300278 VO GMO - the ecological perspective (2018S)

The lecture focusses on genetically modified (GM) crops. GM animals are also thematised and discussed.
The following topics will be addressed:
- What are genetically modified organisms and how are they produced?
- Which genetic modifications are currently aimed at?
- Which impacts of GMOs are expected to occur on natural plant and animal communities?
- newly developed techniques for genome editing e.g. CRISPR: potential risks from an ecological and ethical point of view
- selective advantage of transgenes and selective neutral traits
- impacts on the agrarian ecosystems originating from changes in the agrarian management due to the cultivation of GMOs (herbicide management), experience from other countries (e.g. Canada: 'gene stacking')
- the current situation of GMO cultivation worldwide and in the EU (e.g. Austria)
- labelling (e.g. organic products, non-genetically modified products)
- ecological risk assessment of GM oilseed rape, maize, potato and apricot
- coexistence management and evaluation of the proposed measures (e.g. thresholds, isolation distances, natural pollen-barriers) from an ecological point of view
- GM animals and their potential ecological risks
- international ecological risk research concerning GMOs
- recent news in connection with GMOs.