Laboratory and Industrial Use

Laboratory and Industrial Use section

All genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are first developed in laboratories and some are designed never to be released into the wider environment. Others are used in industrial processing. Because they are not deliberately released into the environment, they are said to be 'contained'.

Historically, GM microorganisms (such as bacteria and viruses) have been retricted to contained use, because of concerns about the risk to human and animal health and the environment that could follow from open releases. This includes GM microorganisms produced using newer gene editing (GE) techniques. However, some GM (including GE) microorganisms are now being developed for open release into the environment. These raise major concerns about environmental impacts.

'Synthetic biology' is one term used to describe when scientists have begun to create or recreate microorganisms from scratch - by joining pieces of DNA together - or where synthetic DNA has been included in genetic engineering, usually of microorganisms.

The more common contained uses of GMOs include:
  • In research to understand how animals, plants and microorganisms function and to understand and develop treatments for disease;
  • In product development of GM crops, animals or bacteria;
  • In factories using GM bacteria and yeasts to produce :
    •  industrial enzymes, such as those used in detergents;
    • enzymes for food manufacture, such as renin for cheese production;
    • drugs, such as insulin.

In Europe, all laboratory and factory uses of GMOs are regulated by the EU Contained Use Directive, and similar regulations are followed in the UK

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