Bioprospecting in Antarctica Author(s): Kathryn Senior Source: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Mar.

, 2004), p. 60 Published by: Ecological Society of America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3868198 . Accessed: 02/12/2013 06:14
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Disnatehes M which may eventually become contaminated with hydraulic fluid. This project was carried out with scientific and Cavicchioli warns intentions, that the potential for disruption by commercial ventures is even greater. But not everyone is convinced that environmental harm is inevitable, nor that Antarctic bioprospecting will pay off. "Most, if not applications [low temperature-adapted chrophiles will involve their cultivaorganisms] tion or the production of recombinant from their genes", says proteins Feller of Liege, (University Georges Belgium). "The massive collection of living organisms from such an inhospitable area is simply unrealistic." Johnston stresses that "free access to Antarctic may also extremophiles mean that the benefits of commercial ?science will not be shared properly or equitably. This is of particular concern, given the unique status of Antarctica ? as a global commons or park." all, derived commercial from psy-

Bioprospecting Kathryn Senior

in Antarctica

A report published in February 2004 Nations by the United University the warns that exploiting (UNU) of low-temperature "extremophiles" could to the Antarctic lead region severe and irreversible environmental damage. Coauthor Sam Johnston of the UNU Institute of Advanced Studies (Tokyo, Japan) hopes that "governments will put into place clear rules that govern the use of Antarctic biodiversity". The document before the UN was released days Convention on in met Kuala Biological Diversity Lumpur, and Johnston says that there

has already been a positive response. "The Antarctic Treaty System [ATS] which governs Antarctica has already put the issue on its agenda, and we have started a more detailed analysis for consideration at the next ATS in 2004". meeting May Rick Cavicchioli of the School of and Biomolecular Biotechnology of New Sciences at the University Wales Australia) (Sydney, a that developing plan for bio? agrees in Antarctica is essential. prospecting he of intentions", "Irrespective good have occurred says, "problems already in the polar regions". He cites the example of drilling to reach subglacial Lake Vostok, a pristine environment 4 km below the Antarctic surface, South

New

ways

to regulate

GMOs

Virginia The

Gewin

Animal and Plant Health Service the (APHIS), Inspection regulatory arm of the US Department of announced last Agriculture (USDA), month that it is fast-tracking an envi? ronmental of pro? impact statement Sterile pink boUworms are marked by a ghwing jellyfish gene. example, gene flow into wild relatives) will be a central part of the review. Potential changes may include released National Academies recently of Science (NAS) recommendations that focus on an integrated bioconfinement system to prevent unwanted In gene flow from GM organisms. addition to induced sterility for plants, the committee suggested triploidization, a form of animal sterilization, and the introduction of suicide genes for microbes. The committee also encouraged fur? ther testing of confinement methods and increased of GM monitoring markers such organisms using genetic as fluorescing proteins. Although the

committee acknowledged that bioconfinement has potential, "it is far from Snow, being realized", says Allison N mem? and AS committee ecologist State ber (Ohio University, Columbus, OH). While APHIS will probably consider redundant bioconfinement regulations for some GM crops, such measures may not be appropriate for other organisms, Researchers are the use of GM currently exploring malaria-resistant insects, including mosquitoes, pharmaceutical-producing silkworms, and sterile pink bollworms. recent Pew Initiative on The Biotechnology report (Jan 2004) details the unique concerns raised by GM insects, which, unlike most GM are meant to establish organisms, themselves in the environment. "We need to jump-start the conversations and policy apparatus, so that when the science is there, we have a for environment robust regulatory Michael these says organisms", Fernandez, Pew's Director of Science (Washington, DC). "We are hoping to adopt the approved regulatory changes ? within a year", adds Turner. ? The EcologicalSociety of America such as GM insects.

posed changes to its current regulatory system governing genetically modified (GM) organisms. APHIS is considering expanding the of its authority, currently scope restricted to GM organisms that may pose a plant pest risk, to those that pose a noxious weed risk, as well as GM bio? control agents. The USDA is one of three federal agencies that have author? ity over GM organisms. "The current regulations have been very effective to date, but we are being forward-looking to fully accommodate new trends, such as the increased use of traits for pharmaceuticals and indus? trial chemicals", says John Turner, Director of APHIS Biotech? Policy nology Regulatory dale, MD). Turner broader ecological Services (Riverthat anticipates concerns (for

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