Risk assessment of GMOs
While there is no risk assessment protocol in place today, it is clear that, at a minimum, the following information would be necessary for any such assessment:
• molecular characteristics of the gmo, with complete information on the site and sequence of every genetic change in the gmo;
• details of the technology used to effect the genetic changes (intentional or unintentional);
• automated karyotyping, which is the representation of the chromosome set in a diagram, and gross chromosomal analysis;
• details of the genes and their properties that have been introduced, or are considered to be introduced, and of the possible effects of any other genetic change brought about in the organism;
• growth characteristics of the gmo, in comparison with the starting host organism;
• nutrient, soil, climatic, and other requirements;
• nature of interaction (including symbiotic) with other organisms;
• nutritional and toxicity studies in the case of products intended for use as food;
• dispersal patterns of the gmo;
• gene flows from the gmo under normal ecologicalconditions;
• if the gmo is a plant, the viability of hybrids, as also its biomass productivity;
• gross chemical composition;
• details of structural or surface changes;
• impact on ecology in controlled field trials;
• reproductive inference, if any;
• manner and mode of the use of the gmo (it is also important to provide details about what the chances of escape are when grown in a containment facility).
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