Environmental applications of genetically engineered organisms

New biotechnologies for environmental applications hold great promise. Researchers are working to render microbes more efficient at degrading toxics contaminating landfills, to make plants resistant to diseases, and to make animals disease-resistant and faster growing. However, several potential problems could impede the widespread adoption of biotechnology to environmental applications. A major challenge for genetic engineers is to make sure that once they have moved a gene from one organism to another, it stays in its new location, stably inserted into the genome of the recipient. Risk assessment and the probability of realizing undesirable results with the introduction of genetically engineered organisms must also be addressed.