Research Services

Research Ethics and Integrity

Recombinant DNA Research

La Trobe University conducts gene technology research within a safe, ethical and environmentally responsible framework in order to meet the needs of the national legislative scheme and the Australian community. Gene technology involves techniques for the modification of genes or other genetic material (for example the deletion or incorporation of genes). The national legislative scheme is administered by the Gene Technology Regulator with support from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR).

La Trobe University is an accredited organisation and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is called the Genetic Manipulation Supervisory Committee (GMSC). The GMSC performs an important quality assurance role and assists La Trobe University meet the requirements of the legislation by reviewing all recombinant DNA research proposals and monitoring certified facilities.

Read more about the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.

What is a genetically modified organism (GMO)?

1. An organism that has been modified by gene technology.
2. An organism that thas inherited particular traits from an organism (the initial organism), and those traits occurred in the initial organism because of gene technology.
3. Anything declared by the Gene Technology Regulations to be to be a GMO, or that belongs to a class of things declared by the Gene Technology Regulations to be GMOs.

A GMO is not:

1. A human being, if the human being has undergone somatic cell gene therapy.
2. An organism included in Schedule 1 of the Gene Technology Regulations, or that belongs to a class of organisms declared by Schedule 1 of the Gene Technology Regulations not be be GMOs.

Schedule 1 (PDF 12KB) of the Gene Technology Regulations describes organisms that are not GMOs.

Schedule 1A (PDF 12KB) of the Gene Technology Regulations describes techniques that are not classified as gene technology.

The following links provide information on La Trobe University recombinant DNA procedures, different types of dealings, certified facilities and the approval process: