Risk Assessment for Deliberate Releases

A microbial ecologist looks once again at risk analysis.- Rhizobium leguminosarum as a model for investigating gene transfer in soil.- Genetic interaction of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viceae with Gram-negative bacteria.- of Rhizobium into soils.- Strategy for monitoring pea-nodulating Rhizobia without in vitro gene manipulation.- Preliminary trials of field release of Azospirillum brasilense as inoculant in Northern Italy.- The development and exploitation of “marker genes” suitable for risk evaluation studies on the release of genetically engineered micro-organisms in soil.- Safety of Baculoviruses used as biological insecticides.- An overview of insect Baculovirus ecology as a background to field release of a genetically manipulated nuclear polyhedrosis virus.- Some ecological aspects of the release of nonresident micro-organisms in soil and groundwater environments.- Plasmid transfer in soil and rhizosphere.- Bacteria with new pathways for the degradation of pollutants and their fate in model ecosystems.- Impact of mineral surfaces on gene transfer by trans-formation in natural bacterial environments.- The use of IS-elements for the characterization of Gram-negative bacteria.- Biological containment of bacteria and plasmids to be released in the environment.- Detection of containment breach in bioprocess plant using aerobiological monitors.- Studies on the fate and genetic stability of recombinant micro-organisms in model ecosystems.- Genetic variation and horizontal gene transfer: prospects of research of a group installed at the “Biologische Bundesanstalt”.- UK experience in regulating the release of genetically manipulated micro-organisms.- Legal aspects of risks in releasing genetically engineered micro-organisms, with special emphasis on the protection of industrial property.- The approach of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in regulating certain biotechnology products.