Genetic manipulations in applied biology

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• Publié par: EUROPEAN-COMMISSION
• Nombre de lectures: 7
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
biological sciences
Genetic manipulations
in applied biology COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
biological sciences
Genetic manipulations
in applied biology
A study of the necessity, content and management principles
of a possible Community action
by A. Rörsch
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics
Leiden State University
Leiden — The Netherlands
This work has been carried out under the study contract
No 346-77-7 ECI NL with the Commission of the European Communities
Directorate General 'Research, Science and Education
Biology, Radiation Protection and Medical Research'
1978 EUR 6078 EN Published by the
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Directorate-General
'Scientific and Technical Information
and Information Management'
Bâtiment Jean Monnet - Kirchberg
LUXEMBOURG
LEGAL NOTICE
The views presented in this study are those of the author. Neither the
Commission of the European Communities nor any person acting on
behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be
made of the following information.
A bibliographical slip can be found at the end of this volume.
ECSC - EEC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1978
Printed in Belgium
ISBN 92-825-0558-8 Catalogue number : CD-NI-78-001-EN-C CONTENTS
1. TERMS OF REFERENCE PROVIDED BY THE COMMISSION 7
2. FORMAT OF THE REPORT 8
3. GENERAL INTRODUCTION - GENETIC ENGINEERING 9
3.1 A survey of the new molecular genetic techniques
3.2 The limitation of classical genetics IO
3.3 Handling eggs I
3.A Clone-formation in animalsI
3.5n in plants
3.6 Haploid organisms 12
3.7 Hybridization of somatic cells
3.8 The molecular approach3
3.9 Molecular cloning4
3.10 The significance of Recombinant DNA7
3.11 The expression of eukaryotic DNA in bacteria 18
3.12 Practical applications
3.13 Prospects9
3.14 Literature 20
4. PROSPECTS FOR GENE TRANSFER TECHNIQUES 21
4.1 Somatic cell hybridization
4.1.1 General considerations
4.1.2 Animal cell hybridization 3
4.1.3 Plant celln
4.2 Molecular cloning in bacteria 5
4.3rg in eukaryotes 7
5. SAFEGUARDS9
5.1 Potential hazards of molecular cloning 2
5.2 Unconventional spread of genes
5.3 Harmful genes and vectors
5.4 Intentional spread of dangerous material 30
5.5 Molecular cloning in other organisms than bacteria
5.6 Deliberate spread in Nature of manipulated plants and 31
animals
5.7 Nature preservation versus Nature manipulation
5.8 Weighing the risks and the public debate2
6. THE NECESSITY AND LIMITATIONS OF A COMMUNITY ACTION 34 7. SURVEY OF POSSIBLE PROJECTS 41
7.1 Enzyme production
7.2 The development of organisms with specialized properties 4
7.3 Nitrogen fixationZ
7.4 Biological energy conversionj
8. SELECTION OF FIELDS FOR COMMUNITY ACTION4
8.1 Criteria for the selection of research projects **
8.2 The projects and their goals
8.2.1 Nitrogen fixation5
8.2.2 Gene transfer
8.2.3 Cloning
8.2.A Somatic cell hybridization 46
8.2.5 Reproductive barriers in vivo
8.3 Why no other subjects?7
Addendum - Listing of potential participants in the programme _ 49
9. MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES 54
9.1 Initial manning of the projects
9.2 Essential elements of the management structure 5
9.3 The proposed structure5
9.4e time scale6
9.5 Co-operation with industry
10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS θ -5-
APPENDICES
I. Report on the current state of planning of life science 59
promotion in Japan
II. Provisional summary record of Conference on Genetic 72
Engineering for Nitrogen Fixation, Brookhaven, March 13-17, 1977
III. Brookhaven Symposium on "Genetic Interaction and gene 81
transfer", Hay 17-20, 1977
IV. Report on the visits to the Universities of Mexico City, 105
March-June, 1977
V. Report of visits to the Universities and Research Institutes 110
in Israel, March-August, 1977
VI. Report on the symposium "Cenetics and Ethics: Problems and 112
positive results of Scientific Research in Genetics", Madrid,
10-14 October, 1977
VII. Crown Gall, an evaluation of current research, September 1977 116
by Dr. R. A. Schilperoort
VIII. Statement of "Environmental consequences of genetic engineering 131
of Rhizobium to improve symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation"
by Dr. A. Hollaender
IX. Report on the Symposium on "Chemical and Enzymatic Catalysis" 141
Groningen, January 1978
X. Report on the symposium "Genetic Engineering" 142
Milano, March 1978 -7-
TERMS OF RKt'KHENCE
The object of this study ie to define the necessary steps which ought
to be taken within the Community for promoting research with recombinant
DNA which could lead to direct applications for agriculture, industry
and medicine.
The study has to define :
- the present state of applied research in this area within and outside the
Community;
- the essential requirements of the Community (Agriculture, Biotechnology,
Medicine and Pharmacy) for new genotypes of plants and microorganisms
which could be created through genetic manipulations;
- the list of the main difficulties with regard to transfer techniques
and the expressivity of transferred genes;
- the determination of priorities for a Community programme;
- the structures and management principles needed for the execution of
a Community programme under conditions of minimal risks and of
maximum efficiency
Genetic manipulations are essentially characterized by two different
features :
- their enormous potentialities for allowing the creation of new types
of organisms combining the genetic features of unrelated epecies and
genera;
- the risk that some of the hybrid organisme created in this manner are
pathogens of man or of speoies imporant to nan,
It is thus necessary to define the types of manipulations from which
Agriculture, industries and medicine in the Community could most
benefit and, at the same time, take into account the necessary safe­
guards against eventual risks. It is the purpose of the present study
to suggest a coherent research policy centralized around a few applied
projects designed for transforming certain organisms playing an essential
role in agriculture, industry, pharmacy and medicine. 2. FORMAT OF THE REPORT
In chapter 3 a general introduction is presented on the emerging new
genetic techniques, suitable for the reader who is not very familiar with
the field.
In chapter 4 we elabórete on those developments most relevant for the field
under consideration.
In chapter 5 the author's opinion on safety precautions is presented.
The necessity for investment in R&D in Europe has been reviewed in some
detail by several EEC authorities, e.g. CSRD and so is the need for
international co-operation. The particular position which the Commission
has, in the midst of the European governmental bodies concerned with R&D,
raises many questions with regard to the responsibility of the EEC bodies
to take initiatives. The position of the EEC may be subject to considerable
changes if a European Parliament is established by direct election. It is
difficult to foresee what the consequences of such a political change will
be for a common R&D policy under the umbrella of the Commission.
In chapter 6 it is argued why for our particular field of research an
indirect action will be extremely beneficial to Europe in strengthening
its position in the world.
On the basis of scientific progress it can be decided which fields in the
new biology are currently ripe for further exploitation (chapter 7)·
A selection is made (chapter 8) of those projects in which Europe might
best invest with maximum efficiency. This selection is of course
provisional. The selection is needed to shape the structure of the
management of the community programme (chapter 9)· We propose however a
gradually broadening programme over the period 1980-1985 and it is likely
that during this growth process emphasis will be shifted. Therefore the
programme presented in chapter 8 should be considered as a model framework,
flexible and subject to alterations when new ideas arise.
This report is the result of numerous discussions in which the author
participated over the last 1-g- year. Interim reports were presented to the
head of the Biology Division of D.G. XII and those are collected in the
Appendix. The relevant material of the appendix has been assimilated in
the preceeding chapters.