INTRODUCTION OF GENETICALLY-MODIFIED MICR OORGANISMS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT - PROSPECTS AND RISK

An attempt was made to assess the prospects and risks of introduction of genetically modified microorganisms (GMM) into the environment. In particular, the prospects of GMM introduction into agriculture, food i ndustry, health service, and biotechnology of environmental protection are discussed, as well as various types of its potential adverse cons equences. From the point of view of rational assessments of the risks of GMM introduction, we analyzed the physiological, biochemical, and m olecular biological mechanisms underlying the viability of microorgani sms in the environment, where they exist in a state of deep starvation . Data on the dynamics of GMM introduced into soil and aquatic ecosyst ems, as well as on gene transfer in microbial ecosystems were also ana lyzed. In general, the following conclusions were made: (1) GMM introd uction into the environment is actually promising in terms of expected benefits. Apparently, GMM introduction for environmental bioremediati on and for the control of agricultural pests are the most promising of them; (2) the probability of the replacement of natural soil and wate r microorganisms by the introduced GMM is low; (3) the probability of the massive spread of foreign genes from the introduced GMM in natural microbial populations is negligible and may be reduced to zero.; (4) the probability of negative effects of GMM on ecological characteristi cs of natural ecosystems (inhibition or activation of certain groups o f natural microorganisms, formation of toxic or genotoxic metabolic pr oducts of introduced GMM) is real and causes the greatest concern in r espect to potential negative consequences of GMM introduction. Conditi ons providing ecological safety of GMM introduction into the environme nt were formulated.