GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

GMO crops can lead to ecological risks such as superweeds and pest resistance.

Canada is the third largest producer of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the world. As the cultivation of GMO crops intensifies and expands, ecological risks are emerging, such as superweeds and pest resistance. GMO animals such as fish are also being developed raising additional concerns about potential environmental risks. As yet, there is little information available on the potential adverse effects of GMOs on aquatic ecosystems.

Environmental scientists do not yet know what long-term impacts on biodiversity could result from dispersing genetically modified organisms in the environment, what effects they could have on microorganisms and invertebrates in streams and soils, and what threats they might pose to water quality.

NWRI Research

To detect and monitor the spread and persistence of GMOs in aquatic ecosystems, NWRI researchers are studying the survival of free transgene DNA in water samples from different sources and potential horizontal gene transfer, and the possible presence of GMO related products such as Bt toxin in wetlands and ponds, occurring as a result of leaching and runoff. They have also conducted studies to examine the ability to model microbial GMO survival in laboratory microcosms and make pre-release predictions about environment fate.

Scientists are investigating the impact of Bt toxin - a GMO related product - on the formation of biofilms and the biodiversity of microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems. They are building a database of information on pre-GMO release conditions to compare with post-release conditions to enable them to detect and monitor trends and changes in biodiversity.

NWRI is leading a federal government initiative that is applying DNA microarray technology and other molecular techniques to better characterize microbial biotechnology products and detect the presence of indicator species or potentially harmful microorganisms.

NWRI is developing molecular techniques and facilities to characterize the role of a particular, natural organism - as defined by genetic activity - in the functioning of an aquatic ecosystem, so that changes in that role, as a response to the presence of GMOs, can be perceived and monitored, and the consequences of the GMO presence to ecosystem functioning better understood.

To learn more, visit these web sites:

Threats to Sources of Drinking Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Health in Canada.
http://www.nwri.ca/threats/chapter08-e.html

Status of Confined and Unconfined Releases of PNTs in Canada.
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pbo/statsitue.shtml

The Royal Society of Canada: Expert Panel on the Future of Food Biotechnology.
http://www.rsc.ca/foodbiotechnology/indexEN.html