[Bioethical considerations of genetic engineering]

Recombinant DNA technology, popularly known as genetic engineering, has numerous applications which have both fascinated and alarmed the public. Since the mid-70s, the benefits of this technology, generally speaking, outnumber the risks. These benefits, which take the shape of an increase in knowledge and in the improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic products, have had widespread repercussions, not only in the laboratory but also in our day-to-day lives. Scientific progress and the new scientific directions in Biology make it necessary for scientists to have an advanced philosophical concept of the world so as to be able to properly evaluate the results and perspectives of any biological science, including those of genetic engineering. It is very important for it to have a biosocial approach: there must be an unrelenting battle against pseudoscientific ideas and attempts to use the recent advances in Biology for reactionary, antihuman purposes.