Ethical issues –

• Genetic modification of organisms can have unpredictable results when such organisms are introduced into the ecosystem. The Indian government has set up organizations such as GEAC ( Genetic Engineering Approval Committee ), to make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM -organisms for public service. 
• The modification/usage of living organisms for public services has also created problems with patents granted for the same.  
• Parents is the right granted by the government to a producer to prevent other from using his product.
• An American company got patents right on basmati rice but the variety of basmati had actually been derived from Indian farmer’s varieties.
• Several attempts have also been made to patent uses, products and processes based on Indian traditional herbal medicines. Example – turmeric, neem.
• Biopiracy is the term used to refer to the use of bio-resources by multinational companies and other organization without proper authorization from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment.
• Some nations are developed laws to prevent such unauthorized exploitation of their bio-resources and traditional knowledge.

Biopiracy –

• Biopiracy is defined as the use of bioresources by multinational companies and other organisations without proper authorization from the countries and concerned people, without compensatory payment.
• Generally, financially rich nations are poor in biodiversity and traditional knowledge, with developed and under-depeloped nations are rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge,related to bioresources.
• Traditional knowledge related to bioresources can be exploited to develop modern applications and are used to save time, efforts and expenditure during their commercialization. 
• Some nations are developing laws, to prevent such unauthorized exploitation of their bioresources and traditional knowledge.

Patent –

• A patents is set of exclusive rights by a state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for a public disclosure of an invention,
• Patents satisfy three criteria:- novelty , nonobviousness utility