Transgenic Organisms: Advantages and Risks

Abstract

Advantages and risks of the introduction to transgenic organisms to Chile and of their use as food by the population are analyzed. Main advantages are: resistance to insects and plagues, resistance to herbicides, better productivity, control and prevention of diseases, increased tolerance to environmental stress, more resistant fruits, bioreactor species, better ornamental qualities, increased nitrogen fixation, and possibility of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and antibodies production. Main disadvantages are risks for health, for biodiversity preservation, and economic and strategic risks. These are described in detail and some ethical aspects related with the subject are analyzed.