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Environmental Biotechnology pp 31–45Cite as

Tracking Microorganisms and Genes in the Environment

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Part of the book series: Basic Life Sciences ((BLSC,volume 45))

Abstract

Many concerns have been expressed about the possible hazards resulting from the release into natural environments of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) derived from recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology (7, 15, 42). These concerns center around the possibilities that GEMs, or host cells into which rDNA might move, could demonstrate pathogenicity, causing disease in plants or animals, or that GEMs or subsequent hosts for the rDNA could have detrimental effects on natural ecosystems. Many different disaster scenarios have been postulated, ranging from a deadly “Andromeda strain” pathogen produced by rDNA technology causing massive mortalities, to the release of a GEM altering the world climate. Many similar concerns were raised in the early 1970s when the technology for producing GEMs was first developed, leading to the Asilomar Conference in February 1975, and the development of guidelines and oversight by the Recombinant Advisory Committee (RAC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the safe handling of GEMs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, 40292, USA

    Ronald M. Atlas

  2. Graduate Ecology Program, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37916, USA

    Gary S. Sayler

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  1. Ronald M. Atlas
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  2. Gary S. Sayler
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Gilbert S. Omenn

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© 1988 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Atlas, R.M., Sayler, G.S. (1988). Tracking Microorganisms and Genes in the Environment. In: Omenn, G.S. (eds) Environmental Biotechnology. Basic Life Sciences, vol 45. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0824-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0824-7_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0826-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0824-7

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