Recently, the Supreme Court questioned the Centre on why reports from the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of genetically modified (GM) crops were not considered by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).
About GM Mustard:
- The transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 has been developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) at Delhi University.
Hybridisation:
- Hybridisation involves crossing two genetically dissimilar plant varieties that can even be from the same species.
- The first-generation (F1) offspring from such crosses tend to have higher yields than what either parent can individually give.
- Such hybridisation isn’t easy in mustard, as its flowers have both female (pistil) and male (stamen) reproductive organs, making the plants largely self-pollinating.
- Since the eggs of one plant cannot be fertilized by the pollen grains from another, it limits the scope for developing hybrids.
- This is unlike in cotton, maize, or tomato, where hybrid development can be achieved through simple emasculation or the physical removal of anthers.
How was hybridisation achieved in mustard?
- Hybridization in mustard was achieved by genetic modification (GM).
- Researchers at Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) have created the hybrid mustard DMH-11 by incorporating two alien genes isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
- The first gene (‘barnase’) codes for a protein that impairs pollen production and renders the plant into which it is incorporated male-sterile.
- This male-sterile plant is then crossed with a fertile parental line containing the second ‘barstar’ gene that blocks the action of the barnase gene.
- The resultant F1 progeny is both high-yielding and also capable of producing seed/ grain, thanks to the barstar gene in the second fertile line.
Barnase-barstar GM technology:
- The scientists at CGMCP have utilized the barnase-barstar GM technology to establish a robust and viable hybridization system in mustard.
- This system was used to develop DMH-11 by crossing a popular Indian mustard variety ‘Varuna’ (the barnase line) with an East European ‘Early Heera-2’ mutant (barstar).
- DMH-11 is claimed to have shown an average 28% yield increase over Varuna in contained field trials carried out by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
What are genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
- A GMO is an organism whose genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally through mating or natural recombination.
- This manipulation is typically done through genetic engineering techniques that involve the insertion, deletion, or modification of genes within the DNA of the organism.
- GMOs can be found in various fields, including agriculture, medicine, and industry.
- In agriculture, genetically modified crops are developed to exhibit traits such as resistance to pests, diseases, or herbicides, as well as improved nutritional content or longer shelf life.
- Some common examples of genetically modified crops include soybeans, corn, and cotton.
About Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):
- The GEAC functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and has been tasked with the appraisal of proposals relating to the “release” of GM organisms and products (ordinarily considered hazardous) into the environment.
- Its responsibilities include reviewing applications for field trials, large-scale cultivation, and the import/export of genetically modified organisms.
- The committee considers factors such as the safety of the genetic modifications, potential ecological consequences, and the impact on human and animal health.
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