Environmental risks and fate of genetically engineered microorganisms in soil

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Abstract
Genetically engineered microorganisms in the environment will prove to be useful if they provide a means by which to perform a desirable function in the environment, whilst not posing unacceptable risks to any component of the environment. Moreover, the uncertainty associated with the environmental release of living organisms due to the high density of cells that will be released and the capability of the organisms to grow, reproduce and undergo genetic modifications creates a unique challenge. To minimize risks, a thorough understanding of the ecology, physiology and genetics of the organism under consideration for release, in realistic environmental conditions must be available. In addition, the environment into which the organism is to be released must also be well‐characterized with respect to its influence on the introduced organism and the effect of the released organism on the target environment. This review examines potential risks to the environment should genetically engineered organisms be released and methods useful in assessing their fate once they are released. It includes organism survival, growth and dispersal, and genetic interactions in the soil environment as well as recovery, detection and enumeration of the organisms and their DNA.