Resumen

GRANADOS SANCHEZ, D.; LOPEZ RIOS, G. F.  y  HERNANDEZ-GARCIA, M. Á.. Genetic resouces, biotechnology and intellectual property. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2009, vol.15, n.2, pp.127-140. ISSN 2007-4018.

One of the most controversial technologies is the genetic engineering or biotechnology. Those in favour of the genetic manipulation think that most of the serious problems affecting our society, from the cancer and AIDS to the genetic malformations, and from the hunger of the Third World to the contamination problems, they can be surpassed with this technology: the absolute possibility to design any alive being in agreement with the industry and consumerism needs. Within some years, practically all crops could genetically be manipulated and the geneticists and companies will be the owners of the genetic resource. The opposite opinion considers that the plants will be designed by computer according to the interests of the most powerful companies. The real impact on the ecosystems is unpredictable. The biotechnology seems to forget that plant species are fruit of a slow and prolonged interaction to each other and with a load of environmental factors. In nature, any individual change happens in relation to the set of the ecosystem; while the biotechnology implies an abrupt and dangerous interference in assumption "benefit" of a single species. A sample is constituted by the different classes of wheat existing in Ethiopia, country of which is native this cereal. In nature, the introduction of genetically manipulated species could cause the destruction of many varieties, in genetic erosion.

Palabras llave : biodiversity; culture; to patent; gens.