Australasian Biotechnology (backfiles) AusBiotech ISSN: 1036-7128 Vol. 8, Num. 1, 1998

Public Perceptions of Genetic Engineering

M. Playne

Editor

Code Number:AU98010
Sizes of Files:
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Over the Christmas-New Year holiday break, major Australian newspapers featured several articles and letters to the editor critical of where biotechnology is leading society, and particularly the pace of introduction of new innovations, and the ethics of gene manipulation of plants, animals and humans. The scare-mongering of extremist elements is leading to an emotive debate on the value of the new biotechnologies to society. Rational debate is missing, because most members of the public are quite unaware of the level of publicly accessible information available to them. An example of the openness of information on genetic manipulation is given below. This information is not secret as is sometimes claimed by scare-mongers.

For reasons of space only the title of each release proposal is listed here. To see the full information on each proposal, go to the GMAC homepage on the Internet:

http://www.dist.gov.au/science/gmac/ or contact members of the GMAC Secretariat.

Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee

Public Information Sheets

This archive of Public Information Sheets relates to the planned release and general (commercial) release of genetically manipulated organisms into the environment.

The format of the Public Information Sheets was altered in January 1994 to include details on the organism, the vector, the genetic modification and procedures for release, together with a summary of risk assessment and GMAC's recommendations for the planned release. This publication is updated when new proposals or extensions to proposals have been assessed by GMAC and Public Information Sheets released.

Contents of GMAC's Public Information Sheet booklet

• Planned Release Proposals
• General Release Proposals
• Incidental Release Proposals

PR-1: Field trial of a live Salmonella vaccine to prevent deaths during live sheep export

PR-2: To test a recombinant Rhizobium strain with a marker gene in a controlled field release experiment

PR-3: Inoculation of cattle with a thymidine kinase negative, deletion mutant, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis vaccine virus

PR-4: Proposal did not proceed

PR-5: National clearance and registration of Agrobacterium radiobacter K1026 for the control of crown gall disease

PR-6: Commercial evaluation of melibiose utilising baker's yeast

PR-7: Proposal considered as a large scale proposal

PR-8: Field release of a live genetically engineered strain of Pseudomonas for the purpose of testing a microbial tracking system

PR-9: Controlled field release experiment of a Rhizobium strain containinga sym plasmid marked with the transposon Tn5

PR-10: Proposal assessed by the NHMRC Gene Therapy Committee

PR-11: Proposal exempt from GMAC Guidelines

PR-12: Synthetic resistance genes to potato leafroll virus 1991

PR-13: Proposal still under assessment

PR-14: Field evaluation of canola protoplast fusion breeding lines

PR-15: Planned release of genetically modified tomatoes in Australia 1992

PR-16: Synthetic resistance genes to potato leafroll virus 1993

PR-16X: Proposal for the planned release of four lines of genetically engineered potatoes for seed tuber production.

PR-17: Bt cotton seed increase 1993

PR-18: Field trial of transgenic potato

PR-19: Planned release of transgenic carnation for trialling under commercial glasshouse production conditions

PR-20: Genetic engineering of cotton for resistance to insect pests

PR-20X: Proposal for the planned release of genetically engineered cotton plants expressing insecticidal protein genes from Bacillus thuringiensis

PR-21: Proposal did not proceed

PR-22: Use of Aro- Salmonella typhimurium as a vaccine in poultry

PR-22X: Efficacy of Salmonella aroA delete vaccine in reducing the incidence of clinical salmonellosis in lactating dairy cows and in reducing the excretionrate of Salmonella in faeces

PR-23:Evaluation of transgenic sugarcane plants

PR-23X: Evaluation of transgenic sugarcane plants

PR-24: Contained field growth of grafted apple stock transformed for kanamycin resistance

PR-24X: Contained field growth of grafted apple stock transformed for kanamycin resistance

PR-25: Glasshouse trialling of transgenic chrysanthemum under non-PH1 conditions

PR-26: Planned release of genetically modified tomatoes in Australia - 1993/1994

PR-27: Non-chemical control of bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas solanacearum) in north Queensland

PR-28: Planned release proposal for trialling transgenic carnation with modified flower colour under non-contained glasshouse conditions

PR-29: Proposal for planned release of transgenic carnation (ACC synthase, ACC oxidase, chlorsulfuron resistance) modified for enhanced cutflower vase life

PR-28/29X: Proposal for extension of PR-28 and PR-29 to an igloo trialling area

PR-30: Planned release of sense suppressed, petal colour modified, transgenic hybrid tea rose containing kanamycin resistance gene, reporter gene and chalcone synthase gene

PR-31: Seed increase of Bt transgenic cotton plants, 1994

PR-32: Seed increase and efficacy screening of Roundup tolerant (RT) transgenic cotton plants

PR-33: Efficacy evaluation and agronomic selection of Bt transgenic cotton plants 1994/95

PR-34: Bt replicated yield and fibre tests and Bt vs. non-Bt yield test 1994/95

PR-35: Planned release of transgenic rose (Rosa x hybrida) containing kanamycin or chlorsulfuron resistance gene and `blue' gene (flavonoid 3'5' hydroxylase)

PR-36: Planned release of transgenic cotton expressing the CryIA(c) or CryIIA delta-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis

PR-36X: Planned release of transgenic cotton expressing the CryIA(c) and CryIIA delta-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis - breeding plots

PR-36X(2): Planned release of transgenic cotton expressing the CryIA(c) and CryIIA delta-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis - breeding plots

PR-37: Field testing of genetically engineered subterranean clover

PR-37X: Field testing of genetically engineered subterranean clover

PR-38: Assessment of environmental impact and resistance management options for genetically engineered cotton plants expressing insecticidal protein genes from Bacillus thuringiensis

PR-38X: Assessment of environmental impact and resistance management options for genetically engineered cotton plants expressing the insecticidal protein genes from Bacillus thuringiensis

PR-39: Multiple site evaluation of virus resistant potatoes

PR-39X: Multiple site evaluation of virus resistant potatoes

PR-40: Release of herbicide resistant lupins (Lupinus angustifolius)

PR-41: Small scale planned release of modified bovine herpesvirus 1 for intranasal vaccination of cattle

PR-42: Field evaluation of low browning potatoes

PR-42X: Field evaluation of low browning potatoes

PR-43: Use of transgenic plants to monitor the frequency of Bt resistance in field populations of Helicoverpa armigera

PR-43X: Use of transgenic plants to monitor the frequency of Bt resistance in field populations of Helicoverpa armigera

PR-44: Winter seed increase of transgenic cotton expressing the CryIA(c) delta-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis

PR-44X: Winter seed increase and preliminary northern assessment of transgenic cotton expressing the CryIA(c) delta-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis

PR-44X(2): Winter seed increase and northern assessment of transgenic cotton expressing the CryIA(c) delta-endoxtin from Bacillus thuringiensis

PR-45: Genetic manipulation of rumen bacteria for detoxification of the plant poison fluoroacetate (note: proposal did not proceed)

PR-46: Proposal did not proceed

PR-47: Seed increase of Bt transgenic cotton plants, 1995

PR-47X: Winter nursery seed increase of Bt transgenic cotton plants, 1996

PR-47(X)2: Proposal still under assessment

PR-48: Site evaluation of a fowlpox virus vaccine expressing the glycoprotein B of Marek's disease virus

PR-49: Production of genetically engineered lupin seeds expressing sunflower seed albumin

PR-49X:Production of genetically engineered lupin seeds expressing sunflower seed albumin

PR-50: Bt seed increase 1995/96

PR-50X:INGARD (Bt) seed increase 1996/97

PR-51: Bt agronomic selection and yield trials 1995/96

PR-51X: Bt agronomic selection and yield trials 1996/97

PR-52: Progeny selection and screening of glyphosate tolerant (RT) transgeniccotton plants 1995/96

PR-52X: Progeny selection and screening of Roundup Ready (RR) transgenic cottonplants 1996/97

PR-53: Behaviour in soil of bioluminescent Pseudomonas biological control bacteria tagged with luciferase or lux genes

PR-54: Proposal for the planned release of genetically engineered cotton plants with tolerance to spray drift damage caused by the herbicide 2,4-D

PR-54X: The planned release of genetically engineered cotton plants with tolerance to spray drift damage caused by the herbicide 2,4-D 1996

PR-55: The planned release of transgenic cotton expressing tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate

PR-55X:The planned release of transgenic cotton expressing tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate

PR-56: Multi-site evaluation and seed increase of transgenic cotton expressing the CryIA(c) delta-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis

PR-57: Proposal still under assessment

PR-58: A field trial to test the effectiveness of a bromoxynil-resistance gene in subterranean clover under field conditions

PR-59: Field evaluation of a transgenic line of field pea (Pisum sativumL.) for enhanced grain sulfur levels

PR-60: Field evaluation of a genetically modified canola (Brassica napus) for agronomic performance

PR-61: Field evaluation of a transgenic line of field pea (Pisum sativumL.) for resistance to pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum

PR-62:Development of glufosinate ammonium tolerant canola cultivars

PR-62X: Development of glufosinate ammonium tolerant canola cultivars

PR-63: Field evaluation of a genetically modified canola (Brassica napus) witha new hybridization system

PR-63X: Field evaluation of a genetically modified canola (Brassica napus) with a new hybridization system

PR-64: Evaluation of transgenic white clover for field resistance to alfalfa mosaicvirus

PR-65: Evaluation of the potential for gene flow from transgenic wheat, using a herbicide-resistance marker gene

PR-66: Evaluation of the performance of transgenic wheat with altered starch composition under field conditions

PR-67: The evaluation of transgenic white clover for field resistance to alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV)

PR-68: Field test of sugarcane modified for resistance to leaf scald disease

PR-69: The planned release of transgenic cotton expressing tolerance to the herbicide bromoxynil

PR-70:Field evaluation of tomatoes expressing the CryIA(c) delta endotoxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis

PR-71: Winter nursery seed increase of Roundup Ready (RR) transgenic cotton plants 1997

GR-1: Commercialisation of carnation genetically engineered for improved vase life

GR-2: Commercialisation of violet carnation developed using genetic engineering

GR-3: Application for commercialisation of insect-resistant cotton

IR-1:Application to import transgenic soybean

GMAC Secretariat

The Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee oversees the development and use of innovative genetic manipulation techniques in Australia so that risks to the safety of workers or potential hazards to the community or environment associated with the genetics of manipulated organisms are identified and can be managed.

Location:
20 Allara Street GPO
Canberra ACT 2601

Postal address:
Box 2183
Canberra ACT 2601

Telephone: + 61 (0)2 6213 6490
Facsimile: + 61 (0)2 6213 6462
Email: gmac.secretariat@dist.gov.au

Andina Faragher, Secretary
Ph: +61 2 6213 6485
Email: afaragher@dist.gov.au

Kirsty Galloway McLean, scientific adviser
Ph: +61 2 6213 6486
Email: kmclean@dist.gov.au

Marika Mueller, administrative officer
Ph: +61 2 6213 6488
Email: gmac.secretariat@dist.gov.au

Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee Members

Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE (Chair)
MAgSc, PhD, FTSE, DSc
Department of Microbiology, University of Melbourne

Dr Annabelle Bennett BSc, PhD, LLB
Barrister at Law

Dr Angela Delves BAppBiol, PhD
Academic Registrar, Australian National University

Dr Ashley Dunn MPhil, PhD
Head, Molecular Biology Program, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

Dr Stephen Goodwin BAgrSc, MAgrSc, PhD
Senior Entomologist, NSW Agriculture, Horticultural Research and Advisory Station

Dr Eric Haan
BMedSc, MB BS, FRACP, Certification (HGSA)
Director, Department of Medical Genetics and Epidemiology, Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital

Professor Peter Hudson BSc, PhD
Program Leader for Protein Engineering, CSIRO Division of Biomolecular Engineering

Professor Staffan Kjelleberg BSc, PhD
School of Microbiology and Immunology, University of New South Wales

Professor Byron Lamont BScAg, PhD, DSc
Personal Chair in Plant Ecology, Curtin University

Associate Professor Peter Langridge BSc, PhD
Research Leader, ARC for Basic and Applied Plant Molecular Biology, Waite Agricultural Research Institute

Mr David Martin
Diploma of Mechanical Engineering
Retired Biocontainment Engineer, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, CSIRO

Dr John Oakeshott BSc, PhD
Head of Molecular Biology, CSIRO Division of Entomology

Dr Ian Parsonson MA, BVSc, PhD, MACVSc
Retired Assistant Chief, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, CSIRO

Professor Jim Pittard BSc, MSc, PhD, DSc, FAA
Head, Department of Microbiology, University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Loane Skene LLB, LLM
Senior Lecturer, Department of Law, University of Melbourne

Dr Jan Tennent BSc (Hons), PhD
Project Leader, Cooperative Research Centre, CSIRO Division of Animal Health

Dr Robyn van Heeswijck BSc, PhD
Senior Lecturer, Department of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, University of Adelaide

Ms Sally White BA (Hons)
Freelance Journalist

Mr John Whitelaw BAgSc
Environment Protection Agency

Copyright 1998 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd.