consequences for behavior and environmental interactions .
Microbiomes are susceptible to environmental effects and can undergo rapid changes because of outside influence ( Vangay , 2018 ; Kaplan , 2019 ). Naturally occurring microbial species have defined roles in these ecosystems . Artificially changing the genome of species with long-established relationships to other microbes and higher organisms can create chain reactions with unknown outcomes .
It is impossible to comprehensively predict and evaluate the interactions of GM microbes with the environment . Hundreds of thousands of microbial varieties exist in human bodies ( Science Daily , 2020 ), far more in the soil and the environment ( Merten , 2020 ). Some perform critical functions , but most have not been characterized .
Given the complexity and sensitivity of the microbiome , its importance , how much is still unknown , the chaotic nature of the gene-editing process , and the long-term risks of introducing man-made genetic elements , all releases of genetically modified or synthetic microbes must be treated with extreme caution . And with Do-It- Yourself gene editing kits now widely available , the issue has become urgent .
The most responsible course of action would be to treat all engineered microbes as potential alien species , keeping them carefully locked down in secure facilities or thoroughly destroying them . If Australians in 1859 knew what is known today , they would have prevented the release of 24 rabbits . It is too late for the rabbits . But not for GM and synthetic microbes .
Lorry-load of rabbits , Braidwood , New South Wales , early 20th century . National Museum of Australia