Research Project List - G01 Gene Transfer
One of the largest concerns to arise from the advent of GM crops and foods with regards to their safety, is the potential for transgenes to pass from a GM organism to the bacteria resident in the human gut, or to cells lining the human GI tract.
These concerns developed mainly because of the use of antibiotic resistance genes as markers in the production of GMO that could be passed to our gut flora, thus producing antibiotic resistant bacteria.
The projects in this area of research have therefore been established to study the potential for 'horizontal gene transfer'.
G01007: Survival of DNA in the gut and the potential for genetic transformation of resident gut bacteria
This research project is studying the survival of DNA in different regions of the gut (including the mouth).
G01008: Evaluating the risks associated with using GMO in human foods
This research project aims to develop methods to evaluate the risk of genetically modified plants and bacteria transferring their transgenes to other organisms in the intestinal tract of humans.
G01010: Assessment of the risks of transferring antibiotic resistance determinants from transgenic plants to micro-organisms
This research project assessed the risks of transferring antibiotic resistance from transgenic plants to micro-organisms and found them to be low.
Results available.
G01011: Dissemination of GM DNA and antibiotic resistance genes via rumen microorganisms
This research project investigates the potential for transfer of transgenes, e.g. antibiotic resistance marker genes from GM crops to bacteria in the intestinal tract of ruminatory animals.
G01012: Risk of gene transfer from GM crop plants to gut bacteria
The aim of this research project was to further scientific knowledge of the risk of gene transfer from GM plants to gut bacteria.