Synthetic biology, genetic engineering in the wild, and biological diversity

K. Hagen; M. Otto; K. Stracke; M. Engelhard

Synthetic biology, genetic engineering in the wild, and biological diversity

In: EurSafe2024 Proceedings

Authors:

K. Hagen

K. Hagen ^*Corresponding author, e-mail: kristin.hagen@bfn.de

Search for other papers by K. Hagen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

M. Otto

M. Otto
Search for other papers by M. Otto in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

K. Stracke

K. Stracke
Search for other papers by K. Stracke in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

, and

M. Engelhard

M. Engelhard
Search for other papers by M. Engelhard in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 391–397

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004715509_064

Access via:

Dar Hadith al Hassania

Download PDF

To date, most genetically modified organisms (GMOs) outside closed systems are crops, which have the potential to become harmful to ecosystems for example by releasing toxins or becoming invasive, and therefore ought not to spread outside agricultural areas. However, the contrary paradigm is currently attracting attention in research and policy: Increasingly, research is being conducted on GMOs that are intended to get established and/or spread in nature. The research is fuelled by technological transformations like digitalisation that have given rise to the field of synthetic biology. With the ongoing joint global climate, biodiversity and food crises, a view of humans as able and (morally) permitted to more actively interfere in nature has become a (contested) legitimisation for such research agendas. Contrary to nature conservation’s paradigm of precaution with regard to GMOs, synthetic biology is even targeting species protection as a potential area of application. The present paper presents a perspective of the German Federal Agency of Nature Conservation (BfN), a nature conservation authority which is also involved in GMO authorisation procedures. We briefly address potential impacts of wild living GMOs, the international policy discourse and the role of the statutory foundations and values of nature conservation for the assessment of GMOs in the wild. We argue that the urgency of combating biodiversity loss is not a justification for the use of genetic engineering in nature. Rather, the crisis justifies the implementation of effective measures to prevent further pressure on nature by overuse, contamination or the release of GMOs in the wild, where impacts on nature are too complex to be scientifically evaluated in a relevant time frame. These measures ought not to be undermined by overconfidence in technical solutions.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/edcollchap-oa/book/9789004715509/BP000064.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

EurSafe2024 Proceedings

Back to the future - Sustainable innovations for ethical food production and consumption

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004715509

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 03 Sep 2024

Subjects
- Life Sciences
  - General

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	0	0	0
Full Text Views	445	118	26
PDF Views & Downloads	521	155	17

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Synthetic biology, genetic engineering in the wild, and biological diversity

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

EurSafe2024 Proceedings

Back to the future - Sustainable innovations for ethical food production and consumption

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics