigh the benefits.(Harremoës 2002) Consequently all new environmental stresses need to be carefully assessed. (Lövei et al 2007) Approximately 70% of the African population is engaged in agriculture. Consequently introduction of technologies such as genetically modified plants must be tested as their effects will directly affect the lives of the majority of the populace. To add to the importance of testing the plants is the fact that in tropical countries , agricultural producers depend on ecosystem services (ecological process that human kind benefit from) more closely than farmers in developed countries (Lövei et al 2007)

Team Nairobi biosafety approach

Our project this year constitutes the transformation of a fungus to come up with a transgenic biopesticide intended to control crop pests as well as house hold pests. None of its parts is documented to be a toxic substance. The biosafety concerns are thus those related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) intended for biological control. The following guidelines [http://www.biosafetykenya.co.ke/documents/ChecklistforInspectionRELEASEOFGMOsinKenya.pdf] obtained from the Kenya National Biosafety Authority[http://www.biosafetykenya.co.ke/frontpage.php] are what will be used. They provide a sound starting point for any future team that deals with GMOs for biological control.

They are by no means exhaustive.

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Parameters for assessing risk associated with the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for biological control

Factors to be considered strongly

I. Effect on species targeted for biological control, parent organism and probable effect on ecosystem;

II. Host range specificities as to whether there will be possibilities of GMOs affecting non-target species

III. Secondary effect on predators and parasite of the target species;

IV. Effect of secondary metabolites produced by GMOs on other organisms in the food chain.

References

Harremoës, P., Gee,D.,MacGarvin ,M.,Stirling ,A.,Keys ,J.,Wynne,B.&Guedes Vaz,S.(2002):Late lessons from early warnings :the precautionary principle 1896-2000-22.-coppenghagen , Denmark (European environmental ageny ) : 211 S.

Lövei Gábor L., Bøhn Thomas , Hilbeck Angelika,(2007)Biodiversity , ecosystem services and genetically modified organisms pp 169-188 in: Traavik Terje & Ching Li Lim ., Eds., Biosafety First .Tapir Academic Press.

(Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) 2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: our human planet. Island press