Confinement:
Biological containment
New research projects
If genetically modified plants produce new substances so that they can be used for e.g. the production of pharmaceutical ingredients, it is important that they do not spread uncontrollably. A new research group is therefore focusing on methods that can restrict the spread of genetically modified plants.
Research Info
Pollen sterility: Plants without pollen
Pollen is formed in the male flower parts. If a plant is male-sterile it is no longer capable of producing pollen. Deliberately induced sterility could be an effective way of preventing the spread of new foreign genes from GM plants. Genetic engineering methods are opening up new approaches in this area.
Background
Pollen without foreign genes
In genetically modified plants, the new gene is inserted into the DNA of the cell nucleus – in most cases. But there are other parts of the plant cell that contain genes – the plastids. In most flowering plants these are not found in the pollen cells. If it were possible to use the plastids as the carriers of new genes, the new genetic information could be biologically contained in the plant.
Background
Science live
Seed sterility: no progeny
No progeny and therefore no spread of GM plants: the Terminator Technology was originally designed to prevent farmers producing seed. But in principle it could also be used to prevent the spread and outcrossing of transgenes. Other systems have already been patented or are at the test phase.
Background
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