GM plants as a production platform
All over the world, increasing efforts are being made to use genetically modified plants as production organisms for vaccines and other pharmaceuticals. Various plant-made pharmaceuticals (PMPs) are already undergoing clinical trials. This poses completely new challenges for biological safety. GMO Safety speaks to Dr Margret Engelhard, the coordinator of an interdisciplinary study on ecological, ethical, social and legal aspects of molecular pharming.
Background
Plants under lock and key
Genetically modified plants that produce pharmaceutical substances are not allowed to spread or enter the food and feed chain. In order to ensure that they don’t, plants like these can be cultivated in closed systems. In North America disused mines are being used for this purpose.
Background
Biological
confinement
Since 2008, a research group has been developing and testing ways of restricting the spread of genetically modified plants. These include the use of male-sterile plants that do not produce functional pollen, and alternative methods of gene transfer.
Hintergrund
Trees without blossom
Male-sterile plants may not be able to spread via pollen transfer, but they can reproduce via seeds. In order to prevent seeds from forming, the whole flower formation phase must be suppressed. This could be of particular interest in the context of genetically modified trees.
Background
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