About this Research Topic
Thanks to recent advances in synthetic biology, the interest in genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is exponentially increasing and their applications for real life appear virtually endless, ranging from the manufacture of drugs and vaccine to their use in the agro-food field.
Hundreds of living sensors, named whole-cell biosensors, and cell-based bioassays have been in fact developed based on genetically modified cells, finding applications in several fields, ranging from environmental monitoring to food control, from forensic science to drug screening.
Inevitably this poses serious regulatory issues and represents a continuous challenge for researchers, especially concerning the potential spreading of GMOs into the environment. This GMO “duality” represents an intriguing aspect and this Research Topic is intended to provide the readers a glance in this fascinating field. Conscious that it’s impossible to embrace all aspects, this collection will cover on the one hand the great potential of genetically modified microbes, especially for environmental applications, and on the other hand the tools and methodologies that are now available for GMO detection as well as regulatory issues and challenges.
Hundreds of living sensors, named whole-cell biosensors, and cell-based bioassays have been in fact developed based on genetically modified cells, finding applications in several fields, ranging from environmental monitoring to food control, from forensic science to drug screening.
Inevitably this poses serious regulatory issues and represents a continuous challenge for researchers, especially concerning the potential spreading of GMOs into the environment. This GMO “duality” represents an intriguing aspect and this Research Topic is intended to provide the readers a glance in this fascinating field. Conscious that it’s impossible to embrace all aspects, this collection will cover on the one hand the great potential of genetically modified microbes, especially for environmental applications, and on the other hand the tools and methodologies that are now available for GMO detection as well as regulatory issues and challenges.
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