Horizontal transfer of viral and bacteria DNA facilitated by GE organisms?

Horizontal gene transfer is the transfer of genes by vectors such as viruses and other infectious agents. It is exploited by genetic engineers to make transgenic organisms. While natural vectors respect species barriers, the barrage of artificial vectors made by genetic engineers are designed to cross species barriers, thus enhancing the potential for creating new viral and bacterial pathogens, and spreading drug and antibiotic resistance.

Biologically "crippled" laboratory strains of bacteria can often survive in the environment to exchange genes with other organisms. Genetic material (DNA) released from dead and living cells, far from being rapidly broken down, actually persists in the environment and transfer to other organisms. Naked viral DNA may be more infectious, and have a wider host range than the virus. Viral DNA resists digestion in the gut of mice, enter the blood stream to infect white blood cells, spleen and liver cells, and may even integrate into the mouse cell genome.

This text was based on material from Dr. Mae-Wan Ho. See Recent Evidence Confirms Risks of Horizontal Gene Transfer. She concludes:

"All the risks of horizontal gene transfer described above are real, and far outweigh any potential benefits that GM crops can offer. There is no case for allowing any commercial release of GM crops and food products."