Gene flow from virus-resistant transgenic crops to wild relatives or to infecting viruses

The most important potential ecological risks associated with virus-resista nt transgenic plants center on questions of gene flow. Gene flow fi om the transgenic plant to wild relatives could potentially confer a selective adv antage on the wild plants, and perhaps increase their weediness. Gene flow from the transgene to an infecting virus by recombination could lead to new viral genomes. These questions need to be examined carefully, so that the potential risks can be correctly situated in a global risk/benefit analysis , which will take into account numerous other elements.