Suchergebnisse

Die Biotechnologie reicht bis in die Anfänge der Geschichte des modernen Menschen zurück. Der Mensch hat Bakterien und Pilze entdeckt, die Lebensmittel umwandeln oder haltbar machen, oder medizinische Wirkstoffe (z. B. Antibiotika) produzieren. Die moderne Biotechnologie wird gerne in die Bereiche Medizin, Agrar sowie Industrie eingeteilt. Die Pflanzenbiotechnologie begann mit der Zell- und Gewebekultur und wird heute mit der Übertragung von fremden Genen in Pflanzen assoziiert, auch als "grüne Gentechnik" bezeichnet. Während die erste Generation von gentechnisch veränderten (transgenen) Pflanzen hinsichtlich Integration, Expression und Vererbung der übertragenen Gene überprüft wurde, berücksichtigte die zweite Generation bereits wirtschaftlich wichtige Merkmale wie Herbizid-, Trockenheit- und Salztoleranz, Insektenresistenz, sowie Wuchseigenschaften. Mit der dritten Generation transgener Pflanzen wurden methodische Optimierungen sowie aktuelle ökologische und umweltpolitische Themen aufgegriffen. Wie können Pflanzen effizienter die immer knapper werdenden Nährstoffe effizienter nutzen? Wie können sie fit für den bevorstehenden Klimawandel gemacht werden? Können Pflanzen Erdölbasierte Rohstoffe herstellen? Sind Pflanzen in der Lage, recycelbare oder kompostierbare Biokunststoffe herzustellen? Können Pflanzen als Bioreaktoren oder Biofabriken für die kostengünstige Herstellung von Biokraftstoffen, Pharmazeutika und Medikamente dienen? Neue Entwicklungen in der Molekulargenetik und Genomsequenziertechnik bieten Perspektiven für eine verbesserte Erzeugung von Nahrungs- und Nutzpflanzen ("Next generation" Pflanzenbiotechnologie). ; Biotechnology dates back to the beginnings of the history of the modern humans. They have discovered that bacteria and fungi convert or preserve food, or produce medical drugs (such as antibiotics). Modern biotechnology is divided into the areas of medicine, agriculture and industry. The plant biotechnology began with cell and tissue culture, and nowadays is associated with the transfer of foreign genes into plants, also known as 'green gene technology'. The first generation of genetically modified (transgenic) plants was investigated with respect to integration, expression and inheritance of the foreign genes, while the second generation already comprised economically important characteristics such as herbicide, drought and salt tolerance, insect resistance, and growth properties. With the third generation of transgenic plants, methodological optimisations as well latest ecological and environmental issues were picked-up. How can plants more efficiently use the increasingly scarce nutrients? How can they be made fit for the forthcoming climate change? Can plants form oilbased raw materials? Are plants able to produce recyclable or compostable bioplastics? Can plants serve as bioreactors or bio-factories for the cost-effective production of biofuels, pharmaceuticals and medicines? New developments in molecular genetics and genome sequencing techniques offer a prospective for improved production of food crops (next generation plant biotechnology).

Biotechnology can greatly improve the efficiency of forest tree breeding for the production of biomass, energy, and materials. However, EU regulations impede the market introduction of genetically modified (GM) trees so their socioeconomic and environmental benefits are not realized. European policy makers should concentrate on a science-based regulatory process.

Information on public attitudes towards the use of transgenic trees in forest plantations is important in the decision-making process and policy implementation for safe tree development, particularly at the EU level. In Europe, the use of transgenic forest trees is very limited and therefore such information is completely lacking. To address this issue within the FP0905 European COST Action on the Biosafety of Transgenic Forest Trees a pioneer cross-country pilot survey on public attitudes towards the use of transgenic forest trees was conducted using young population as a focus group. This was decided mainly because this focus group represents the future consumers, policy makers or developers. Specifically, the survey aimed to: i) assess the level of young people's knowledge about transgenic forest trees, ii) identify issues of concern to them regarding the cultivation of transgenic forest trees and iii) explore whether they approve or disapprove of the use of transgenic forest trees in plantations. Purposive sampling was performed and university students of different disciplines were included in the research as sampling subjects. In total, 1868 completed questionnaires from 15 European and non-European countries were analyzed. The young educated people that took part in the survey appeared to approve of the use of transgenic forest trees in plantations and would be willing to buy forest transgenic products. The potential loss of biodiversity due to a risk of gene flow between transgenic and wild trees was seen as the safety issue of most concern when considering the commercial release of transgenic forest trees. However, a serious perceived lack of knowledge about potential benefits and risks of the cultivation of transgenic forest trees was recorded in most of the countries. K-means clustering was implemented on respondents' positive responses to identify potential country patterns. No differences in patterns of public attitude towards the acceptance of the commercial growing of transgenic forest trees were observed between European and non-European countries. Extended research on public attitude issues towards the use of transgenic forest trees is strongly recommended as a basis for policy implementation on safe tree development.