Expert’s Opinion on Biosafety

Dorokhov Dmitry

Before genetically modified plants appear on supermarket shelves, they have to pass thorough biosafety tests. One of the basic requirements is that transgenes from GM-plants should not “flow away” into the environment and get into wild relatives.

Every day we learn about new achievements in biotechnology which can substantially improve our lives. But why is the way from a test-tube to a supermarket so long? The time is needed to make sure that a new product brings no harm to human health and the environment. “Look before you leap” – this is a basic principle of biosafety tests of products resulting from modern biotechnology.

The most important stage in testing the biosafety of genetically modified plants is field tests. Dmitry Doroknov, an expert for biosafety issues of “Bioinzheneriya” Center (Moscow), illustrates how the risks of release of genetically modified plants into the environment are identified by the example of biosafety studies of genetically modified soybean in which the author was involved.

More information on these and other subjects you can find in the printed version of our journal.