基因工程植物的安全性问题

转基因植物的研究进展很迅速,但基因工程植物是否安全一直争论不休,主要表现在转基因食品的安全性及生态安全性问题上.转基因食品的安全性涉及这些食品的过敏性、毒性以及抗生素标记基因的安全性几个方面.转基因植物的生态安全性包括基因漂流、是否能诱发昆虫产生Bt抗性和对生物多样性的影响等.本文针对这些问题,对转基因植物潜在危害以及国际上现有的评价作简要综述.     

转基因植物环境安全性研究进展

随着转基因植物在全球范围内的广泛种植,其环境安全性问题也日益受到重视。对转基因植物的环境安全性问题进行了综述,主要从转基因植物的杂草化、基因漂移、对非靶标和靶标生物的影响等方面阐述了转基因植物对生态环境的影响。     

转基因植物中的卡那霉素抗性

在转基因植物中一个经常使用的标记基因就是卡那霉素抗性基因。对转基因植物的安全性估价将对于现代植物育种的普及和接受十分有利。对于这个标记基因的生物安全性进行估测认为,没有必要对含这个基因的转基因植物进行注册的限制。     

加强对转基因食品的管理可提高其安全性

转基因食品（Genetically Modified Foods．GM）是以转基因生物为原料加工而成的食品。对转基因食品安全性的争论主要集中于它对人和环境影响两个方面。其一是外源基因不是自然遗传的基因．它是否稳定．是否也像有害物质一样能通过食物链进入人体内．对人体造成意想不到的伤害。如食物过敏或者通过转基因作用而产生有害遗传性状对人的身体健康有害．或者发生有害基因的扩散。其二是转基因生物对农业和生态环境的影响如何。如抗病虫害的转基因作物在一定时期后可能使病虫产生抗性并且遗传．     

安全标记基因在转基因植物中的应用

转基因植物的抗性标记一直是转基因生物安全性争论的焦点,是限制转基因植物应用的瓶颈之一。筛选安全标记基因替代抗生素标记基因已成为解决转基因植物安全性和促进转基因植物应用的重要策略。综述了生物安全标记基因的产生背景、系统分类、筛选原理及不同起源的标记基因在植物基因工程中的应用和存在问题。选用植物内源标记基因已成为转基因植物安全标记基因研究的重要方向。     

转基因作物及其食品的安全性

对转基因食品存在的潜在危害进行了全面分析,概述了对转基因食品的安全性评价的主要方面及世界各国对转基因食品安全的态度和对转基因食品的管理模式。     

转基因植物中报告基因gus的表达及其安全性评价

近十年来,植物转基因技术取得显著进展,许多转基因植物不断问世,其中报告基因ｇｕｓ在植物基因工程和遗传转化中发挥着重要的作用。本文就ｇｕｓ基因的来源、在转基因植物中的表达及其生态风险性与食品安全性作了简要综述。     

转基因植物的生态风险

转基因植物已在很多国家大规模商业化种植,并且取得了显著的经济效益。同时有关转基因植物潜在的生态风险已引起广泛的关注。本文从转基因植物人侵危害、对非靶标有益生物直接和间接的影响、害虫对抗虫转基因植物产生抗性、抗病毒转基因植物带来的潜在风险等方面论述了转基因植物可能潜在的生态安全性问题。     

转基因食品安全性研究进展

转基因食品的安全性在世界范围内备受关注,近年来,已经成为公众争论的焦点。本文简要综述了转基因食品的现状和安全性,并介绍了我国政府对转基因食品的态度。此外,还对转基因食品的发展前景作了简要展望。     

转基因食品的发展现状及其安全性评述

对转基因食品的发展现状及转基因技术在作物生产上的应用作了介绍,对转基因食品的安全性作了较为客观地评述,并对转基因食品的发展前景作了简要展望。     

Malatesta转基因研究:引证分析及相关证据

发表多篇以转基因农产品饲喂动物而导致健康损害论文的维罗纳大学(University of Verona)学者Manuela Malatesta,是国际上采用实验方法研究转基因生物安全领域有影响力的学者之一。通过对美国Web of Science数据平台全部论文的检索,重点分析了其所发表的10篇转基因毒理学论文的研究内容、研究方法与结论,并追踪其研究的相关证据及学术界对其研究的评价,在此基础上,分析该研究方法与结论的可靠性。研究发现,Malatesta所发表转基因存在安全隐患的10篇研究论文,由于其研究材料及方法上所存在的问题除了个别存在明显错误的论文无法重现而被学术界所否定外,其余论文均被后续采用规范研究方法的同类研究所推翻。     

转基因大米品尝会:中国情境下的公众参与科学

以转基因大米品尝会为例,通过问卷调查、访谈法、观察法研究由公众主动发起的科学传播活动及其参与者。描述了该类活动的发起和组织过程,发现参与者是一群热爱科学、认同科学价值并愿意传播科学的人,他们的行动对自己、对亲友、对社会都产生了一定的影响。转基因大米品尝会以及类似的活动是转型期中国情境下的公众参与科学实践。     

Regulatory science requirements of labeling of genetically modified food

This paper provides an overview of the evolution of food labeling in the USA. It briefly describes the three phases of agricultural development consisting of naturally occurring, cross-bred, and genetically engineered, edited or modified crops, otherwise known as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). It uses the Best Available Regulatory Science (BARS) and Metrics for Evaluation of Regulatory Science Claims (MERSC) to evaluate the scientific validity of claims applicable to GMO and the Best Available Public Information (BAPI) to evaluate the pronouncements by public media and others. Subsequently claims on health risk, ecological risk, consumer choice, and corporate greed are evaluated based on BARS/MERSC and BAPI. The paper concludes by suggesting that labeling of food containing GMO should consider the consumer’s choice, such as the food used by those who desire kosher and halal food. Furthermore, the consumer choice is already met by the exclusion of GMO in organic food.     

转基因植物核酸成分检测技术研究进展

首先对转基因核酸成分检测的靶序列特征进行了阐述,对转基因植物核酸成分的定性、定量检测技术研究进展进行了综述,包括基于PCR的检测技术、基于等温核酸扩增的检测技术、基因芯片检测技术、基于高通量测序和新型转基因核酸检测技术(如生物传感器技术、毛细管电泳技术和纳米刻度技术等),重点介绍了各种检测技术的原理、特点、研究现状和发展动态,并对各种方法的优缺点进行了比较。     

Scientific perspectives on regulating the safety of genetically modified foods

Regulation is often seen as the dull end of science. The recent storm over the introduction of genetically modified foods and the calls to regulate their consumption have had a negative effect on development of the science. Assuring the safety of genetically modified foods might raise questions where existing scientific data is limited and underline the need for further research.     

Assessment of the food safety issues related to genetically modified foods

International consensus has been reached on the principles regarding evaluation of the food safety of genetically modified plants. The concept of substantial equivalence has been developed as part of a safety evaluation framework, based on the idea that existing foods can serve as a basis for comparing the properties of genetically modified foods with the appropriate counterpart. Application of the concept is not a safety assessment per se, but helps to identify similarities and differences between the existing food and the new product, which are then subject to further toxicological investigation. Substantial equivalence is a starting point in the safety evaluation, rather than an endpoint of the assessment. Consensus on practical application of the principle should be further elaborated. Experiences with the safety testing of newly inserted proteins and of whole genetically modified foods are reviewed, and limitations of current test methodologies are discussed. The development and validation of new profiling methods such as DNA microarray technology, proteomics, and metabolomics for the identification and characterization of unintended effects, which may occur as a result of the genetic modification, is recommended. The assessment of the allergenicity of newly inserted proteins and of marker genes is discussed. An issue that will gain importance in the near future is that of post-marketing surveillance of the foods derived from genetically modified crops. It is concluded, among others that, that application of the principle of substantial equivalence has proven adequate, and that no alternative adequate safety assessment strategies are available.     

Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Foods

The development of novel foods produced through agricultural biotechnology is a complex three-stage process: gene discovery, line selection, and product advancement to commercialization. The safety of genetically modified foods is an integral part of the overall developmental process throughout all of the stages. In the discovery stage, the safety of the gene, its source, and the gene products must be considered. If any questions arise at this stage, these questions must be answered later in the developmental process. During the line selection stage, the genetically modified seed progresses through a variety of greenhouse and field trials. At this stage, the biological and agronomic equivalence of the genetically modified crop to its traditional counterpart must be compared. While the evaluations made during this stage are not specifically directed toward a safety assessment, many potential products with unusual characteristics are eliminated during this stage of development. However, the elimination of products with unusual agronomic or biological characteristics enhances the likelihood that a safe product will be generated. Finally, in the pre-commercialization stage, the genetically modified product undergoes a detailed safety assessment process. This process focuses on the safety of the gene products associated with the introduced gene and any other likely toxicological or anti-nutrient factors associated with the source of the novel gene and the crop to which it was introduced. The safety of the genetically modified product for both food and feed uses is considered. Thus far, all of the genetically modified products brought into the marketplace have been subjected to such an intensive safety assessment. The safety assessment data have been reviewed by regulatory authorities around the world. The current generation of genetically modified products are quite safe for human and feed animal consumption.     

GM Risk Assessment

GM risk assessments (GMRAs) play an important role in the decision-making process surrounding the regulation, notification and permission to handle Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Ultimately the role of each GMRA will be able to ensure the safe handling and containment of the GMO; and to asses any potential impacts on the environment and human health. A risk assessment should answer all “what if” scenarios, based on scientific evidence. This article sets out to provide researchers with helpful guidance notes on producing their own GMRA. While reference is made to UK and EU regulations, the underlying principles and points to consider are generic to most countries.