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Socio-Ethical Aspect of Genetically Modified Organisms: A Critical Analysis

Ajoykumar K.N.,G. Singh,Shackira A.M.

Published 2021 in Unknown venue

ABSTRACT

Abstract Genetic engineering is a molecular technique of altering the existing genome by inserting a novel gene from external. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are at the center stage of international debate because it causes many social, economic, and ecological problems. The commercialization of GMOs created more and more ethical dilemmas related to horizontal gene transfer and biodiversity. A critical analysis of genetic engineering (GE) and transgenic crops is indispensable in this situation. The science of biotechnology is essential for the advancement of human life. But the fundamental questions concerning biosafety and environment are still lingering unanswered. For example, the relationship between different genes and its traits is not so collinear as it was considered earlier. The more we know about genes the more the complexities of the gene expression. The role of regulatory genes in the expression, the combined outcome of many genetic factors, the pleiotropic effect of genes, the stable inheritance of DNA segment, the chances of escaping of genes from GMOs are questions still not responded. The influence of other epigenetic factors is also not appropriately investigated in recombinant DNA technology. The present article attempts to analyze these essential questions. The future of biotechnology lies in the development of GMOs with less environmental hazards. This is crucial as this is having a direct influence on human beings. A treatise of the debate taken place in the past 20 years concerning socio-economic, environmental, and ethical issues of genetic engineering is scrutinized in this review. The consequences of transgenics on biodiversity such as the evolution of pest and herbicide resistance and outcrossing of genes, impacts of GM crops on soil, controversies associated with the seed industry and IPR are the important arenas of discourse. The latest techniques like genome editing by altering the nucleotides and the benefits and threats of GM crops has also conversed. More advanced transgenic technologies would be required to develop successful GM plants on large scale to meet, food demands in the future. Public education about biotechnology is most important in this milieu. A new relationship between public and academics is necessary to develop research plans in plant biotechnology.

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