Fiechter / Sautter Green Gene Technology

Research in an Area of Social Conflict
1. Auflage 2007
ISBN: 978-3-540-71323-4
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, Band 107, 304 Seiten

Reihe: Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology

Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology reviews actual trends in modern biotechnology. Its aim is to cover all aspects of this interdisciplinary technology where knowledge, methods and expertise are required for chemistry, biochemistry, micro-biology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science.

Special volumes are dedicated to selected topicswhich focus on newbiotechnological products and new processes for their synthesis and purification. They give the state-of-the-art of a topic in a comprehensive way thus being a valuable source for the next 3–5 years. It also discusses new discoveries and applications. Special volumes are edited by well known guest editors who invite reputed authors for the review articles in their volumes.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Fiechter, Armin

Sautter, Christof

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Preface;10
2;Contents;16
3;The Gap between Science and Perception: The Case of Plant Biotechnology in Europe;18
3.1;1 Facts;19
3.2;3 Factors Affecting the Gap Reduction;26
3.3;4 Conclusions;27
3.4;References;28
4;Biotechnology Patenting Policy in the European Union – as Exemplified by the Development in Germany;30
4.1;1 Introduction;31
4.2;2 The Significance of Patents;32
4.3;3 Prerequisites for Patents;33
4.4;4 Milestones in Patenting Biotechnological Inventions in Europe and Germany;39
4.5;5 Some Remarks on Objections against Patenting in Biotechnology;48
4.6;6 Concluding Considerations;53
5;Bioscience, Bioinnovations, and Bioethics;58
5.1;1 Revolution in Biosciences;59
5.2;2 Finnish Model for Commercialization;63
5.3;3 Ethical Considerations;67
5.4;4 Conclusions;72
5.5;References;73
6;Genetically Modified Organisms in the United States: Implementation, Concerns, and Public Perception;74
6.1;1 The Beginning of Genetic Engineering;75
6.2;2 Risks and Concerns;75
6.3;3 Case Studies: Starlink Corn and Monarch Butterfly;79
6.4;4 Public Opinion and Perception;80
6.5;5 The Present and Future Applications of GM Foods;80
6.6;References;83
7;Agricultural Biotechnology and its Contribution to the Global Knowledge Economy;86
7.1;1 New Growth Theory and the True Value of Technological Change;87
7.2;2 How to Use Knowledge and Technology for Development?;92
7.3;3 Cold War Economics and its Impact on Agricultural Policy and Research;93
7.4;4 Entrenched Interests in the Post-Cold War Economic Community;94
7.5;5 The New Knowledge Economy and the New Rules of the Game;101
7.6;6 Final Remarks;110
7.7;References;111
8;Exploration and Swiss Field-Testing of a Viral Gene for Specific Quantitative Resistance Against Smuts and Bunts in Wheat;114
8.1;1 The Scientific Approach;115
8.2;2 Field-Testing in Switzerland;120
8.3;3 Conclusion;128
8.4;References;128
9;Recombinant DNA Technology in Apple;130
9.1;1 Introduction;131
9.2;2 Developing the Technology;132
9.3;3 Insect Resistance;134
9.4;4 Fungal Disease Resistance;134
9.5;5 Self-Incompatibility;138
9.6;6 Herbicide Resistance;138
9.7;7 Fire Blight Resistance;139
9.8;8 Fruit Ripening;141
9.9;9 Allergens;142
9.10;10 Rooting Ability;143
9.11;11 Acceptance and Risk Assessment;144
9.12;12 Conclusion;145
9.13;References;146
10;Prospects for Biopolymer Production in Plants;150
10.1;1 Introduction;151
10.2;2 Routes to Biopolymers: White vs. Green Biotechnology;151
10.3;3 Plant Biopolymers;153
10.4;4 Protein-Based Bioplastics or Biopolymers;160
10.5;5 Poly-?-hydroxyalkanoates;163
10.6;6 Conclusions;166
10.7;References;166
11;Plastoglobule Lipid Bodies: their Functions in Chloroplasts and their Potential for Applications;170
11.1;1 Introduction;171
11.2;2 Structure and Composition of Plastoglobule Lipid Bodies;172
11.3;3 Proposed Functions of Plastoglobules;177
11.4;4 Common Features of Lipid Bodies in Plant, Fungal and Animal Cells;181
11.5;5 Potential of Plastoglobules for Bioengineering Applications;184
11.6;6 Outlook;185
11.7;References;186
12;Genetic and Ecological Consequences of Transgene Flow to theWild Flora;190
12.1;1 Introduction;191
12.2;2 Gene Flow between Cultivated Plants and Wild Relatives: the Case of Switzerland;196
12.3;3 The Importance of Bridge Species;203
12.4;4 Genetic and Ecological Consequences on Wild Relatives;211
12.5;5 Conclusion;217
12.6;References;218
13;Assessing Effects of Transgenic Crops on Soil Microbial Communities;224
13.1;1 Introduction;225
13.2;2 Methods Used for Assessing Soil Microbial Characteristics;227
13.3;3 Assessing Effects of Transgenic Crops on Soil Microbiota;228
13.4;4 Studies Assessing Effects of Transgenic Plants on Soil Microbial Community Structures;229
13.5;5 Conclusions;245
13.6;References;246
14;Ecological Impacts of Genetically Modified Crops: Ten Years of Field Research and Commercial Cultivation;252
14.1;1 Introduction;254
14.2;2 Effects of Crops on Non-target Organisms;257
14.3;3 Effects of crops on Soil Ecosystems;261
14.4;4 Gene Flow from GM Crops to Wild Relatives;267
14.5;5 Invasiveness of GM Crops into Natural Habitats;278
14.6;6 Weed Management Changes Related to GM Herbicide-tolerant Crops;281
14.7;7 Possible Ecological Benefits of GM Crop Cultivation;285
14.8;8 Scientific Debates on the Ecological Impact of GM Crops;287
14.9;References;290
15;Author Index Volumes 101–107;296
16;Subject Index;300
17;More eBooks at www.ciando.com;0

Leseproben

Bioscience, Bioinnovations, and Bioethics (p. 41-42)

Matti Leisola Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering, Department of Chemical Technology, Helsinki University of Technology, P.O. Box 6100, 02015 TKK Helsinki, Finland

Abstract Biosciences and their applications, which we call biotechnology, have affected human society in many ways. Great hopes have been set on future biotechnology. The future depends on three key issues. First, we need good science. Recent developments in biosciences have surprised us in many ways. I shall explain in this article how. Secondly, we need structured innovation systems in order to commercialize our discoveries. Europe is slow in this respect compared to our Japanese and American competitors and may lose in the competition. I shall describe the Finnish innovation chain using the rewarded Otaniemi model as an example of how commercialization can be done in a systematic way. Thirdly, we need norms to guide what to do and where to go. Bioethics is probably the most neglected of the three key issues. With modern biotechnology we are able to do things that should worry every citizen, but the ethical discussion has been largely neglected or the discussion in our pluralistic society is leading nowhere. I shall .nally discuss these problems from a historical perspective.

Keywords Biosystems · Biotechnology · Commercialization · Otaniemi model · Bioethics

1 Revolution in Biosciences

We tend to think that facts define our theory. Einstein realized that "it is the theory which decides what we can observe" [1]. The Austrian philosopher of science, Karl Popper, wrote in 1935 that scientists do not work according to the so-called scientific method [2]. The same was said even more sharply by Paul Feyerabend: "The attempt... to discover the secrets of nature and of man entails, therefore, the rejection of all universal standards and of all rigid traditions" [3]. Science is not a neutral field which is not in.uenced by philosophy, religion, or culture. Feyerabend claims that there is no systematic scienti.c method for revolutionary discoveries. Most new discoveries have been surprises and it has often taken a long time before they have been accepted by the establishment. It is fair to say that biology keeps on surprising us with its complexity.

1.1 Biological Surprises

Everything in biology is complex. This complexity has often been underestimated. Life was once considered a simple phenomenon which arose spontaneously from nonliving matter. Ernst Haeckel is known for his comparative studies on mammalian embryos and for his famous concept "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny". Less well known is that he faked his embryo drawings [4]. Haeckel described the .rst living cell Monera which was supposed to be easily formed from nonliving matter, but he actually faked the Monera life cycle [5]. His Monera pictures were recycled in the literature for 50 years as the basis of the famous all-encompassing tree of the animal kingdom, although Pasteur’s sterilization experiments had actually shown almost 10 years before that he was wrong at the start.