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A framework for designing transgenic crops—science, safety and citizen's concerns

Nature Biotechnology volume 21, pages 1274–1279 (2003)Cite this article

European legislation requires the phasing out of transgenic crops containing selectable markers conferring resistance to clinically used antibiotics by 2004. The interpretation of the law will affect research scientists, policy makers and stakeholders in the agro-food chain worldwide. In this commentary, I develop a framework for the assessment of methods used for the selection of transgenic cells according to criteria relating to product development, regulatory safety assessment and market acceptance. The assessment indicates that publicly funded research on plant selection methods should be encouraged, whereas the use of the few available, cost-effective, widely accessible and safe methods should not be restricted. Broader use of similar integrated assessment frameworks is recommended to inform research and product development strategies, evolving regulations and guidelines, and the public debate on transgenic crops.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful for helpful comments from Mark Bailey, Michael Boutros, Alan Gray, John P. Holdren and Bruno Tinland. The research was funded by the German Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung through a contract from the Biologische Bundesanstalt.

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  1. Harvard University, Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, 718 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 02115, Masschusetts, USA

    Ariane König

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  1. Ariane König
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König, A. A framework for designing transgenic crops—science, safety and citizen's concerns. Nat Biotechnol 21, 1274–1279 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1103-1274

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