GM Crops Information Sharing- Needs and Challenges Dr. T. R. Sharma Genoinformatics Lab National Research Center on Plant Biotechnology IARI, New Delhi-110012 www.nrcpb.org Email: trsharma@nrcpb.org
Need of Information Sharing? As per Cartagena Protocol : Information sharing about GMOs is essential for: the trans boundary movement of GMOs effective management & transfer of GMOs across borders. to harmonize the policies in the region to put in place the legal and regulatory systems to define principles of risk assessment and management to harmonize administrative functions
Sharing specific info Transgene Construction
Sharing specific info Plant Transformation DNA Delivery microprojectile bombardment biolistics or gene gun Agrobacterium tumefaciens tiny DNA-coated particles are shot into plant cells versatile method complex DNA integration patterns: tandem arrays of fragmented molecules natural property of Agrobacterium to transfer DNA to host plant cells is exploited to introduce genes of interest difficult with cereal crops simple DNA integration patterns
Sharing specific info Plant Transformation Target Cells All Crop Transformation Protocols Deliver DNA to Plant Cells in Tissue Culture Tissue cultures allow regeneration of fertile plants from single cells Large number of target cells available for DNA delivery in a compact form (callus) Establishment, maintenance and plant regeneration is labor intensive Methods limited to a few genotypes, usually not commercial varieties Can introduce undesirable mutations
Sharing specific info Plant Transformation Selection At best only 1 in 1000 cells integrate delivered DNA Transformed cells (events) are marked by co-introducing gene that provides resistance to selective agents Transformed cells are selected by killing non-transformed cells with selective agent. tissue culture cells under selection Three main types of selective agents: antibiotics herbicides plant growth regulators Herbicide Leaf Paint Assay transgenic non-transgenic resistant susceptible Selectable markers assist in following inheritance of transgenes.
Adoption of Bt Cotton in India Year Area (ha) 2002-03 44,500 2003-04 100,000 2004-05 500,000 Area under Bt cotton in India
Biosaftey Concerns Related to GMOs
Socio-economic issues Major Concerns GM Food & GM crops Bio-safety of human and animal health Labeling GM and non-gm food Antibiotic resistance genes in GM food Environmental concerns Gene transfer Effects on bio-diversity Public awareness
Regulation and Implementation of GMOs in India Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RDAC) Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC) Review Committee in General Manipulation (RCGM) Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC)
Sharing specific info www.nrcpb.org GM Crop Database
Objectives Retrieval, storage and management of data on biosafety of GMOs To develop a dedicated Web site on GMOs
Relational Diagram Showing Relationship Among Different Databases
www.nrcpb.org Click here to access GM crop database
GM Crop Database Home Page
GM Crop Database Home Page
GM Crop Database Home Page
GM Crop Database Home Page Click on About
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GM Crop Search Database Interface
Transgenic Line Query Interface
Transgenic Line Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Transgene Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted Click for Bt Line Info
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Transgene Query Interface Click for biosafety data
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Transgene-Crop-Promoter Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Promoter Info Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Developer Institution Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Crop Current status of information stored in transgenics database Number of transgenic line Number of genes Number of promoter Developer Cotton 135* 4** 1*** 20 Rice 4^ 5^^ 2^^^ 1 Brinjal - - - - Soybean - - - - Tomato - - - - Corn - 2 ^^^^ - - *58 Bt cotton hybrids approved for commercial planting in India till date, rest are released for field trials in different zones. **(cry1ac,cry1ab,cry2ab,vip3a) ***(CaMV 35S) ^ (SGR1, SGR2, LLRICE06, LLRICE62) ^^(Psy, crti, lyc, Zea mays psy, Bar) ^^^(Ubi-1 promoter, GT1 promoter) ^^^^(cry1f,cry1x) Continued.
Number of records in soil microflora, environmental concern and health concern database Name of Sub-Database Number of records Soil microflora 10 Environmental concern 9 Health concern 9 These records represent effect of transgenes viz. Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab, Vip3A, Psy, CrtI, Lcy, Zea mays psy, Bar gene on environment, health and soil microflora.
GM Publication Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Current status of information stored in GM-Publication Database Total number of records = 526 Year 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 Total Biosafety & IPR Issues 2 14 3 5 3 4 7 2 1 0 41 Food & Feed - 5 10 7 6 5 5 1 0 0 39 Risks & Benefits - 6 4 10 8 8 3 1 0 1 41 Environ & Health Concern - 6 6 10 3 8 4 1 0 1 39 Bt - 7 10 13 4 5 8 3 3 1 54 Cotton - 4 2 6 6 5 6 0 0 1 30 Rice - 5 2 1 3 4 1 2 2 2 22 Soybean 15 25 12 3 3 6 6 0 0 70 Brinjal 6 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 tomato 7 7 7 8 2 3 2 3 5 2 46 Corn 28 15 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 50 Soil Microflora - 2 8 8 4 3 3 1 0 0 29 Selectable Marker - 3 1 5 1 0 1 1 0 0 12 Others - 3 4 8 5 9 9 4 2 1 45
Current status of information stored in GM Publication Database
Summary of Records in the Database Information Number of records Crops 3 Cotton Lines 135 Transgene 9 Promoter 3 Soil microflora 10 Environmental concern 9 Health concern 9 Developer Institution 21 Review Articles 379 Research Papers 88 Biosafety and IPR issues 41 Other Publications 144
Other databases related to GMOs BCH The Biosafety Clearing- House an information- Exchange mechanism established under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is playing an important role in assisting the exchange of information.
DATABASE NAME WEB ADDRESS GMO RES COM Database www.versailles.inra.fr/europe/gmorescom/index.php AG BIOTECH INFONET www.biotech-info.net TRANSGENIC CROPS http://cls.casa.colostate.edu/transgenic crops/) AGBIOS www.agbios.com ICGEB www.icgeb.org GM CROP DATABASE http://203.122.19.19/gmdb/gmdbhome.html CROPLIFE INTERNATIONAL DATABASE http://croplife.intraspin.com Contd.
SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT NETWORK DATABASE ESSENTIAL SCIENCE INDICATORS http://www.scidev.net http://www.esi-topics.com AGBIOTECHNET http://www.agbiotechnet.com GMO COMPASS INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL PORTAL ON FOOD SAFETY, ANIMAL & PLANT HEALTH PATENT LENS http://www.gmo-compass.org http://www.nbiap.vt.edu www.ipfsaph.com/en/default.jsp www.bios.net/patentlens/simple.cgi ALLERMATCH http://www.allermatch.org GMO METHODS DATABASE http://biotech.jrc.it/home/ict/methodsdatabase.htm GM CONTAMINATION REGISTER http://www.gmcontaminationregister.org
www.versailles.inra.fr/europe/gmorescom/index.php European site GMO Biosafety Research Information on risk of GMO to environment,agriculture,human and animal health Provides facility for browsing and searching database
www.biotech-info.net Provides categorized publication on GMOs Provides search engine to search about biosafety Highlights on general discussion and opinion on GM food
(http://cls.casa.colostate.edu/transgenic crops/) Colorado state university, USA Provides news update about transgenic crops,
www.agbios.com Canadian company dedicated to provide public policy, regulatory and risk assessment expertise for products of biotechnology Offers access to database of safety information on all GM plants Provides latest crop biotech news
www.icgeb.org ICGEB,New Delhi Have very good Biosafety bibliographic database. This site provides global information about GMOs like area of biotech crops and countries involved and information on risk assessment related to environment, health etc.
http://croplife.intraspin.com It is a database of published papers and reviews demonstrating the benefits and safety implications associated with use of agricultural biotechnology products Offer different options for searching for information on biotech crops
http://www.agbiotechnet.com Leading database on agricultural biotechnology and Biosafety information Provides categorized search on each topic related to biosafety
http://www.gmo-compass.org It is an online information database, which contains every GMO approval & application submitted in the European Union Information on the food and feed produced from the respective GM plant
http://www.nbiap.vt.edu It is a National Resource of USA in Agbiotech Information provides information resources to support the use of agricultural biotechnology products provides database of US and International Field Tests of GMOs, database of GMOs
www.ipfsaph.com/en/default.jsp Provides good papers and information on various topics mainly risk analysis, Biotechnology/GMOs, Food allergies etc. Many countries are involved in this. It facilitates trade in food and agricultural products and deals with food safety, animal and plant health.
http://www.allermatch.org This website has been constructed through a joint effort of the Institute of Food Safety and Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre in Wegeningen, The Netherlands. It advises national and international authorities on the safety of genetically engineered foods and feed. Allermatch tm provides three databases of sequences of known allergenic proteins Allermatch tm is a unique website where you can compare the amino acid sequence of a protein of interest with sequences of allergenic proteins.
It is an European site. Task of the project is to identify, develop and promote the use of efficient and appropriate DNA and protein-based analytical methods for the detection and quantification of genetically modified organisms. The Database has been designed to allow direct and user-friendly access to information regarding methods of GMO analysis The database is organized into three sections: General information on the GMO and the corresponding method, essential technical information on the method, specific information on the proficiency of the method and its validation status.
GeneWatch UK and Greenpeace International have launched this joint initiative to record all incidents of contamination arising from the intentional or accidental release of genetically modified (GM) organisms. It also includes illegal plantings of GM crops and the negative agricultural side-effects that have been reported. This site is intended to be a resource for individuals, public interest groups and governments. The register can be searched to see where, when and how contamination has taken place.
Challenges in information sharing Most of the information are scattered across the www Great Challenge to develop a comprehensive DB Information on long term effects of GMOs- Not available Scientific community and private institutes do not share info easily. Generation of information on possible effects of GMO has to be expedited. Dissemination of info in regional languages and local dialects will take lot of resources.
Conclusions A comprehensive and detailed database of the GM crops (and concerns related to that) released or to be released in India in future would be highly essential for the success and spread of GM crops in the country & for harnessing the fruits of modern biotechnology.
Genoinformatics Lab, NRCPB- Computational Facility
Acknowledgements Director, NRCPB --- Keerti Srivastava RA (upto July 2006) Sangeeta Singh SRF Ajay Kumar - RA Financial Assistance Ministry of Env. & Forest, GOI GEF- World Bank