How safe are we?
There is always a risk with everything we do, but our duty is to make it as small as possible. We have transformed Physcomitrella Patens with genes from grapes and a worm.
The resveratrol gene from grapes would most likely not be benifical for the wildtype moss if it was released back into wild. The anti-freeze protein, on the other hand,would hopefully improve the moss capacity to survive colder temperature. We do not know the result the release of this altared moss could have to the natural ecosystem so have taken certain precations in the lab to avoid this worst case scenario as we are working with a GMO after all. To work with GMO there is all specific requirements to the laboratory depend in the risk the organisms you work with pose. As we work with a non-pathogenic plant, we were able to conduct our research in a GMO laboratory of level 1.
Can it be misused by people?
As the function we are striving for is improving it for Mars, it would be difficult to find other uses for this organism compared to the benefit of so many others. If we really did improve the moss' survivability in cold areas, it might be able to grow in new habitats here on earth, if sown there intentionally, but that should not pose a great threat to humanity.
