Battleangel

Introducing genetically modified organisms into wild populations holds a greater theoretical risk of extinction of natural species than previously believed, according to two Purdue University scientists. William Muir, professor of animal sciences, and Richard Howard, professor of biology, used computer modeling and statistical analyses to examine the hypothetical risks of introducing genetically modified organisms into wild populations.

“We examined these hypothetical situations because the range of new transgenic organisms is almost unlimited,” Muir said. “It is constructive for those developing such organisms to be able to anticipate how they could pose a hazard.” The new computer models have shown that the risk of extinction is greater than believed before, identifying three new scenarios in which genetically modified organisms could result in the extinction of a natural population. “In the broadest sense, this research tells one how to do risk assessment and what GMOs need further containment,” Muir said.

In 2000, Muir and Howard found that a release of fish that were larger – and therefore had higher mating success – but also had shorter life expectancy, could drive a wild population extinct in as few as 40 generations. Muir and Howard labeled this the “Trojan gene hypothesis.”

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