Biotechnology – Indian perspective

Dr. K.I. Mani Varghese

Union Christion College, Aluva,

India.

Christian Conference of Asia

India Population 1.136 billion people

Hindus 80.5% Muslim 13.4%

Zoroastrians, Sikhs and Jains Christians (2.3%), Buddhists (0.8%)

Green revolution and Gene revolution Great diversity of its natural

ecosystems 72% people live in rural areas one-fourth of the population still lives

below the poverty line Malnutrition :12 million people in India

suffer from Vitamin A deficiency

Our Hope

Potential of transgenic plants to increase food production where more food is needed although there is concern about this approach.

Cultivation of transgenic plants for the production of immunotherapeutic molecules.

Agriculture biotechnology research in India Department of Biotechnology,DBT) in 1986 6 - Centres for Plant Molecular Biology

(CPMB) in 1990 National Centre for Plant Genome Research

(NCPGR) New Delhi More than 20 Universities-engaged

National biotechnology development strategy- for agriculture, health and the environment Funds for biotechnology for the next five

years, 2007-2012 65,000 million Indian rupees

(US$1.6 billion)

Regulatory mechanisms for the release of transgenics Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC), Review Committee on Genetic

Manipulation (RCGM) Genetic Engineering approval Committee

(GEAC). A Plant Variety Protection Bill (PVP) has

been cleared by the Indian Parliament and will soon become operational

Transgenic crops -research

In 2003, more than 247,000 acres of Bt cotton were planted in India( 1% of the 22.2 million acres of cotton planted in India)

Social obligation to treat severe illness

India - Support only therapeutic cloning and

against reproductive cloning For embryonic stem cell research,

embryos should not be generated for the sole purpose of obtaining stem cells

stem cell research

The programs include establishment of human cell lines, limbal stem cells, liver stem cells, human corneal stem cells, Cardiac stem cells and stem cells preservation.

Major research institutes- Christian Medical College, Vellore (CMC), LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, AIIMS New Delhi, and National Brain Research Centre, New

Delhi.

Biotechnological issues of Public Concern

1)Environmental Safety 2)Food Safety and Health 3)Social and Economic Effects 4)Ethical and Moral

1)Environmental Safety

1 Upset natural balance 2 Reduce Biodiversity

2) Food Safety and Health 1 Safe to eat ? 2 Less nutritional value? 3 Impact on traditional

system of medicine - Ayurveda

4)Ethical and Moral

1 Poor Countries/people exploited?

2 Right to use or not to use GM food / medicine

We are expected live among the nonbelievers and exhibit our christian quality 1 peter 2: 11, 12

‘Tampering with nature” Actually we do not create any thing new,

only alter the make up of organisms for our own purposes.

Bio technology bring benefits and dangers It requires Safe guards and new

regulations

Man can discover God through his own mistakes and repentance, and not by avoiding his mistakes.

Impact on integrity of family

Donor insemination, egg donation, contract pregnancy, embryo transfers

- impact on integrity of family ,nature of parent hood, the role of marital sexuality and the identity of the child.

Reproductive technologies

Apostle Paul in Romans 3:8, "We may not do evil so that good may come."

Freedom to explore- fundamental to the progress of Science

Prohibiting research restricts intellectual freedom of the people

The pursuit of truth is indistinguishable from the pursuit of knowledge

“ THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE” John 8:32

Each created thing beats of god’s heart beat