Biosafety refers to safe handling, containment, release and utilization of genetically modified organisms to protect human health, plants and the environment from possible adverse effects. The presentation outlines the meaning and scope of biosafety, global biodiversity including insects, examples of genetically modified crops and animals, and the role of entomologists in biosafety monitoring and regulation. Entomologists can serve on institutional biosafety committees, conduct research on environmental and food safety impacts of GMOs, and help document products and effects as part of multidisciplinary evaluation efforts.

1. BIOSAFETY OF GENETICALLYBIOSAFETY OF GENETICALLY
MODIFIED ORGANISMS ANDTHEMODIFIED ORGANISMS ANDTHE
ROLE OF ENTOMOLOGISTSROLE OF ENTOMOLOGISTS
1
Denloye,A.A., 2
Badiru, E and 2
Yusuf, H. O.
1
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology
Lagos State University Ojo, Lagos.
2
National Agency for Biotechnology Development (NABDA),
Lugbe, Abuja.
Presented at the 46th
Annual Conference of the Entomological
Society of Nigeria (ESN) 6th
– 9th
October, 2015 at the
University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
F O R T R U T H A N D S E R V I C E

2. This PresentationThis Presentation
Meaning and scope of biosafety, Cartagena
protocol
Insects and global biodiversity
Genetically Modified Crops and Animals
(including Insects)
The Role of entomologists in GMO releases
Conclusion and Recommendation

3. Meaning and Scope of BiosafetyMeaning and Scope of Biosafety
 (1) Biosafety is “the discipline addressing the safe handling and
containment of infectious microorganisms and hazardous
biological materials” (CDC, 2010).
◦ This recognizes the subject with respect to microorganisms and hazardous biological
materials
 (2) Biosafety is a concept that refers to the need to protect human health
and the environment from the possible adverse effects of the products of
modern biotechnology (Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992).
This is one of the issues addressed by the CBD
Biosafety refers to safe handling, containment, release and
utilization of infectious microorganisms and actually or
potentially hazardous biological materials including Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMOs) with a view to protecting human
health, plants and the environment from possible adverse
effects.

4. Scope of BiosafetyScope of Biosafety

5. Biosafety in NigeriaBiosafety in Nigeria
 Biosafety is an emerging
discipline in Nigeria
 In February 2015 the
National Biosafety Bill now
known as the National
Biosafety Management
Agency Act was signed into
law.
 The Act established the
Agency to serve as the
National Biosafety Authority
in Nigeria.
 The law conforms with the
CBD and Cartagena Protocol

6. CARTAGENACARTAGENA
PROTOCOLPROTOCOL
Focuses on trans-boundary
movement of living modified
organisms arising from modern
biotechnology processes
Came into force on Montreal
Canada on 29th
January 2000
It provides a regulatory
framework for trade and
environmental protection.
It creates an enabling
environment for
environmentally sound
application of modern
biotechnology

7. The law harps on regulation of the use of products of modern biotechnologyThe law harps on regulation of the use of products of modern biotechnology
in order to ensure their safety to humans, plants, animals and the environmentin order to ensure their safety to humans, plants, animals and the environment
ConventionalTechnique
(Non-Genetic)
Recombinant DNA
Technique
Plants
Grafting
Hybridization
Budding
Insects
Sterile Insect Techniques
GeneTransfer: Identifying
genes for desirable traits and
transfering them into desired
insects.
Gene splicing: fragments of
DNA from one or more
different organisms are combined
to form recombinant DNA

8. There is a wide diversity of animals (including insects).There is a wide diversity of animals (including insects).

9. Many species are
already
threatened ,
endangered or
extinct.

10. Nigeria has unique
species that need to
be protected

11. Examples of GM CropsExamples of GM Crops

12. Examples of GM AnimalsExamples of GM Animals
EnviroPig. A construct containing
phytase gene from Escherichia coli
under the control a promoter of the
mouse secretory parotid was added
to the geneome. EnviroPig gives less
environmental polution.
GM Mosquitoes. Engineered to
produce more males which are sterile.

13. GM InsectsGM Insects

14. Some GMIsSome GMIs
SN INSECT RESEARCH AGRIC PUBLIC
HEALTH
1 Pink bollworm (Pectinophora
gossypiella). For improevement to sterile Insect
Technique
√ √ -
2 Yellow fever/ dengue mosquito
(Aedes aegypti).
- - √
3 Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis
capitata)
√ - -
4. Olive fly (Bactrocera oleae). √ - -
5. Cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni) √ - -
6. Bombyx mori √ √ -
7. Honey bee (Apis mellifera). Insecteicide
resistance.
- √ -
8. Aedes fluviatilis. Inhibition of malaria parasite. √ - √
9. Anopheles gambiae. Inhibition of malaria
parasite.
√ - √
10. Drosophila melanogaster √ - -

15. Biosafety Imperatives and EntomologistsBiosafety Imperatives and Entomologists

17. How do I fit in as an entomologist ?How do I fit in as an entomologist ?
 Institutional Biosafety
Committee (IBC)
 Institutional Biosafety Officer
(IBO)
 Principal Investigator (PI)
 Representatives of the
community.

18. Main issues in biosafety monitoringMain issues in biosafety monitoring
 .. a, Environmental safety
 . gene flow (of GMOs will contaminate our indigenious crops)
 . invasiveness (of GMOs might become predominant)
 . non-target organisms
 . other effects on ecology and dynamics
 b.Food/feed safety/Human health
 . Nutrition
 . Allergy
 . Toxicity
 . Substantial equivalence
 c. Agricultural sustainability
 . Weediness
 . pest resistance development
 . chemical imputs
 . Higher Costs
 . Others ( Socio-Cultural , acceptability etc)

19. Recommendations for involvementRecommendations for involvement
1. Collation of biodiversity resources at
the local government, state and national
levels.
Coordinated cooperative
multidisciplinary and multiloci research
into GMO production, safety and
evaluation.
Documentation and awareness of
products and effects.