Source: IE
Context:
India’s journey in crop biotechnology has been slow with traditional genetically modified (GM) crops, but genome editing (GE) is emerging as a game-changer. While GM crops introduce foreign genes, GE precisely edits a plant’s own genome, offering higher yields, better nutrition, and disease resistance without transgenic concerns.
Key Developments:
Limited Progress on GM Crops
- India’s genetically modified (GM) crop adoption has largely been restricted to Bt cotton.
- No new GM crop technology has been approved for commercialisation since 2006.
Emergence of Genome Editing (GE)
- Indian scientists are now making headway with genome-edited crops, supported by research initiatives and government funding.
- Notable trials include GE rice lines (Samba Mahsuri and MTU-1010) that show:
- Up to 19% yield increase for one line.
- Better adaptation to saline or alkaline soils.
- A GE mustard line is under multi-location testing and could be released by 2026.
How GE Works
- Uses CRISPR-Cas systems (Cas9/Cas12a) to precisely edit native plant genes.
- Example: Editing the Gn1a gene in rice reduces its activity → increases cytokinin → higher grain yield.
- GE plants can be transgene-free, meaning Cas proteins are removed in later generations.
Policy and Regulatory Support
- GE plants are exempt from strict biosafety regulations applied to GM crops, as they do not carry foreign DNA.
- Approvals are handled at the Institutional Biosafety Committee level, simplifying the process.
- The government has allocated significant funding to boost GE research through ICAR and other institutions.
Target Crops and Genes
- ICAR has identified 178 genes in 24 field crops and 43 genes in 16 horticultural crops for potential genome editing.
- GE aims to improve yield, quality, stress tolerance, and climate resilience across key agricultural and horticultural crops.
Domestic Innovation
- Indian scientists have developed a miniature genome editing tool using TnpB proteins, which is smaller, cheaper, and can bypass intellectual property limitations compared to standard CRISPR tools.
Strategic Significance
- GE allows higher productivity, nutritional improvement, and resilience while avoiding public resistance linked to GM crops.
- India could overcome the stagnation of the GM era, positioning itself as a leader in safe, next-generation crop biotechnology.
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops
- Definition: Organisms whose DNA has been altered by inserting foreign genes from other species.
- Method: Traditional genetic engineering (transgenic approach).
- Example: Bt cotton (gene from bacteria inserted to confer pest resistance).
- Regulation: Strict oversight; considered transgenic and often faces higher regulatory barriers.
- Impact: Introduces traits not naturally present in the plant’s gene pool.
Genome Editing (GE)
- Definition: Precise modification of an organism’s own DNA without necessarily introducing foreign genes.
- Method: Technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, or ZFNs to add, delete, or replace specific genes.
- Example: Editing rice for drought tolerance by modifying its existing genes.
- Regulation: Often considered differently from GM crops; regulatory frameworks are evolving.
- Impact: Can achieve desired traits while maintaining the species’ natural gene pool.
Key Difference: GM crops usually involve foreign DNA, while genome editing modifies existing DNA with precision.
