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Genetic Recombination Technology and Safety Control
Progress in research over the last 30-odd years has made it possible to modify the genetic information of organisms by altering the structure of a small part (about 1/1000 mm long) of the DNA molecule, which in humans is about 1.7 meters long. This technique of genetic engineering, generally called genetic recombinatin, has made it possible to generate creatures that have never before existed in nature by introducing a foreign DNA molecule into organisms (genetically modified organisms, or GMOs). But when this technology was new, people di not know how GMOs might affect human health and the environment. First, it was necessary to test their safety. So, in 1975, scientists held a conference in the United States and signed an agreement requiring that genetic recombination experiments be performed in laboratories specially equipped to prevent GMOs from escaping outside. Research was to be conducted in a closed system, or under conditions that isolated GMOs from the environment. This agreement is a major landmark in scientific history. In 1979, experimental standards, the Genetic Recombination Experiment Guidelines, were established in Japan, although they have subsequently been relaxed as the safety of GMOs has been confirmed. The laboratories in this building conform to the P2 standard, allowing our scientists to conduct almost all kinds of genetic recombination experiments except those using pathogenic or carcinogenic genes.
Applying Genetic Engineering Technology to Environmental Research
In this building we investigate the impact of the environment on humans or other organisms. In particular, we conduct research and generate organisms that can be used to monitor environmental change or to remediate the environment. Genetic engineering is also a vital technology for elucidating the mechanisms by which endangered species become extinct. As explained above, research on GMOs has been conducted inside closed systems, and it has been shown that genetic recombination technolgy can be useful for understanding environmental phenomena and solving environmental problems. Therefore, GMOs are anow beng serioulsy considered for applications that would solove actual problems in the environment, in other words, open-system experiments. The mission of our research is to bridge the gap between closed and open systems.
