Target 140+ Part 2 Lecture 31: GMO V/S Transgenic Plants
Target 140+ Part 2 Lecture 31: GMO V/S Transgenic Plants
Target 140+ Part 2 Lecture 31: GMO V/S Transgenic Plants
▪ GMO
− GMOs refer to any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic
engineering techniques. This can include plants, animals, and microorganisms.
▪ Transgenic Plants
− Transgenic plants, on the other hand, specifically refer to plants that have had genes from
another species introduced into their DNA using genetic engineering techniques.
▪ Gene-edited plants are created using a newer technique called CRISPR-Cas9. This allows
scientists to precisely edit the DNA of a plant without introducing genes from another
species
GM Mustard
• GEAC recently approved commercial cultivation o genetically modified mustard.
• DMH-11 (Dhara Mustard Hybrid) is a genetically modified (GM) mustard Hybrid.
• GM mustard is the country's first genetically modified food crop
• It used a "Barnase" gene and "Barster" gene isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens
World's First Genetically Modified Rubber: Assam
• It is developed by Rubber Research Institute and it was planted in Assam.
• It is the first of its kind developed exclusively for this region, and is expected to grow well
under the climatic conditions of the mountainous northeastern region.
• GM rubber has additional copies of the gene MnSOD, or manganese-containing
superoxide dismutase, inserted in the plant, which is expected to tide over the severe cold
conditions during winter in the northeast.
Responsible for bringing out manuals/ guidelines specifying procedures for con- duct of GMO
research,
Composition:
• Chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MOEF&CC and co-chaired by a
representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
• Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the
areas indicated above.
Functions:
• Under the EPA 1986 "Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous
Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989"( Rules, 1989), GEAC is
responsible for appraisal of activities.
• It is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered
(GE) organisms
• It evaluates research into GM plants and recommends, or disapproves, their release into
farmer fields.
Serve as a nodal point for interfacing with other Regulatory Committees regarding ongoing
research within the institutions.
Genome-Edited Plants
• Recently, the Government has allowed genome-edited plants without the cumbersome
GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) regulation of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal
Committee (GEAC).(April 2022)
• Government has exempted Site Directed Nuclease (SDN) 1 and 2 genomes from Rules 7-
11 of the Environment Protection Act, thus allowing it to avoid a long process for approval
of GM crops through GEAC
• Institutional BioSafety Committee (IBSC) under the Environment Protection Act would
now be entrusted to certify that the genome edited crop is devoid of any foreign DNA