Transgenic Trees Taking Root

The benefits of bioengineering forest trees could be great: pest resistance, harder wood, and faster growth. Field tests are being conducted on GE trees in several countries. China has already planted over a million poplars modified with a gene from bacteria to produce disease resistant trees. In the US one genetically engineered tree, a papaya has been approved for commercial production.

The rapid advance of the research and the push to market before sufficient environmental safeguards have been developed concerns some scientists. China's entry into the research is reported to be a particular concern, because of the large scale of the plantings and the lack of controls required by the government.

Trees release large amounts of pollen that can be carried great distances by wind. This poses a threat of gene contamination into wild populations as well as forest plantations.

The potential benefits of transgenic tree research are pushing commercial development, before global standards have been developed.

Link: Now, bioengineered trees are taking root from the Christian Science Monitor

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 3:51 PM on March 30, 2005

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