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Mahesh

01/11/22 13:01 PM IST

Genetically modified Cotton gets a nod for environment release by GEAC

In News 
  • After the clearance for GM-Mustard crops for field trials, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is going to recommend an ‘environmental release’ of genetically modified (GM) cotton.
BG-II RRF 
  • Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex (BG-II RRF) is a transgenic cotton having three alien genes.
  • Two of the alien genes – cry1Ac and cry2Ab – were isolated from a soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. These genes have proteins that are harmful for American bollworm, spotted bollworm and tobacco caterpillar insect pests.
  • The third gene – cp4-epsps – was obtained from another soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumafaciens. Its inclusion makes the cotton crop “tolerant” to the harmful herbicide glyphosate, which does not distinguish between the crops and weeds.
  • The BG-II RRF cotton was developed by the American company Monsanto, which was acquired by Bayer in 2018.
  • It underwent biosafety research and field trials in 2012-13. The results of the trials were submitted to the GEAC in 2013. However, the American company withdrew the application seeking environmental clearance for the crop due to regulatory uncertainties and lack of government decisions.
GM Crops 
  • Genetically modified crops are crops that had their DNAs altered to include certain desirable traits.
  • The widely used GM soyabean, maize, cotton and canola are tolerant to herbicides and resistant to pest attacks.
  • Other common traits included in genetically modified crops are resistance to virus, resistance to drought and improved fruit and tuber quality.
Source- Business standard 

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