Biological aspects and ethical considerations for the Utilization of GMOs

Abstract

The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) caused a lot of response from a range of different persons and organizations. These responses are partially based on facts and validated information, and partially on ethical opinions in the framework of natural resources management, philosophy or religion. Both objective and subjective aspects of the discussion on GMOs are disturbed by several factors. Scientists discussing facts and figures of genetic modification should be able to develop generally supported conclusions, but it appears that the rating of importance of certain arguments is individually different. It also should be recognized that ethical opinions are regularly presented as proven facts, sometimes without the notion that the argument put forward originates from an ethical viewpoint. The Harvard negotiation rules emphasis on several basic rules for discussions that should result in common agreements. These rules indicate principles such as the need to discuss matters and not personal preferences, to develop an open view for the arguments of the other participants instead of focusing on your own viewpoint, and to use a flexible and not a fixed attitude. After years of discussion on the use of GMOs it is extremely difficult to change the psychological load of a lot of arguments. Moreover, although the objective and subjective aspects of the utilization of GMOs are principally different from each other and should be recognized as such, the Harvard rules does not mean to say that there is no relation between these two aspects. It is not only the situation those subjective, ethical viewpoints are presented as objective arguments, but also scientific facts are used as basis for the development of subjective viewpoints. I will contribute to the discussion by highlighting some recently recognized evolutionary mechanisms that are linked to the transfer of genetic material between evolutionary not related species. This does not mean that ethical viewpoints as such are not important (Nuffield, 1999). Therefore these mechanisms will be placed in the broader framework of some ethical aspects relevant for the application of GMOs. The paper will be focused on the use of genetically modified plants.