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EUginius is an Internet-based database application for Genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The name EUginius is an acronym and stands for EUropean GMO Initiative for a Unified Database System.
The EUginius database was created on the initiative of the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) and the Dutch research Institute Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR, formerly RIKILT). Building on parallel preparatory work by both cooperation partners, EUginius has been jointly developed and maintained since 2010, and has been online since October 2014. The information is provided in English.
EUginius aims to assist competent authorities as well as interested private users in finding accurate information on the presence, detection and identification of GMOs. Data on the GMOs’ molecular characterisation and traits, detection methods, reference materials, and authorisation status (currently limited to the EU) are provided. EUginius is tax-financed and therefore offers its information on the GMOs freely accessible. Information on releases carried out and their geographical location are not provided in EUginius.
Most of the GMOs present in EUginius are used for genetically modified food and feed, the majority plants (e.g. pest resistant Bt maize, Golden rice with enhanced synthesis of ß-carotene), and thus come from the field of green biotechnology. There is also information on genetically modified animals. EUginius provides for example information on a fast-growing genetically modified salmon (AquAdvantage) as well as information on genetically modified insects that have been developed to combat vectors of pathogens (e.g. Aedes aegypti OX5034, used to reduce the yellow fever mosquito population). In addition, in some cases, information is provided for the detection of genetically modified microbial production strains of food or feed additives (white biotechnology).
Since the European Union classifies organisms developed using New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) as GMOs, EUginius provides information about commercialised NBT-organisms, including genome edited organisms such as the high-oleic soybean, the larger growing pufferfish or the heat-tolerant cattle. Furthermore, EUginius lists, to some extent, published NGT organisms which present market-relevant traits.
As of August 2022, EUginius contains
The database and web servers are located in Germany and are mirrored on servers in the Netherlands. Further development and troubleshooting are decided jointly by the cooperation partners.
Since 2018, there have also been partnerships with the Institute of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization (Instytut Hodowli i Aklimatyzacji Roślin – IHAR, based in Blonie, Poland), the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES, based in Vienna, Austria) and the Experimental ZooProphylactic Institute of Lazio and Tuscany (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale – IZS, based in Rome, Italy).
Beyond that, EUginius uses the element thesaurus GMO-GET1 [1] (GMO Genetic Element Thesaurus) developed in collaboration with the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH, Montreal, Canada).
EUginius is continuously maintained and further developed. In this way, the work of the control laboratories using EUginius is supported in a timely manner. The adaptation of the contents and their provision (e.g. information on organisms developed by NBTs and sequencing information) is carried out on an ongoing basis. The renewal of the module for accessing GMO authorisation applications is under development. Finally, an optimisation of the design to improve usability and make navigation more intuitive is planned (2023 – 2024).
Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that involves the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services.
Genetically modified maize (corn) is a genetically modified crop. Specific maize strains have been genetically engineered to express agriculturally-desirable traits, including resistance to pests and to herbicides. Maize strains with both traits are now in use in multiple countries. GM maize has also caused controversy with respect to possible health effects, impact on other insects and impact on other plants via gene flow. One strain, called Starlink, was approved only for animal feed in the US but was found in food, leading to a series of recalls starting in 2000.
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. The exact definition of a genetically modified organism and what constitutes genetic engineering varies, with the most common being an organism altered in a way that "does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination". A wide variety of organisms have been genetically modified (GM), from animals to plants and microorganisms. Genes have been transferred within the same species, across species, and even across kingdoms. New genes can be introduced, or endogenous genes can be enhanced, altered, or knocked out.
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms. New DNA is obtained by either isolating and copying the genetic material of interest using recombinant DNA methods or by artificially synthesising the DNA. A construct is usually created and used to insert this DNA into the host organism. The first recombinant DNA molecule was made by Paul Berg in 1972 by combining DNA from the monkey virus SV40 with the lambda virus. As well as inserting genes, the process can be used to remove, or "knock out", genes. The new DNA can be inserted randomly, or targeted to a specific part of the genome.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement on biosafety as a supplement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) effective since 2003. The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
Genetically modified foods, also known as genetically engineered foods, or bioengineered foods are foods produced from organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using various methods of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering techniques allow for the introduction of new traits as well as greater control over traits when compared to previous methods, such as selective breeding and mutation breeding.
The Biosafety Clearing-House is an international mechanism that exchanges information about the movement of genetically modified organisms, established under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It assists Parties to implement the protocol’s provisions and to facilitate sharing of information on, and experience with, living modified organisms. It further assists Parties and other stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding the importation or release of GMOs.
Since the advent of genetic engineering in the 1970s, concerns have been raised about the dangers of the technology. Laws, regulations, and treaties were created in the years following to contain genetically modified organisms and prevent their escape. Nevertheless, there are several examples of failure to keep GM crops separate from conventional ones.
The traceability of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) describes a system that ensures the forwarding of the identity of a GMO from its production to its final buyer. Traceability is an essential prerequisite for the co-existence of GM and non-GM foods, and for the freedom of choice for consumers.
A genetically modified organism (GMO) and all subsequent identical clones resulting from a transformation process are called collectively a transformation event. If more than one gene from another organism has been transferred, the created GMO has stacked genes, and is called a gene stacked event.
The Non-GMO Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focusing on genetically modified organisms. The organization began as an initiative of independent natural foods retailers in the U.S. and Canada, with the stated aim to label products produced in compliance with their Non-GMO Project Standard, which aims to prevent genetically modified foodstuffs from being present in retail food products. The organization is headquartered in Bellingham, Washington. The Non-GMO label began use in 2012 with Numi Organic Tea products.
Genetically modified wheat is wheat that has been genetically engineered by the direct manipulation of its genome using biotechnology. As of 2020, no GM wheat is grown commercially, although many field tests have been conducted, with one wheat variety, Bioceres HB4 Wheat, obtaining regulatory approval from the Argentinean government.
A genetically modified soybean is a soybean that has had DNA introduced into it using genetic engineering techniques. In 1996, the first genetically modified soybean was introduced to the U.S. by Monsanto. In 2014, 90.7 million hectares of GM soybeans were planted worldwide, this is almost 82% of the total soybeans cultivation area.
Genetically modified canola is a genetically modified crop. The first strain, Roundup Ready canola, was developed by Monsanto for tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in the commonly used herbicide Roundup.
The regulation of genetic engineering varies widely by country. Countries such as the United States, Canada, Lebanon and Egypt use substantial equivalence as the starting point when assessing safety, while many countries such as those in the European Union, Brazil and China authorize GMO cultivation on a case-by-case basis. Many countries allow the import of GM food with authorization, but either do not allow its cultivation or have provisions for cultivation, but no GM products are yet produced. Most countries that do not allow for GMO cultivation do permit research. Most (85%) of the world's GMO crops are grown in the Americas. One of the key issues concerning regulators is whether GM products should be labeled. Labeling of GMO products in the marketplace is required in 64 countries. Labeling can be mandatory up to a threshold GM content level or voluntary. A study investigating voluntary labeling in South Africa found that 31% of products labeled as GMO-free had a GM content above 1.0%. In Canada and the USA labeling of GM food is voluntary, while in Europe all food or feed which contains greater than 0.9% of approved GMOs must be labelled.
Genetic engineering in the European Union has varying degrees of regulation.
New Breeding Techniques (NBT), also named New Plant Engineering Techniques, are a suite of methods that could increase and accelerate the development of new traits in plant breeding. These new techniques, often involve 'genome editing' whose intention is to modify DNA at specific locations within the plants' genes so that new traits and properties are produced in crop plants.
India and China are the two largest producers of genetically modified products in Asia. India currently only grows GM cotton, while China produces GM varieties of cotton, poplar, petunia, tomato, papaya and sweet pepper. Cost of enforcement of regulations in India are generally higher, possibly due to the greater influence farmers and small seed firms have on policy makers, while the enforcement of regulations was more effective in China. Other Asian countries that grew GM crops in 2011 were Pakistan, the Philippines and Myanmar. GM crops were approved for commercialisation in Bangladesh in 2013 and in Vietnam and Indonesia in 2014.
Genetic engineering in North America is any genetic engineering activities in North America
The hazards of synthetic biology include biosafety hazards to workers and the public, biosecurity hazards stemming from deliberate engineering of organisms to cause harm, and hazards to the environment. The biosafety hazards are similar to those for existing fields of biotechnology, mainly exposure to pathogens and toxic chemicals; however, novel synthetic organisms may have novel risks. For biosecurity, there is concern that synthetic or redesigned organisms could theoretically be used for bioterrorism. Potential biosecurity risks include recreating known pathogens from scratch, engineering existing pathogens to be more dangerous, and engineering microbes to produce harmful biochemicals. Lastly, environmental hazards include adverse effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including potential changes to land use resulting from agricultural use of synthetic organisms.
