Thirteenth report : the release of genetically engineered organisms to the environment / Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution ; Chairman Lord Lewis of Newnham.

  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
Date:
1989
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Thirteenth report : the release of genetically engineered organisms to the environment / Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution ; Chairman Lord Lewis of Newnham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    INTRODUCTION Benefits and risks 1.1 This Report is about the environmental issues raised by the release of genetically engineered organisms (GEOs). ‘Organism’ is an omnibus term used to cover any form of life, whether animal, plant or microbe. ‘Genetic engineering’ is concerned with deliberately changing the genes of an organism in order to alter one or more of its characteristics. The term ‘genetic manipulation’ is used elsewhere, sometimes interchangeably with ‘genetic engineering’ and sometimes with a more restricted meaning. In this Report we use the term ‘genetic engineering’ except when quoting from other sources. 1.2 Genetic engineering offers the prospect of major improvements in medicine, in industry and in agricultural quality and efficiency. It is also likely to help in dealing with problems of environmental pollution and to lead to new commercial products. The UK is well fitted scientifically to make advances in genetic engineering. 1.3. As in many other fields of technological innovation, potential benefits bring potential risks. The risks that genetic engineering may entail, and the associated ethical considerations, have been debated since the technology came into existence in the early 1970s. There can rarely have been a new technology which has attracted so much intense discussion of its potential risks from such an early point in its development. To some extent this reflects the nature of the science. There is a natural apprehension stemming from the belief that scientists are now manipulating something as fundamental as life itself. The discussion also reflects an awareness that the relationship between living things and their environment is complex and imperfectly understood. Changes to one may have unknown, widespread and lasting effects on the other. Consideration of the environmental implications of releasing GEOs forms the main thrust of this Report. Scope of this Report 1.4. Genetic engineering raises a wide spectrum of issues. The Commission has been concerned to: — examine effects on the environment which may arise from the release of GEOs; — discuss the risks associated with such releases; and — consider the procedures necessary to identify, assess and minimise the risks. In doing so we have considered both the national and international dimen- sions of the problem and the legal implications. The study has been confined mainly to issues relating to the planned release of GEOs but we also address the question of accidental escape from contained laboratory or factory facilities.
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