Genetically Modified Organisms: Guidelines and Regulations for Research

The term genetically modified organism (GMO) most frequently refers to an organism that has been changed genetically by recombinant DNA (R-DNA) techniques. These techniques, first discovered in the 1970s, utilize enzymatic digestion and ligation of DNA and result in either deletion or insertion of DNA, usually from another organism. Historically, the safety of GMOs created by R-DNA research was questioned by scientists, as the resultant GMO may have traits differing unpredictably from those of parental organisms, and may show unpredictable properties in the laboratory or greenhouse, or to animals and humans, or in the event of accidental escape into the environment. While some scientists and others wanted to put a stop to all R-DNA research because of this uncertainty, it was widely recognized that the biological knowledge gained from using R-DNA to study living organisms was enormous. A system for managing potential risks was devised in the late 1970s, with a public mechanism for assessing and minimizing potential risks for all research by containing or confining recombinant organisms. Initially, some experiments were prohibited. This article describes the system of guidelines and regulations currently in place. It also comments on the impact of the oversight and regulatory systems relative to the development of microbial biotechnology and commercialization.