Introduction:
Genetic modification of living organisms seem to be the biggest experiment in the history of science, the effects of which are difficult to predict and will be known only after many years. The dynamic development of biotechnology in recent years is the result of genetic discoveries and the development of nanotechnology, which contributed to the so-called ‘modern biotechnology’. It uses genetic engineering methods which allow the obtaining of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), plants and animals. Currently, the most important problem is food containing genetically modified components or which is a genetically modified organism, or food ingredients produced by GMOs, but not containing GMOs (e.g. livestock fed on GM feed). The controversy over GMOs include: the impact of consuming food produced on the basis of genetically modified plant or animal organisms on human health, the impact of GMOs on the environment, the economic consequences of genetically modified crops, or breeding genetically modified animals for food producers and consumers, the legal aspects of ‘intellectual property’ of biotechnological companies that produce genetically modified organisms in their laboratories, the ethical aspects of human interference into the world of nature formed over millions of years of evolution ,without the possibility of predicting of even approximating the effects of this gigantic experiment. The article presents the general problem of the genetic modification of organisms and genetically modified food, the effect of genetic modification on health, biodiversity, and the legal and ethical controversies concerning genetic modification. Key words: genetic modification, health, environment, biotechnology