Biosafety- Humans have been evaluating plants and microorganisms modified through conventional approaches of breeding, mutagenesis and selection. Further, deliberate introduction of disease causing microorganisms in carefully planned field experiments is also an accepted practice.

Similarly, genetically modified plants could pose biological and ecological risks follows:

(i) production of toxic or allergic metabolites,

(ii) unexpected new susceptibilities to pathogens may endanger the ecosystem,

(iii) the new characteristics may be transmitted to related sexually compatible weed species and to microbial populations, and

(iv) ecosystems may be disturbed by dispersal, persistence or altered reaction to parasites, symbionts or competitors.

Thus it was perceived that the consequences of gene transfer through recombinant DNA technology are less certain and posed a higher risk than those through conventional methods of breeding. In this chapter, we briefly consider the various aspects of safety required for research on recombinant DNA and the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms).