Ethical issues raised by genetically modified microorganisms

Unlike experiments carried out on humans and animals, applications involving microorganisms and their genetic modification do not cause pain and suffering as generally understood. The ethical problems raised by genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) therefore mainly related to the impact they have on the Earth's biosphere. As microorganisms can be found everywhere, including in the ecological niches that are the most unsuited to life forms, the repercussions can be substantial and irreversible. . In order to clearly grasp to what extent GMMs can be dangerous for humans and their environment, it is necessary, on the one hand, to define them and explain the context in which they are used or can be potentially used (this will be the subject of the first part of this text) and on the other hand, to specify the possible risks of these uses (this will be the subject of the second part). Next, having put these risks in perspective in the third part, we shall question the actual usefulness of these GMMs (can we do without them or not?) as, in the end, given the lack of knowledge currently available, the most effective way of solving this ethical problem once and for all is perhaps to reduce their use. We will end with the role of researchers in the emergence of these new organisms that they cannot yet completely control.