This means that genetically modified microbes usually have unintended mutations, deletions, and additions that could impart unintended new traits. In addition, these unintended genetic elements can interact with the rest of the genome in unpredictable ways or make the genetically modified microbes more susceptible to further mutation (Kosicki, 2018; Farris, 2020). These genetically modified microbes can also interact with other microbes in the environment – in the microbiome – and transfer some of these novel genetic elements to them, potentially causing new complications (Davison, 1999; Hall, 2017).
Finally, microbes can move freely across national borders – they are invisible, and people can easily and unknowingly transfer them from one place to another by travel or transport of goods (Nature, 2017). It can be taken as a given in this day and age that a microbe existing in one locality will eventually spread globally. For the most part, this is not a problem – most microbes are harmless to us.
However, if a genetically modified microbe were to be released in one part of the US, it would certainly spread everywhere unless drastic measures were taken to eradicate it entirely immediately after release. Even if the altered microbe were benign or beneficial in the environment where it was released, those traits could prove damaging or even disastrous in new ecosystems, including within the human body.
The microbial kingdoms are vital to our continued existence, and yet, we know relatively little about them and the exact role they play in this vastly complicated ecosystem.
Millions of species exist symbiotically with humans – either in our bodies or in the soil. And yet, we don’t even possess a well-defined characterization of what a healthy microbiome looks like. We do know that even slight disruptions of the microbiome can have significant negative consequences, including disease and ecosystem collapse.
Genetic modification of microbes often results in random unwanted genetic alterations with unpredictable consequences, especially when interacting with other microbes. Therefore, when we consider releasing genetically modified microbes into the environment, we should consider this: how equipped are we to accurately evaluate the risks and the potential consequences?
Today’s health and environmental risk analyses do not even account for the microbiome’s pivotal role, its complex relationships, or the tendency for microbes to travel and swap genetic material across species. But even if we tried to take all this into account, is our current knowledge sufficient to safely release genetically modified microbes that become a permanent part of nature’s gene pool?
Perhaps one day, we will have gathered sufficient knowledge about the microbiome to accurately predict the impact of new genetic combinations – inside us and around the planet. At that point, we will know with confidence, for example, that a genetically modified microbe designed to remediate soil in Iowa cornfields won’t interfere with the health of an infant’s microbiome on the other side of the planet.
In the meantime, what are we doing now to protect future generations from the impact of GM Microbes? This question is long past due. Today, anyone can create gene-edited microbes with a cheap Do-It-Yourself kit purchased on Amazon. If they upgrade to a home lab, they can release new designer microbes every day.
Since microbes travel the world, laws governing releases should ultimately be global. But that effort needs to start somewhere and fast.
Otherwise, our new technologies may be on a crash course with the kingdoms that give us life – and healthy babies.