Application of recombinant DNA technology (Genetically modified organisms) to the advancement of agriculture, medicine, bioremediation and biotechnology industries

Genetic engineering has always been a topic of controversy as the balance it aims to reach between the benefits accrued to humans and attendant ethical considerations is open to debate. In each of the diverse fields of agriculture, medicine, bioremediation and biotechnology concerns vary in a discipline-specific manner. However, the principal source of apprehension often involves the ecological impact, real or perceived, of the use of recombinant DNA technology, in particular the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment. In this short review, pressing issues are highlighted, the potential severity of the negative effects is addressed, and methods for overcoming these are indicated.