News Highlight
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has yet again cleared the proposal for commercial cultivation of genetically modified mustard (GM mustard).
Key Takeaway
- Though the GEAC cleared the proposal in 2017, the Union Environment Ministry vetoed it and suggested that the panel hold more studies on the GM crop.
- Nevertheless, the GEAC had gone through the details submitted by the applicant, the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), and gave necessary approvals for the cultivation of GM mustard.
- This will be the second GM crop after GM cotton that can be commercially cultivated in the country now.
- The environmental release of mustard hybrid Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMHÂ11) for its seed production.
GM Mustard
- About
- Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11, otherwise known as DMH – 11, is a genetically modified hybrid variety of the mustard species Brassica juncea.
- Development
- Professor Deepak Pental developed it at the University of Delhi to reduce India’s demand for edible oil imports.
- The transgenic mustard DMH – 11 was developed in 2002 using genetic material isolated from non-pathogenic soil bacteria and techniques in transgenic systems for pollination control, primarily involving the Barnase-Barstar system.
- Three genes, Bar, Barnase and Barstar, were extracted from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to produce the hybrid seed.
- Technology
- DMH – 11 was created through transgenic technology, primarily involving the Bar, Barnase and Barstar gene systems.
- The Barnase gene confers male sterility, while the Barstar gene restores DMH – 11’s ability to produce fertile seeds.
- The insertion of the third gene, Bar, enables DMH – 11 to produce phosphinothricin-N- acetyl-transferase, the enzyme responsible for Glufosinate resistance.
Genetically Modified(GM ) Crops
- What?
- These are plants whose DNA has been modified through genetic engineering to embed a new trait in the plant that does not occur naturally in the species.
- Aims
- Genetic engineering aims to transcend the genus barrier by introducing an alien gene in the seeds to get the desired effects, and the alien gene could be from a plant, an animal or even a soil bacterium.
Other GM crops in India
- Bt cotton
- Bt cotton has two alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that allow the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common pest pink bollworm.
- On the other hand, Bt cotton is derived by inserting an additional gene from another soil bacterium, which allows the plant to resist the common glyphosate herbicide.
- Bt Brinjal
- In Bt brinjal, a gene allows the plant to resist fruit and shoot borer attacks.
- In Bt brinjal, a gene permits the plant to resist fruit attacks and shoot borers.
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
- About
- It is a statutory body under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Formation
- It was formed as the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee and was renamed to its current name in 2010.
- It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- Functions
- The body regulates the use, manufacture, storage, import and export of hazardous microorganisms or genetically-engineered organisms and cells in India.
- The committee is also responsible for evaluating proposals relating to releasing genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment, including experimental field trials.
- Composition
- The Committee is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- A representative of the Department of Biotechnology is a co-chair.
The Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP)
- About
- It was established in 1996 at the South Campus of the University of Delhi with funding from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
- Function
- Since its inception, a major mandate of CGMCP has been to improve the productivity of oilseed mustard—Brassica juncea.
Pic Courtesy : The Hindu Business Line
Content Source: The Hindu