Potential benefits from the use of genetically modified organisms—such as bacteria that biodegrade environmental pollutants—are enormous. To minimize the risks of releasing such organisms into the environment, regulators are working to develop rational safeguards.


This volume provides a comprehensive examination of the issues surrounding testing these organisms in the laboratory or the field and a practical framework for making decisions about organism release.


Beginning with a discussion of classical versus molecular techniques for genetic alteration, the volume is divided into major sections for plants and microorganisms and covers the characteristics of altered organisms, past experience with releases, and such specific issues as whether plant introductions could promote weediness. The executive summary presents major conclusions and outlines the recommended decision-making framework.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
1 Executive Summary
2 Introduction
3 Past Experience with Genetic Modification of Plants and Their Introduction into the Environment
4 Enhanced Weediness: A Major Environmental Issue
5 Past Experience with the Introduction of Modified Plants: Molecular Genetic Techniques
6 Conclusions and Recommendations: Plants
7 Past Experience with the Introduction of Microorganisms into the Environment
8 Properties of the Genetic Modification
9 Phenotypic Properties of Source Microorganisms and Their Genetically Modified Derivatives
10 Properties of the Environment Relevant to the Introduction of Genetically Modified Microorganisms
11 Conclusions and Recommendations: Microorganisms
Appendix - Historical Overview of Nucleic Acid Biotechnology: 1973 to 1989
Literature Cited
Information on Committee Members