Risk assessment and perspectives of GMO cultivation in the Czech Republic

The bachelor thesis provides an overview of the issue of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). I chose this topic because its importance is currently increasing as GMOs and their products are becoming inherent part of our lives. The areas sown with GM crops increase in the world every year and GM products are also imported to the Czech Republic. In the literature research are described methods used to insert foreign DNA into plant cells. Especially common is transformation via bacteria strain Agrobacterium using so called microprojectiles. Most often used transgenes cause the plant to gain new properties, such as tolerance to herbicides, resistance to insect pests, tolerance to stress etc. There follows a summary of the legislative conditions and the concept of coexistence in the Czech Republic, which every grower, who decides to grow GM crops, should follow. In Europe only two GM crops are allowed for commercial cultivation, Bt corn and GM potatoes. In 2010 The Czech Republic became the only European country where both the allowed crops were grown. In the thesis is also summarised existing knowledge of GM crops cultivation in the world. Finally, we evaluate potential risks associated with GM crops cultivation. Significant role in the risk assessment plays also the impact of GMO cultivation on target and nontarget organisms. We also discuss the possibilities and prospects of their cultivation in our country and in the world. The aim of the thesis is to help the readers, professional or not, understand the issue so they can form their own opinion