COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF TRANSGENICS

A series of examples of the application of recombinant nucelic acid te chnology to the production of transgenic organisms is presented. The r eview considers the distinct advantages of producing certain recombina nt biomolecules in appropriate eucaryotic systems rather than in the t raditional procaryotic ones. Gene therapy in humans and the production of transgenic animals and plants are discussed. Concerns about the in advertant construction of new pathogens and ethical considerations abo ut interfereing with poorly understood ecosystems are addressed.