USING MICROCOSMS TO STUDY GENE-TRANSFER IN AQUATIC HABITATS

Aquatic habitats are important potential sites for gene transfer betwe en indigenous bacteria and released genetically engineered microorgani sms (GEMs). Legislation governing GEM release, and other practical con siderations, have resulted in microcosms, of varying complexity, being used to study gene transfer in aquatic environments. This article rev iews these microcosms, with particular emphasis on the more complex de signs and, where possible, compares gene transfer results obtained in them with in situ studies. We conclude that microcosms can give result s that are consistent with those obtained in situ and thus can be reli ed upon to give realistic predictions of in situ behaviour.