Why and How to Verify the Safety of Genetically Modified Crops

Abstract

The genetically modified organisms (GMO) are produced by the introduction of foreign genes using the molecular biological techniques usually to existing excellent mother stocks. They are unnatural in genetic constitution in comparison to the naturally propagated ones, and thus are regarded as exotic to their relatives. The introduction of GM crops in the agroecosystem elicits public concerns because of its massive nature of introduction and the analogy derived from the invasion by exotic species. Therefore, the governmental regulation on the verification of GMO safety puts the primary emphasis on whether their introduction causes environmental disturbances or not. In order to implement such verification protocols, facilities suitable for obtaining rigorous scientific data must be setup and operated according to the best knowledge of biological sciences. The regulatory measures to be taken at different steps of GMO development and facilities suited for their safety verification were discussed, and the needs to develop individual regulatory protocols for the application of GMO in specific practical purposes were stressed. 一般基因轉殖生物(Genetically Modified Organism, GMO)是將非該生物種所有的「外來基因」，依分子生物學手段導入於特性優良母本而育成。因為它的基因組成與依自然繁殖方法所得者不同，被認為是與其母本生物不同的「外來種」。將基因轉殖作物（GM crop）引進於農業生態系栽培引起社會大眾的關心，重要的理由是此一行為可被看做「外來生物種」大量侵襲原來平衡的農業生態系。因此，有關GMO 管制與其安全性認證的政府規章，以本土生態系的生物多樣性是否受到GMO 引進的干擾為主要內容。為要執行規章所定認證工作，必須建立合適的設施，並且依據頂尖生物科學知識予以運作以獲得嚴密科學資料。本文討論在GMO 研發各階段所必要管制辦法的原則，以及安全性認證設施所必備的條件，並且強調必要針對GMO 的個別用途，建立個別的管制與認證辦法。