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In plants: Biological measures to restrict the spreading ability of genetically modified plants

As well as genetically modified plants with modified cultivation characteristics (e.g. pest resistance), scientists are developing transgenic plants with new/modified plant substances. These plants produce substances that can be used e.g. in industrial applications or in the production of pharmaceuticals. The spreading ability of these genetically modified plants needs to be minimised. This can be achieved by e.g. suppressing reproduction (biological confinement). Using conventional breeding and genetic engineering it is possible to produce plants that

• can no longer produce pollen
• do not form flowers
• or produce sterile seeds.

To restrict the spread of transgenes, researchers are also working on a genetic method that modifies the genome of the plastids. Plastids are units of a plant cell that have their own DNA. Most agricultural crop plants inherit plastid DNA maternally, i.e. not via pollen. Because of this unusual inheritance system, when plastids are genetically modified, the new gene sequences are not found in the pollen.