Not all GMOs are crop plants: non-plant GMO applications in agriculture

• Published in: Transgenic research Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 1057 - 1068
• Main Authors: Hokanson, K. E, Dawson, W. O, Handler, A. M, Schetelig, M. F, St. Leger, R. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer-Verlag 01.12.2014; Springer International Publishing; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; bacteria; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology; biotechnology; crops; disease control; disease vectors; Environmental Exposure - prevention & control; fungi; Genetic Engineering; Humans; insect control; insect pests; Isbgmo12; Life Sciences; Molecular Medicine; Organisms, Genetically Modified; pathogens; Plant Genetics and Genomics; transgenic plants; Transgenics; United States; viruses; United States; GM insects; Genetically modified organisms (GMOs); GM fungi; GM virus
• ISSN: 0962-8819; 1573-9368; 1573-9368
• DOI: 10.1007/s11248-013-9769-5

Since tools of modern biotechnology have become available, the most commonly applied and often discussed genetically modified organisms are genetically modified crop plants, although genetic engineering is also being used successfully in organisms other than plants, including bacteria, fungi, insects, and viruses. Many of these organisms, as with crop plants, are being engineered for applications in agriculture, to control plant insect pests or diseases. This paper reviews the genetically modified non-plant organisms that have been the subject of permit approvals for environmental release by the United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service since the US began regulating genetically modified organisms. This is an indication of the breadth and progress of research in the area of non-plant genetically modified organisms. This review includes three examples of promising research on non-plant genetically modified organisms for application in agriculture: (1) insects for insect pest control using improved vector systems; (2) fungal pathogens of insects to control insect pests; and (3) virus for use as transient-expression vectors for disease control in plants.