BIOSAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO GM CROPS

Presented byMonika HajongPh.D Scholar

CPGS, CAU, UMIAM.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)GMOs are organisms (microbe, plant or animal) produced by gene transfer

techniques.

This technology is called ‘gene technology’, or ‘rDNA technology’ or ‘genetic engineering’ and the resulting organism is ‘genetically modified’, ‘genetically engineered’ or ‘transgenic’.

Major producers of transgenic crops - USA, Argentina, Brazil, India, Canada, China, Paraguay, South Africa.

Bt cotton is grown in six states, i.e., Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Brief History of GM CropsYear

sPioneer workers

Discovery

1972 Paul Berg First  rDNA molecule (DNA from a monkey virus with that of the lambda virus)

1973 Herbert Boyer & Stanley Cohen

First genetically modified organism (GMO)

1973 Rudolf Jaenisch  Transgenic mouse by introducing foreign DNA into its embryo (world’s first transgenic animal)

1978 Genentech Announced the production of genetically engineered human insulin.

1983 Michael W. Bevan, Richard B. Flavell & Mary-Dell Chilton.

First GE plant (Tobacco-Agrobacterium transformed with an antibiotic resistance gene - tissue culture techniques)

1987 Insect-resistant (tobacco) plants by incorporating genes that produced insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis

1992 China was the first country to commercialize transgenic plants, introducing a virus-resistant tobacco.

2000 Ingo Potrykus Vitamin A-enriched golden rice - first plant developed with increased nutrient value

Years Discovery1990 Virus resistant papaya developed in response to a Papaya ringspot virus (PRV)

1994 Calgene approved for commercial release of Flavr Savr tomato (first GM food)

1994 E. U. approved tobacco engineered resistant to herbicide bromoxynil, (first GE crop commercialized in Europe)

1995 Insect resistant Potato approved for release in USA

1996 Approval granted to commercially grow 8 transgenic crops and one flower crop (carnation) in 6 countries plus the EU.

2002 Commercial cultivation of Bt cotton (Cry1Ac) - first transgenic crop in the country was approved by GOI (MECH-12, MECH-162 & MECH-184)-MAHYCO).

2005 Golden Rice 2

India - area under GM crops were 11.0 million hectares (Cotton) in 2013

BIOTECH CONSORTIUM INDIA LIMITED, NEW DELHI: Transgenic crops approved for commercial use

Crop Uses CountriesArgentine canola Herbicide tolerance & improved protection against weeds Canada, Us, Japan, Australia

Carnation Increased shelf life by delayed ripening, modified flower colour & herbicide tolerance

Australia, European Union

Chicory Herbicide tolerance, improved protection against weeds & higher yields EU

Cotton Improved insect protection, herbicide tolerance & improved protection against weeds

Japan, Australia, US, China, Mexico, South Africa, Argentina, India, Indonesia.

Flax Herbicide tolerance, antibiotic resistance & improved weed protection Canada, US

Green pepper Virus resistance China

Maize Herbicide tolerance, improved weed protection, resistance against insects & restored fertility of seeds.

Canada, Japan, US, Argentina, EU, South Africa, Philippines

Melon Delayed ripening

Polish Canola Herbicide tolerance & improved weed control Canada

Potato Improved protection from insect &leaf roll virus US, Canada

Rice Herbicide resistance US

Soybean Improved weed control & herbicide tolerance, increased cooking quality US, Argentina, Japan, Canada, Uruguay, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa

Squash Resistance against watermelon mosaic virus & zucchini yellow mosaic virus US

Sugar beet Herbicide tolerance US, Canada

Sunflower Herbicide tolerance Canada

Tobacco Herbicide tolerance US

Tomato Improved shelf life, taste, colour & texture, improved insect resistance, virus resistance

US, Mexico, Japan, China

Source: http://www.agbios.com/

Bt cotton hybrids approved for commercial cultivation in IndiaZone Company Hybrid

North Mahyco, MumbaiRasi seeds, Attur, Tamil NaduAnkur seeds, NagpurNaziveedu seeds, HyderabadJ.K. Agri seeds, HyderabadNath seeds, Aurangabad

MRC-6304, MRC-6026, MRC-6029RCH-134, RCH-317, RCH-308, RCH-314Ankur-2534NCS-913, NCS-138JKCH-1947NCEH-6R

North and Central Mahyco, MumbaiAnkur seeds, Nagpur

MRC-6301Ankur-661

Central Rasi seeds, Attur, Tamil NaduAnkur seeds, NagpurMahyco, Mumbai,Ajeet seeds, AurangabadKrishidhan seeds, Jalna

RCH-144, RCH-138, RCH-118Ankur-09MRC-7301, BGII and MRC-7326BGIIACH-11-2BGIIKDCHH-441 BGII

Central and South Mahyco, Mumbai,Rasi seeds, Attur, Tamil NaduNaziveedu seeds, Hyderabad

MECH-12, MECH-162, MECH-184RCH-2NCS-145 Bunny, NCH-207 Mallika

South Mahyco, Mumbai,

Rasi seeds, Attur, Tamil Nadu

Ganga Kaveri, HyderabadEmergent seeds Ltd., HyderabadNaziveedu seeds, HyderabadNath seeds, AurangabadJ.K. Agri sedds, HyderabadAjeet seeds, AurangabadPrabhat Seeds Ltd., Hyderabad

MRC-6322, MRC-6918, MRC-7351 BGII, MRC-720BGII, MRC-7347BGIIRCH-20, RCH-368, RCH-111 BGI, RCH-371BGI, RCH-708 BG1G-209, GK-207Brahma Bt, NCS-913NCEH-3RJK-Durga, JKCH-99ACH-33-1BtPCH-2270KDCHH-9632, VICH5

Source: DBT, Govt. of India

Transgenic crops developed in public sector in regulatory field trials

Crop Organization TraitBrinjal IARI, New Delhi Insect Resistance

Castor Directorate of Oilseeds Research (DOR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad

Insect Resistance

Sorghum National Research Centre for Sorghum (NRCS),Hyderbad

Insect Resistance

Groundnut ICRISAT, Hyderabad Fungal disease resistance

Potato Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Shimla Leaf blight disease resistance

Rice IARI, New DelhiTamil Nadu Agricultural UniversityMahyco, Mumbai

Fungal diseases resistance and drought tolerance

Tomato IARI, New Delhi Virus disease resistance

Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (http://www.isaaa.org)

Why Bio-safety Concerns ?

Due to Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the development of GMOs there

have been conflicting reports on the benefits of GMOs, risks, apprehensions,

environmental concerns and social concerns for the release of GMOs.

Transgenic crop contains a gene or genes of a different species artificially

inserted in its genome, which may come from an unrelated plant or from a

completed different species.

A. Bio-safety of human and animal health

1. Safety of source organism and genesa. safety of inserted DNA (danger from eating of foreign DNA in GM foods)

c. safety of antibiotic resistance marker [selectable markers – neomycin phosphotransferase (npt II) and Hygromycin (hpt).

- reduce the effectiveness of antibiotic to fight disease when these antibiotics are taken with the meal

2. Safety issue of newly developed product a. potential for toxicity and allergenicityc. changes in nutritional level

Major Concerns Of GM food & GM crops -

Toxic and allergenic effects of some compounds.Compounds Role in plant defense Toxic effects AllergenicityLectins Fungus and insect resistance Weight loss and hyper growth of

small intestine in ratsAllergenic

Proteinase inhibitors

Insect resistance Pancreas enlargement, hyperplasia and adenoma

Allergenic

Thionins Antifungal Toxic on intravenous injection, nontoxic orally

-

Phytoalexins Fungus and insect resistance Toxicity problem -

Virus coat protein

Virus resistance Toxicity not reported -

Cry protein (Starlink corn), 2002

Insect resistance - Allergenic

B. Labeling of GM and non GM Food

With concerns among the public, keeping GM and non GM products separately with appropriate labeling, also through colour codes for illiterate people.

C. Ecological concerns1. Creation of weediness: Gene flow due to cross pollination for the traits

involving resistance can result in development of tolerant/resistant weeds

that are difficult to eradicate.

2. Effect on Biodiversity:GM crops could lead to erosion of biodiversity and 'pollute' gene pools of

endangered plant species.

Genetic erosion has occurred as the farmers have replaced the use of traditional varieties with monocultures.

D. Environmental Concerns

Effect of transgenic plants on population dynamics of target and non

target pests

Secondary pest problems

Insect sensitivity

Evolution of new insect biotypes

Environmental influence on gene expression

Development of resistance in insect population

Development of resistance to herbicide

Gene Escape into the Environment

Accidental cross breeding between GMO plants and traditional varieties

through pollen transfer can contaminate the traditional local varieties with

GMO genes resulting in the loss of traditional varieties of the farmers.

Transgenic herbicide-tolerant rapeseed (Brassica napus) in the UK, showed

that the gene flow rates through cross pollination ranged between 0.0156%

and 0.0038% at 200 m and 400 m, respectively.

E. Public Attitude

Consumer response depends on perceptions about risks and benefits of

genetically modified foods.

In order to maximize the trust, it is essential that relevant and reliable

information about the genetically modified food is communicated to the

consumers and stake holders.

The media, individuals, scientists and administrators, politicians and NGO

have the responsibility to educate the people about the benefits of GM foods.

F. Socio economic and ethical consideration

Potential benefits to the consumers and farmers

Due to increasing seed market, the developing countries may get dependent

on few suppliers.

GURT: Genetic Use Restriction Technologies.

India has totally banned the use of GURT in plant variety for registration

under PPV & FRA, 2001.

Regulatory Mechanism:

Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Ministry of Environment & Forests

(MoEF) are two apex regulatory bodies.

Rules have been notified by MoEF in 1989 under Environmental Protection

Act, 1986 (EPA).

Guidelines for safety have been issued by the DBT in 1990 covering research in

biotechnology, field trials and commercial applications.

Presently, there are six competent authorities for implementation of regulations and guidelines in the country:

i. Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RDAC)

ii. Review Committee of Genetic Manipulation (RCGM)

iii. Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), (apex bodies)

iv. Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSC) attached to every organization

engaged in rDNA research

v. State Biosafety Coordination Committees (SBCC) and

vi. District Level Committees (DLC)

Bio-safety and Cartagena Protocol:

The Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety is the first international regulatory

framework for bio-safety, negotiated under the aegis of the Convention on

Biological Diversity (CBD).

The Protocol was adopted on 29th January 2000 and entered into force

from September 11, 2003.

What happens when GM foods are traded internationally?

Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) - FAO/WHO intergovernmental body

responsible for developing the standards, codes of practice, guidelines and

recommendations that constitute the Codex Alimentarius, meaning the

international food code.

Codex developed principles for the human health risk analysis of GM foods in 2003.

Conclusions GMOs are emerging as very important tools to solve several

current problems; however bio-safety is an equally important concern.

Bio-safety is important not only from the safe product

development point of view but also for safe utilization of the

technology.

No technology is 100% risk free.