Viewpoint

Shades of Genetic Engineering

Dr Alexander Kouzminov

The main task of modern genetic engineering is the development of new biological forms of plants, animals and microorganisms with modified, desired characteristics which are hard or impossible to gain by the conventional selection methods. In this decade, the theoretical advances of molecular biology and genetics, laid down in the 80s as the practical basis for modern biotechnology, have gained momentum in the production of new modified organisms and biological products.

The advantages and prospects of genetic engineering were appreciated instantly, particularly for their relative cheapness and simplicity of manufacture. Through genetic engineering, people have been able to access vitally important drugs and vaccines, and a number of other biologically active components.

Manufactured industrial microorganisms can produce medically and biologically active substances without side effects, including varieties of plants with improved characteristics, seeds and animals. Genetically engineered triploid grass carp were introduced in the New Zealand rivers and lakes a couple of decades ago to help combat algae problems.

Biotechnological products begin to win in world and domestic food markets, allowing abundant vegetables and fruit in shops year round. Such fruits of genetic engineering could feed all human kind?

Since the beginning of experiments with recombinant molecules in the 70s, genetic engineering has not been proven guilty in the creation of products and organisms which are harmful to human kind. Quantitative achievements in molecular biology and production of modified organisms and novel products with planned properties have not yet been developed into a qualitative new stage of development of biotechnology.

What we must decide now is, is it necessary to develop independent biotechnological programmes in isolation from other countries? Should we take the risk of paying for, for example, reducing or completely destroying naturally occurring inter-species genetic barriers? Or should we strictly limit these sorts of experiments, either nationally or globally?

There are many real and imaginary fears. However fears occur more when it is a question of careless or improvident genetic experimentation, and where there are concerns of deliberate use of modern genetic engineering for antihuman purposes.

The possibilities of genetic engineering have not gone unremarked by the military, who are actively developing their own microbiological and biotechnological industries and programmes. The dark side of genetic engineering is the development of new biological materials for military purposes, the development of new biological (genetic) weapons.

Human beings seem to have an irrepressibly incessant desire to destroy themselves, and new weapons are progressively more dangerous and destructive. Silent and invisible, biological, genetic and even ethnically focused "weapons" could target indigenous genes and mutations.

Modern biotechnology forces us to revise widely accepted concepts about copyright, trade secret, freedom of distribution of information and many other important judicial rules and guidelines.

Wide commercialization of genetic engineering production requires the development of international standards for clear understanding of the framework of potentially dangerous experiments and warrants for their strict control. In many countries, numerous laws and rules regulate experimental and industrial activities with genetically modified organisms and biologically active products. The questions of safety and controlled releases of novel forms of life into the environment come under the close attention and control of government and decision-making bodies, as well as scientific, private and non-government organizations. Some countries have completely forbidden the importation of genetically modified organisms and food, or restrict such imports.

New Zealand has recently joined this "genetic club", having accepted sufficiently advanced laws and rules in manufacturing and utilizing the of products of modern biotechnology. Until now, this country has been reasonably accessible for biotechnological and pharmacological companies which have exploited her reasonably "soft" legislation for commercial gain.

One of these laws -- the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, 1996 -- requires improvement. For application of the Act in practice, it is necessary to have detailed elaboration concerning genetically modified organisms, development of safety guidelines and reporting accountability on through from laboratory to consumer. It is also necessary to improve the licensing rules of research institutes, and have clear descriptions of the experiments which are conducted by them and the results gained.

The experts in charge of each stage of manufacturing new living forms and food, from the DNA stage up to the creation of new biological forms and final products, should have personal liability.

The consumer of genetically modified products should know not only its compounds, but also the genetic engineering methods for manufacturing and cultivating such products. And it should be the buyer who makes the choice of whether to purchase a "genetic" potato and a "natural" potato.

Dr Alexander Kouzminov received his PhD in Biological Sciences at Moscow State University and is currently completing his PhD in Environmental Law at the University of Auckland.