**3. GMOs and biosafety issues**

Due to the advancements in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering, new varieties are extensively prevailing in the society. Despite their huge potential for human welfare, their commercialization is controversial. Many people perceive all the GMOs to be bad for their health and environment. People who are aware of the mechanism of genetic engineering are concerned about the unintended modifications and their effect on the soil microorganisms [18], plant-microbe interaction [19], and imbalances in the natural biosystems. GMO's controversy mainly revolves around environmental safety [20], human and animal health [21], concerns over interfering with nature [22], and patent issues [23].

Genetically modified organisms produced by genetic engineering or conventional plant breeding are targeted to enhance the desired commercial traits, but GMOs might exhibit unintended traits as well. In the international meeting on "Genetic Basis of Unintended Effects in Modified Plants," biotechnology industry, government, and academia emphasized that no genetic modification is without unintended effects whether conventional breeding or genetic engineering [24]. The source of unintended modifications could be attributed to gene insertions or deletions involving deletion or disruption of endogenous genes and chimeric protein production which perform abnormal function. Genetic engineering approaches involving tissue culturing and in vitro culturing pose the risk of soma clonal modifications arising from the genetic and epigenetic effects of in vitro cultures [25]. Pleiotropic effects may contribute to the unintended modifications if the transgene plays multiple roles or is the part of multiple pathways in an organism leading to the production of potentially harmful secondary metabolites [26].

Biosafety policies involve principles, procedures, and rules devised and adapted for protecting the environment and health of the individuals against potentially harmful metabolites and toxins. Biosafety involves containment of harmful material to avoid unintentional exposure to toxic agents produced by genetically modified organisms [27].
