Issues for Debate
Risks and Benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms
Many biotechnologies have been developed by people in most cultures. Some of them are thousands of years old; others are of very recent origin. New and modern biotechnologies developed over the last 30 to 40 years — such as tissue cultures, cell isolation, molecular diagnostics, and genetic engineering — are powerful instruments that can be used for different purposes. Most of these biotechnologies are not controversial and can be used safely to increase food security. An important subset of modern biotechnologies is genetic engineering, or the manipulation of an organism’s genetic endowment by introducing, rearranging, or eliminating specific genes through…
