1. What are genes and where are they?

Genes or DNA in scientific language are chemical or nucleic acids that are one type of material that determine the characteristics of all living organisms. Genes are located in the nucleus of each cell of the body. Genes are the bodies that retain the characteristics that differentiate living organisms, in the form of an imprint of those characteristics. No living organisms have genes that make them exactly the same, thus making genes the key factor that distinguishes organisms.

Biotechnology is the process of taking living organisms or fragments of living organisms and changing them, to give them more value.

Thailand has utilized biotechnology applications for some time. Products that we all know such as preserved fruits and the preparation of fermented rice use simple biotechnology applications. There is an effort currently in progress to further advance biotechnology applications, for example, the application of tissue culture for the production of orchid tissue, to develop improved varieties and to increase production to generate a supply sufficient for export. Artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization in animals are beneficial in the reproduction of economically important livestock.

In the use of any technology that extracts genes from one organism for insertion into another organism, the result will be a change in the organism as it exists in nature. The technology used in gene manipulation or gene splicing is defined in scientific language as genetic engineering. The techniques used in genetic engineering have been used in biotechnology research for some time. However, at the present time, biotechnology is being modernized and is focused on transgenic operations.

These are plants that contain genes that have been manipulated through the transfer of DNA fragments or genes from other organisms, and inserted to the cells of a plant to create new traits in the genes of that cell. When this new cell is reproduces or replicated as foundation stock, it will be different from the original organisms.

1. Living organisms: These include crops, bacteria, or animals that have been genetically modified.
   

2. Products of the living organisms mentioned in ( i ) that are blended with food products.

 

It is understood that all food consumed today is not 100 percent safe. The same is true with genetically modified foods. The principles of basic science should be applied to examine the specific genes that have been modified for each modified crop, in order to determine the safety of the new organism for humans, animals, and the environment If the gene that has been modified is not dangerous, it should therefore be safe. To be certain that the new gene is not dangerous requires additional scientific research and proof. Food that has been approved for sale is required to undergo an approval process and be compared to natural foods. Factors that are analyzed include nutritional value and the level of allergic substances. If these factors are the same as those in natural foods, and no toxins or allergic substances are detected, genetically modified foods should be as safe as natural foods.

The public should closely follow research and developments related to GMOs as reported in media that applies scientific principles in the analysis of GMO issues.

Livestock, such as swine and poultry that consume genetically modified soybeans continue to be normal livestock in that the modified genes that are consumed will be dissolved during the digestive process.

The concern expressed overseas over generically modified crops is not very different from the concerns in Thailand. It is important to understand that once concern on such an issue is raised in one part of the world, groups both in favor and opposed to the issue will arise. Malaysia, Japan, China, Canada, and Australia are countries that accept food that has been modified to some degree. For example, Japan allows the import of 29 different genetically modified items and requires labels on items that contain more than 5 percent of any genetically modified material. The European Union on the other hand allows the import of many types of genetically modified products and requires that items with more than l percent of any genetically modified material be labeled. Several countries within the European Union tend to be in favor of GMOs, while others see the GMO issue as an opportunity to bargain for trade benefits when negotiating with the United States.

The guidelines on biosafety completed drafted by the biosafety Sub - Committee under the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology have been completed and in April 1992 those guidelines include one for laboratory work and one for field work. The guidelines have been adopted as a standard tool by all research institutes including Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in risk assessment and management on biosafety. Moreover, they have also been used as a reference in the area of risk assessment and risk management for the testing of imported transgenic plants to Thailand for research purpose.