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GM seeds debate
Why is it in News?
- Possibility of mass sowing of GM seeds for Maize, Soybean, mustard brinjal and herbicide tolerant (Ht) cotton
- Part of sowing agitation by shetkari Sanghatana
More on news
- Genetic Engineering – introduction of foreign gene into seeds to get desired results
- Foreign gene could be from a plant, an animal or even a soil bacterium.
- Bt cotton
(1) only GM crop that is allowed in India
(2) aims at common pest pink bollworm
(3) foreign gene from soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) – develop protein toxic to bollworm
- Herbicide tolerant (Ht) cotton
(1) foreign gene from another soil bacterium
(2) aim to develop resistance to common herbicide glyphosate.
- Bt Brinjal – additional gene to resist attacks of fruit and shoot borer
- Legal side in India
(1) Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is apex body for approval for commercial GM crops
(2) 2002 – approved Bt cotton
(3) Punishment for unapproved GM crop - jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Environmental Protection Act ,1989.