Bt Brinjal and the GM Crops Dilemma
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
The Indian government has put an indefinite moratorium on the commercial release of genetically modified Bt Brinjal (egg plant). The moratorium was imposed in response to a situation where “there is no clear consensus within the scientific community itself, when there is so much opposition from the state governments, civil society organizations and eminent scientists have raised many serious questions not been answered satisfactorily,” according to the central government minister.
Critics of Bt Brinjal argue that the new engineered crop could destroy the vast bio-diversity of the numerous varieties of local brinjal. Preserving bio-diversity is critical because many of the genetic traits of the different varieties could prove invaluable. For example, new high-yielding varieties of rice that led to the Indian green revolution made governments neglect several local rice varieties that had traits like drought-resistance (though not high yields).
On the other hand, opponents of the moratorium point out that with the “uncertainty prevailing about GM crops, the companies wanting to invest in bio technology in agricultural sector would be hesitant to do so.” They complain that “there has been no palpable, effective and time bound effort to resolve the uncertainties caused by the moratorium.”
The case is an excellent example of the dilemma caused by GM crops with fears such as destruction of bio-diversity and unknown risks on one part and the risk of losing the benefits of scientific research on the other.
Read the news at Financial Express.
Tags: biodiversity, biotechnology, genetic modification, GM crops
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Biotechnology Applications in the Textile Industry
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
Biotechnology improves crops by tailoring their properties or transferring properties from one organism to another. Both these processes involve working with the organisms’ genes (that determine genetic characteristics), made possible by advances in genetic engineering.
Genetic engineering has already benefited the textile industry and promises much more. For example, cotton, which is the leading fiber used by the textile industry, is vulnerable to attacks by many insects. Cotton also has poor tolerance against herbicides used to kill weeds in irrigated cotton fields. By working with the genes of the crop, scientists are hoping to develop insect and herbicide resistant varieties of cotton.
Another objective is to develop cotton varieties that will be naturally colored, say blue or vivid red, so that bleaching and dyeing of textiles can be eliminated. Research is also going on to provide other desirable properties at a genetic level.
In Australia, sheep is being “engineered” to secrete an insect repellant from its hair follicles to resist attacks from blowfly, and also stop hair growth so that wool can be “pulled off” instead of being sheared. Shearing wool from sheep is a cumbersome and time-consuming process.
Biotechnology is helping not only such genetic engineering results but is also helping in disease diagnostics and new forms of therapy, for example.
Read the great post on biotechnology applications in textile industry at The World of Snark.
Tags: biotechnology, crop science, genetic engineering, GM crops
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What should We Believe about Genetically Modified Crops?
Friday, April 16th, 2010
Genetically Modified (GM) crops are targets for an often violent debate. Advocates of GM crops point to the higher yields and benefits like built-in pest resistance that modifying the genes of the crops can provide. Opponents say that the safety of GM crops has not been proven through long-term use and that they might cause unforeseen harm to environment and consumers.
Traditionally, the technique of cross-breeding between different species has been used to transfer desirable characteristics from one species to another. However, this procedure is time-consuming and cannot often produce the specific results that we want.
Genetic modification involves working with the genes of crop plants. Because it is genes that determine the characteristics of organisms, it is possible to change the characteristics by modifying the genes using molecular biotechnology. Scientists might, for example, locate a gene that provides drought resistance, and insert that gene into a plant used as food crop. Done successfully, this can provide drought resistance trait to the food crop.
Genetic modification has provided several advantages:
- Crops with pest-resistance eliminate the need to use pesticides, with consequent lower costs and also elimination of the health hazards that pesticides cause
- Crops resistant to herbicides can also provide a somewhat similar benefit. Herbicides are used to destroy weeds that reduce crop yields. Application of herbicides can affect the crop and also cause environmental damage. Both these results can be reduced by making the crops herbicide resistant
- Genetic modification that can improve resistance against viruses, fungi and bacteria that cause damage to crops can increase crop yields
- Tolerance for drought, cold and salinity can make it possible to grow crops in conditions formerly not possible, and thus meet the ever-increasing demand for food
- People in poorer countries often depend on a single food, such as rice. These food items might not provide adequate nutrition. Genetic modification can make such food items more balanced in nutritive value
- If food crops can be modified to provide medicinal and disease prevention benefits presently provided by medicines and vaccines, both availability and affordability of the medicines and vaccines can be improved
- Non-food plants have been modified to clean up the environment, e.g. remove metal pollutants from contaminated soil
Opposition to GM crops have been also gaining strength, mainly because of:
- Toxins designed to kill one type of organism, viz. pests, can also kill other, unintended, organisms. For example, pollen from B.t. corn is reported to have killed monarch butterfly caterpillars, a finding that is being contested by industry groups and others
- Pests might become resistant to plants that have been modified for pest-resistance, just as mosquitoes become resistant to DDT
- Genes can be transferred to other species through natural cross-breeding, causing not-so-beneficial results and other problems. For example, weeds might gain herbicide resistance from herbicide resistant crops, making them “super weeds.” GM characteristics might also be passed on to non-GM crops in neighboring fields, resulting in problems for farmers growing non-GM crops
Read more about the issues at ProQuest.
Tags: biotechnology issues, GM crops, molecular biotechnology
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Biotech Wheat: A US Experience
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
The story of genetic modification of wheat illustrates a typical scenario for GM crops.
A genetically altered wheat variety was announced in May 1992 by scientists at Monsanto and the University of Florida. Monsanto provided a foreign gene and scientists used a gene-gun to inject it into wheat cells. The gene produced an enzyme that would make the wheat resistant to herbicides such as Roundup.
However, consumer attitudes towards transgenic crops were not promising. The attitude was that research into the long-term safety of GM food crops was inadequate. Wheat exports were affected as consumers resisted the new variety.
As the supply chain for wheat was not clearly segregated to prevent intermingling of biotech and non-biotech wheat, Japan even went to the extent of saying that it would not accept wheat from any nation that grew biotech wheat.
In the US, the Center for Food Safety and the Family Farm Coalition filed a petition to suspend the development of biotech wheat.
In May 2004, Monsanto shelved its genetically engineered Roundup Ready spring wheat.
In November 2008, however, US wheat industry released a “Biotechnology Principles for Commercialization”. The principles seek to improve communication among biotech trait providers, growers and wheat users. Technology providers will get regulatory approvals in the US.
The principles also address market considerations to prevent disruption in exports. Educating consumers in countries such as Japan and European Union receives high priority. Customers will be kept aware of developments so that there will be no surprises in the market.
Read the full story at: Biotech Wheat
Tags: biotech, biotech wheat, biotechnology, gene injection, genetic modification, genetically modified wheat, GM crops, wheat
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