Effect of insertion site and metabolic load on the environmental fitness of a genetically modified Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate

There is a lack of empirical data concerning genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) and their environmental fitness. In an effort to address this problem, a Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate was genetically modified for application in various environmental conditions. Upon analysis, fitness of the recombinant organism was found to be dependent on the environment. Metabolic load was also found to affect fitness. On the other hand, site of chromosomal insertion of marker genes had little effect on the fitness of the recombinant organisms.