DBT-AAU CENTRE Assam Agricultural University Jorhat
Concept & Design Prof. Bidyut Kumar Sarmah Dr. Sumita Acharjee Dr. Basanta Kumar Borah Mr. Surajit Kumar Mishra Published by DBT-AAU Centre Assam Agricultural University Jorhat - 785 013
Genetically modified (GM) crops Genetically modified (GM) crops are those whose genetic makeup is modified by incorporating one or more alien (foreign) gene using Recombinant DNA Technology / Genetic Engineering. Therefore, GM crops are now named as Genetically Engineered (GE) crops. Since Genetic Engineering is one of the modern biotechnology tools, the GE crops are also called as Biotech crops. The alien (foreign) gene that is introduced is termed as 'transgene', therefore GM / GE crops are also called as Transgenics. The source of the gene could be synthetic or from any organism which cannot be otherwise crossed by conventional breeding tools. Gene: A portion of a DNA / RNA molecule that serves as the basic unit of heredity. Genes control the characteristics that an offspring will have from their parents. Transgene: A transgene is a gene that has been transferred naturally, or by genetic engineering techniques from one organism to another. The introduction of a transgene after has the potential to change the phenotype of an organism. Gene transfer methods in crops Genetic material or DNA is being naturally transferred between organisms. However, with the start of crop cultivation, farmers selected suitable germplasm and bred them to some extent in the traditional way. Conventional and molecular breeding methods were also adopted to develop elite varieties. Breeding methods helped transfer of desired gene/ trait to crops, although within cross compatible groups. Gene gun: Is a device for injecting DNA or genetic material in the cells. Agrobacterium tumefaciens: It is a soil borne bacterium that infects plant cell and transfer a part of its DNA (T-DNA) from its Ti (tumour inducing) plasmid to cause a disease called crown gall. The Agrobacterium strains that are used for plant genetic engineering are engineered in such a way that they cannot induce tumour in recipient plant. However a selection marker gene is used to identify the transformed plant tissues. Plasmid: An extra cellular circular DNA or genetic material found in most of the bacteria. Modern biotechnological tools open the door to introduce gene (s) from any source into crop plant and with more precision compared to conventional plant breeding techniques. The most common tool used is either a "gene gun" or Agrobaterium tumefaciens a soil borne bacterium which is known as natural genetic engineer. 3
Benefits of GM crop With the increasing global population, massive third world hunger and death due to both starvation and undernourishment, there is a great promise in the use of GM crops to achieve food and nutritional security. The benefits are Crops with enhanced resistance to weeds, insect pest and diseases. Crops with higher yields to help farmers for efficient use of land. Foods with better texture, flavour and nutritional value. Foods with a longer shelf life for easier marketing of produce. Benefits environment due to less use of pesticides in insect resistant GM crop cultivation. Low tillage or no tillage operation in herbicide resistant GM crop that helps soil conservation. GM crops are cultivated worldwide (ISAAA report, 2016) Currently, GM crops are being accepted and cultivated worldwide. The founder biotech countries that grow GM crops are USA, Brazil, Argentina, India, Canada, China, Australia and Mexico. In all, 70 countries are either growing or testing or importing GM crops. Total 28 countries are now growing GM food crops. Highest acreage of 70 million hectare is in US. GM crops that are commercialized are soybean, maize, cotton, bean, plum, rice, sugarcane, potato, squash, sweet pepper, tomato, Brassica etc. GM soybean has been modified to have both insect and herbicide resistance while GM cotton is resistant to insect, cotton boll worm. Globally 83% of soybean, 75% In India, more than 90% of the cultivated cotton varieties are GM, which indicates a wide acceptance of GM crops by the Indian farming community. The country has attained a cotton productivity of more than 500 kg per hectare, which is much higher compared to the productivity of less than 140 kg per hectare in 1947-48. Today, India has become the second largest exporter of cotton. In India, GM crops that are in pipe line are, mustard, chickpea, eggplant, castor, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, tomato, groundnut, papaya, potato, watermelon.
Rank Country Area 2016 1 USA 70.9 2 Brazil 44.2 3 Argentina 24.5 4 India 11.6 5 Canada 11.0 6 China 3.7 7 Paraguay 3.6 8 Pakistan 2.9 9 South Africa 2.3 10 Uruguay 1.4 (James, 2015) Myths 1. Growing GM crops harms the environment. It may effects in ten or twenty years. 2. The genetic engineering of crops is not natural because genes are taken from alien sources. 3. So many resources are being devoted to GM crop research. These resources should instead be directed to organic farming or other ecological practices, because these practices and crops are proven safe. Global adoption of GM crops A total of 28 countries have adopted GM crops in 2016 and up to 18 million farmers planted 179.7 million hectares in 2015. GM crops myths and facts Facts 1. Current agriculture practices, uses pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, which are harmful to the environment and human health. GM crops that are designed will significantly reduce the use of these chemicals. 2. Genetic modification happens naturally. Farmers have been crossbreeding plants for centuries, depending on trialand-error to get the desired results. Biotechnology is a safer, more deliberate way of achieving and replicating the desired results. 3. There is no scientific data that proves organic farming to be safer than any other kind of farming. Nor is there data that proves farming GM crops to be unsafe. Farming biotechnology crops actually requires fewer resources than conventional farming. GM crops widely cultivated in various countries GM Crops Soybean Maize Cotton Canola (Mustard) Sugarbeet Papaya Brinjal Countries cultivating USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil USA, Canada, Spain, Argentina USA, Brazil, Australia, China, India Canada, Australia, USA, Brazil Canada USA, China Bangladesh 5
Should we worry about GMOs? Most of the concerns raised by the anti-gmo activists are either unscientific or based on disproving facts. 1. The contamination of products of GMOs with genetic material from foreign origin. The genetic material across the living organisms is the same except the sequence of the nitrogenous bases. Therefore, a gene from a bacterium is chemically identical with a gene from a plant or a gene from an animal except the differences in the sequence of nitrogenous bases present in the nucleic acid. 2. Receiving genes(s) by a recipient through Genetic Engineering different from breeding. The classical breeding process that started since the domestication of plants and animals that began almost 10,000 years before, also involved transfer of genetic material of so-called foreign origin. Furthermore, genes of an organism are being modified through the process of mutation breeding since the early 20th century. Therefore, genetic modification of an organism is not a new development. But with the modern biotechnological approach (Recombinant DNA Technology), one can transfer a gene from one organism to another in a more precise way and without facing any crossability barriers. 3. The concern about possible negative impacts offoreign genes on hum or animal health. Genes that are being used for the production of GMOs are selected with thorough characterization at the molecular level and scientists select only those which have no negative effect on animal and human health. For example, the Bt-gene used in production of insect resistant crops encodes toxins that can act in specific insect guts and can't affect the animal or human guts in any circumstance. Furthermore, GMOs and the production process of GMOs are strictly regulated by more than one government bodies in each and every country that allows GMOs to cultivate commercially. In India, for example, the commercial cultivation and release of GMOs are strictly monitored by the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), and another high level committee, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), is responsible for the final clearance for commercial adaptation of the GMO. The GEAC reviews several aspects of the GMO including its multi-location trial across the country, its Biosafety issues, and efficacy, etc. A few Statements in support of GMO "The science is quite clear: crop improvement by the modern molecular techniques of biotechnology is safe. "-American Association for the Advancement of Science 6 "Bioengineered foods have been consumed for close to 20 years, and
during that time, no consequences on human health have been reported and/or substantiated in the peer-reviewed literature. " - American Medical Association "GMfoods... have passed risk assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health. In addition, no effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods..." - World Health Organization "International agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, the European Commission, the French Academy of Medicine, the American Medical Association, and the American Society of Toxicology have reviewed these health issues and have come to an agreement that GM foods are safe for human health. "- International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications Recent support from Nobel laureates to GM rice (Golden rice) More than a hundred Nobel laureates have recently (June, 2016) signed a letter urging Greenpeace to end its opposition to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). "We urge Greenpeace and its supporters to re-examine the experience of farmers and consumers worldwide with crops and foods improved through biotechnology, recognize the findings of authoritative scientific bodies and regulatory agencies, and abandon their campaign against 'GMOs' in general and Golden Rice containing carotene, a precursor of VitA in particular," the letter states. Conversion of a great environmentalist, Mark Lynas (a former anti-gm activist) to a supporter of GMOs In a January 2013 lecture to the Oxford Farming Conference, Lynas detailed his conversion from an organizer of the anti-gmo food movement in Europe to becoming a supporter of the technology. He admitted that he attacked the science of GM - even though he had done no academic research on the topic, and had a pretty limited personal understanding. He apologized for engaging in vandalism of field trials of genetically engineered crops, stating that anti-science, environmentahsm became increasingly inconsistent with his pro-science environmentahsm with regard to climate change. Lynas criticized organizations with which he was previously associated, including Greenpeace and organic trade groups like the UK Soil Association, for ignoring scientific facts about genetically modified crop safety and benefits because it conflicted with their ideologies and stated he "was completely wrong" to oppose GMOs. Therefore, say Q^ES 1 to cropsfor ToodandNutritionalsecurity of India.
Printed at AAYAN'S WORLD B B Hall Market, Jorhat, Ph : 9854193113; email: aayansworld@yahoo.com Acknowledgement: - Department of Biotechnology, Government of India - www.pixabay.com (for GM crop photographs)