The term genetic resources is a core one to the implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). As biotechnology and knowledge on genetics change rapidly, there is a need for some flexibility and dynamic in the interpretation of the definition of the term. At the same time, for a legal system to provide for legal certainty, the main definition needs to have some level of stability in a manner which can be interpreted and enforced by a court. This paper shows how the definition of ‘genetic resources’ captures different dimensions and was crafted in a manner robust enough to cope with unforeseen challenges.