ASTM Develops New Standard for GMOS,

ASTM International, an international standards organization, is developing a new standard to classify microorganisms aimed at giving more detailed information beyond whether they are genetically modified (GM) or not. ASTM’s industrial biotechnology committee is developing the proposed standard which will soon be published as E3214, the organisation said. 

 “The designation of microbe-based products as either genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or not is too simplistic,” said ASTM International member Joseph McAuliffe, senior principal scientist at DuPont Industrial Biosciences. “This standard will give customers of the biotechnology industry, the general public, and regulators more information on the composition and intended uses for a given product.” 

The genetic classification system for industrial microorganisms (GCSIM) would categorize industrial microorganisms (IMs) based primarily on their genotype (their deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA] sequence), with less emphasis on the techniques used to generate them.  Both the source and nature of any genetic modifications would be used to differentiate between IMs and allow subclassification of strains currently grouped together and designated as genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs). The standard does not cover higher organisms, including plants and animals, and downstream products derived from IMs that do not contain genetic material (purified enzymes and their products).