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Addressing Gene Modified Technology for Emerging Risks Through Regional Networks

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Gene modified technology presents solutions across several disciplines including environment, medicine, agriculture, and industry. Due to its generic nature, this technology has spurred several ethical, safety, and environmental issues across the world. In this paper, we discuss the role played by the various regulatory frameworks (treaties, laws, and conventions), regional networks as associations, civil society organizations, relevant professionals, and scientific communities that have been established at various levels to address these biorisks. We also summarize the key challenges faced by these establishments that hinder successful implementation of their mandates.

Recent Findings

Genetic modified technologies have accelerated scientific breakthroughs and discoveries in disciplines as diverse as synthetic biology, human gene therapy, disease modeling, drug discovery, neuroscience, the agricultural sciences, etc. Because of its significant benefits in providing interdisciplinary solutions, currently, some countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and America have adopted some of the gene modified technologies that are significant in achieving national goals in food and nutrition security, health and increased export returns.

Summary

Over the years, in modern research and development, gene modified technologies have made great contributions in areas of agriculture, industrial, and biomedical applications with the use of techniques like zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR). Despite the opportunities, these technologies have dual use of potential that calls for collaborative efforts to address the associated biorisks. Several countries across the world have now adopted national regulatory frameworks guided by some of the international agreements that have been established to ensure biosafety and biosecurity. Several treaties including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Nagoya Protocol, Global Agreement on the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and others guide on sustainable use of the environment, safe handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs), equitable sharing of benefits and sustainable use of genetic resources. Additionally, mini-lateral treaties and professional scientific bodies have been put in place to strengthen biosecurity and bring several stakeholders together and can promote communication, information exchange, and cooperation. Despite all these efforts in ensuring safety of these technologies, most countries still face infrastructural and technological capacity challenges making it difficult to share data, access online resources, implement and maintain advanced laboratory technologies and equipment. There is therefore a need for more coordination and collaboration to strike a balance in innovation and safety, enforce regulations, and correct public perception.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. SynBio Africa, Kampala, Uganda

      Geoffrey Otim, Sandra Matinyi, Ian Peter Busuulwa, Perez Mweine, Erikan Baluku, George Peter Magoola, Ivy S. G. Chimulwa, Stephen Mukuze, Peace Proscovia Aber, Peter Ahabwe Babigumira, Alex Katumba & Stephen Obol Opiyo

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    1. Geoffrey Otim
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    2. Sandra Matinyi
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    Otim, G., Matinyi, S., Busuulwa, I.P. et al. Addressing Gene Modified Technology for Emerging Risks Through Regional Networks. Curr Genet Med Rep 11, 1–7 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40142-023-00207-2

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