Pollution Management

Student: J.S. Sudha Rani

I.D. No. : RAD/16-04

Department of Agronomy, PJTSAUTelangana

ASSIGNMENT on

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS

Course Title :Current Trends in Agronomy

Course Incharge : Dr.K.Suresh

Course No : AGRON: 601

CROP IMPROVEMENT

• SELECTION• HYBRIDIZATION• TISSUE CULTURING• MUTATIONS• TRANSFORMATION( CISGENIC & TRANSGENIC)

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

• A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques generally known as recombinant DNA technology.

• Recombinant DNA technology is the ability to combine DNA molecules from different sources into one molecule.

• Genetically modified plants are also called transgenic plants 

Purpose of modification

• To produce products beneficial to human.• This technique can help in solving worlds big

problem- food scarcity

How transgenic plants are made?Identification of useful geneThe cloning of the gene into a suitable plasmid

vectorDelivery of the vector into plant cell (insertion and

integration) followed by expression and inheritance of the foreign DNA encoding a polypeptide.

A gene construct consists typically of three elements:

– The promoter - an on/off switch– The transgene - encodes selected trait– The terminator - stop signal

In addition Marker genes for distinguishing GM from non-GM cells during crop development may also be present

Important Facts About Genetically Modified Crops• The fight to have GMO foods labeled is very

heated right now. • They are currently GMOs are in 80% of processed

foods.• The technology to genetically modify food has

been around for over 20 years.• The very first GMO food to be commercially sold

was the Flavr Savr tomato from California.• Soybeans, cotton, and corn are the most

common types of genetically modified crops.

Advantages of Genetically Modified Crops

1. Better For The EnvironmentSince GMOs require much less chemicals to thrive, the impact on the environment is lessened. The pesticides and

other chemicals commonly used on non GMO crops emit green house gases and pollute the ground soil.

2. Resistance To DiseaseOne of the modifications made to the crops is an added resistance to disease that would normally kill off the crops.

This keeps the yields high and the prices for the consumers low.

3. SustainabilityGMOs provide a stable and efficient way to sustain enough crops to feed the ever growing population of people in the

world. This was the main goal of GMO crops in the first place.

4. Increased Flavor and NutritionAlong with resistances to insects and disease, the genes of the crops can also be altered to have a better flavor and

increased nutritional value. This is good all around.

5. Longer Shelf Life

Genetically modified foods have a longer shelf life. This improves how long they last and

stay fresh during transportation and storage

6. Keeps It AffordableOne of the biggest effects that the use of GMOs has had on our every day life is the prices of produce and other foods. Since more crops can be yielded, the prices can be much lower.

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Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Crops

1. Cross Contamination

The pollen from the genetically modified plants is also contaminated. When this pollen is around other

plants, even things like grass or weeds, they cross pollinate. This could develop “superweeds” that have

the same resistance properties as the crops.

2. Allergies On The Rise

Ever since the introduction of GMO foods, the amount of childhood food allergies has risen significantly.

The exact link to GMO has not yet been found, but many believe this is due to insufficient research in the

area.

3. Less Effective Antibiotics

The crops that have been genetically modified have antibiotic properties put into them in order to make

them immune to certain diseases. When you eat these foods these properties are left in your body and can

make many antibiotics less effective.

4. Not Enough Testing

There has been very little testing and research done on genetically modified foods and the long term

effects have not been discovered yet. This makes many people feel uneasy at the high use of these foods.

CROPS IMPROVED WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING

Transgenic trait CropsInsect resistance Corn, Cotton, Potato, Tomato

Herbicide tolerance Corn, Soybean, Cotton, Canola, Sugarbeet, Rice, Flax

Virus resistance Papaya, Squash, Potato

Altered oil composition Canola, Soybean

Delayed fruit ripening Tomato

Male sterility and restorer system (used to facilitate

plant breeding)Chicory, Corn

GLOBAL AREA OF G M CROPS

* Area in million ha

G M CROPS STATISTICS IN US

Herbicides and herbicide-resistant plants

• Herbicides are generally non-selective (killing both weeds and crop plants) and must be applied before the crop plants germinate

• Four potential ways to engineer herbicide resistant plants1. Inhibit uptake of the herbicide2. Overproduce the herbicide-sensitive target protein3. Reduce the ability of the herbicide-sensitive target to

bind to the herbicide4. Give plants the ability to inactivate the herbicide

Herbicides and herbicide resistant:Herbicides are generally nonselective (killing both weeds and crops and must be applied before the crop plants germinate)Four potential ways to engineer herbicide resistant plants- Inhibit uptake of the herbicide-Overproduce the herbicide -sensitive target protein-Reduce the ability of the herbicide - sensitive target to bind to the herbicide- Give plants the ability to inactivate the herbicideHerbicide-‐resistant plants:Giving plants the ability to inactive the herbicide-Herbicide Bromoxynil-Resistance to bromoxynil (a photosystem II inhibitor)was obtained by expressing a bacterial (klebsiella ozaenae)nitrilase gene that encodes an enzyme that degrades this herbicideHerbicide-‐resistant plants:Reducing the ability of the herbicide- sensitive target to bind the herbicideHerbicide: Glyphosate (beRer known as Roundup) -Resistance to Roundup (an inhibitor of the enzyme EPSP involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis) was obtained by finding a mutant version of EPSP from E.coli that does not bind Roundup and expressing it in plants (soybeans, tobacco, petunia, tomato, potato and corn)-5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthesase (ESPS) is a chloroplast enzyme in the shikimate pathway and plays a key role in the synthesis of aromatic amino acids such as tyrosine and penylalanine

Herbicide-resistant plantsGiving plants the ability to inactivate the herbicide

• Herbicide: Bromoxynil• Resistance to bromoxynil (a photosytem II inhibitor) was

obtained by expressing a bacterial (Klebsiella ozaenae) nitrilase gene that encodes an enzyme that degrades this herbicide

Herbicide-resistant plants: Reducing the ability of the herbicide-sensitive target to bind to the

herbicide

• Herbicide: Glyphosate (better known as Roundup)• Resistance to Roundup (an inhibitor of the enzyme EPSP

involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis) was obtained by finding a mutant version of EPSP from E. coli that does not bind Roundup and expressing it in plants (soybean, tobacco, petunia, tomato, potato, and cotton)

• 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP) is a chloroplast enzyme in the shikimate pathway and plays a key role in the synthesis of aromatic amino acids such as tyrosine and phenylalanine

• This is a big money maker for Monsanto!

How to make a Roundup Ready Plant

Development of stress- and senescence-tolerant plants: genetic engineering of salt-resistant plants

• Overexpression of the gene encoding a Na+/H+ antiport protein which transports Na+ into the plant cell vacuole

• This has been done in Arabidopsis and tomato plants allowing them to survive on 200 mM salt (NaCl)

SUPER WEED A POTENTIAL THREAT

Controversies and Moratoriums associated with GM Crops in India –

• 2002 – Bt cotton introduced in India.

• 2006 – Activists filed a PIL against GM crops in the Supreme Court.

• 2010 – The then environmental minister Jairam Ramesh blocked the release of Bt

Brinjal until further notice owing to a lack of consensus among scientists and

opposition from brinjal-growing states. No objection certificates from states were

made mandatory for field trials.

• 2012 – Parliamentary standing committee on agriculture, in its 37th report asked

for an end to all GM field trials in the country.

• restarted.)

• 2013 July – New crop trials have been effectively on hold since late 2012, after a supreme court-appointed expert panel recommended suspension for 10 years until regulatory and monitoring systems could be strengthened. Though the SC panel suggested moratorium on GM trails, there was no official verdict from the Supreme Court on this issue.

• 2013 July – Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan put on hold all trials following SC panel suggestions.

• 2014 – Her successor, Veerappa Moili cleared the way for trails. (NB: Two of Manmohan Singh’s own environment ministers had stalled GM trials earlier, but Veerappa Moily took an opposite stand and the process of approving the one-acre field trials

• 2014 March – GEAC (UPA government) approved field trials for 11 crops, including maize, rice, sorghum, wheat, groundnut and cotton.

• 2014 July – 21 new varities of genetically modified (GM) crops such as rice, wheat, maize and cotton have been approved for field trials by the NDA government in July 2014.

• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) — consisting mostly of bio-technology supporters — rejected just one out of the 28 proposals up for consideration. Six proposals were rejected for want of more information.

• 2016: GEAC gave green signal to GM Mustard for field trial, but SC stayed the order and sought public opinion on the same.

• There are as many as 20 GM crops already undergoing trails at various stages.

Country has yet to approve commercial cultivation of a GM food cropThe only genetically modified cash crop under commercial cultivation in India is cotton.Bt Cotton• For the time being, the only genetically modified crop that is under cultivation in

India is Bt cotton which is grown over 10.8 million hectares. Bt cotton was first used in India in 2002.

Bt Brinjal• In 2007 the commercial release of Bt Brinjal, was , recommended which was

developed by Mahyco (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company) in collaboration with the Dharward University of Agricultural sciences and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. But the initiative was blocked by GEAC in 2010.

GM-mustard• Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 or DMH-11 is a genetically modified variety of mustard

developed by the Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants. If approved by the Centre, this will be the second GM crop, after Bt Cotton, and the first transgenic food crop to be allowed for cultivation in the country.

Biosafety evaluation of GE products: involves assessment for a) toxicity, b) carcinogenicity, c) allergenicity, d) nutritional effects, and e) any unintended effects. Environmental safety assessment involves a) the impact on non-target organisms,b) b) pollen mediated gene flow,c) c) and impact on biodiversity and environment. The safety of GE crops along these parameters has now been amply demonstrated by 30 years of research and 18 years of commercialization. The excessive time and financial costs of GE crop development, with the costs of regulation often being more than the costs of product development, discourage the public sector institutions.

POTENTIAL THREATS WITH GM •Bt crops may cause a number of potentially significant

environmental impacts.

•Two primary concerns with insecticide-producing crops are

the effects they may have on non-target, beneficial insects

• such as monarch butterflies, and the fact that widespread use

is likely to create resistance in insects that the Bt crops are

meant to control.

•Other potential problems include build-up of Bt in the soil,

with unknown long-term effects,

• crossbreeding with nearby weedy relatives or other crops, and

increased pesticide use in the long term.

The Seeds

•Act A draft Seeds Act of 2001 was being finalised on the basis of the recommendations of

Seed Policy Review Group. It would replace the existing Seeds Act of 1966 and Seed

(Control) Order of 1983.

• It proposes the establishment of a National Seeds Board and the compulsory registration

by the Board of any seed or planting material (produced in India or imported) that is

intended for sowing (planting).

•Any Indian firm that produces and /or imports seeds and planting material will be required

to declare whether such material is a product of genetic modification and incorporates

Genetic Use Restriction Technology (the so called ‘terminator technology’)65.

The Patents Act and Intellectual Property Rights

As a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), India is obliged to abide by the

provisions of the WTO’s agreement on trade related intellectual property rights

(TRIPS),

• which also cover the trade in biotechnology products and processes in all sectors of

biotechnology (medical/pharmaceutical, agricultural, industrial and environmental).

•In order to align Indian legislation with TRIPS, the Indian parliament amended the

earlier patents legislation by passing the Patents (second) Amendment Bill 1999 in

May 2002

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•The IPR covers the company’s GM-technology and thus any crop into which this

technology gets embedded, irrespective of whether or not the particular crop was

developed and patented by the company and irrespective of the origin of the

original crop variety and the traditional knowledge of farming and crop breeding

communities that has gone into its development.

•Propelled by the above concerns, and under pressure from a broad-based front of

stakeholders, the May 2002 amendment to the Indian Patents Act expressly forbids

the patenting of traditional knowledge and life forms.

• The Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST);

• The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of

Environment and Forestry (MoEF);

• The Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC) under DBT/MoST;

The structure and functioning of the regulatory edifice In India GM-crops are regulated by the following three-tier structure:

Initiative to reform the biosafety regulatory regime

The Swaminathan Taskforce’s Report recommends that • an autonomous Agricultural Biotechnology Regulatory Authority (ABRA) be

set up • pending the creation of an ABRA, (i) the GEAC should be split into two separate wings, one dealing with

transgenic crops and the other with transgenic medical and pharmaceutical products,

(ii) GEAC’s role be limited to ‘environmental clearance’, and the authority for deciding on the commercial release of GM-crops transferred to ICAR and MoA,

(iii) the RGCM should be authorised to grant approvals for open field testing for biosafety, while ICAR and the applicant company should be asked to conduct large-scale field trials, and (iv) the post-release monitoring of GM-crops be done by MoA and ICAR.

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• if “a transgene has been declared bio-safe, its derivatives need not always be evaluated for biosafety again“

• farmers’ and consumers’ organisations be invited to participate in the process of assessing GMcrops, but not other GM-concerned NGOs/CSOs, with the farmers’ and consumers’ organisations given complete information on the benefits and risks associated with GM crops

• before embarking on the development of any specific GM-crop, "the alternatives available for meeting the food and nutritional needs should be reviewed comprehensively and the export market should be kept in view”

• GM- foods and products be labelled as such, along the lines of the recommendations by the UN’s

Codex Alimentarius

• organic farming zones and agro-biodiversity sanctuaries be established to prevent GM-plants

from cross-pollinating non-GM plants,

• the impact of GM-feeds and GM-vaccines on milk, meat and eggs be studied

• the government creates special insurance schemes, provides venture capital for and promotes

public-private partnerships for the production and marketing of GM-seeds

• government agencies be created at the state and district levels for preventing the proliferation of

illegal GM-seeds

• a ‘single window information centre’ be created for providing information on all aspects of

bioethics and biosafety The two GM-concerned leading CSOs in India, Gene Campaign and

Greenpeace India, both of which were consulted by the Taskforce, have strongly questioned

several of its key recommendations

THANK YOU