Biotechnology

Controversies

1. Playing God
2. Religious Issues
3. ethical issues raised
   1. Patenting of life
   2. IPR
   3. level of labeling on products
   4. control of the food supply
   5. the objectivity of the regulatory process
4. GM crops
   1. whether food produced from them is safe
      1. Allergic reaction
      2. whether the genes could transfer from the food into human cells, and
      3. whether the genes not approved for human consumption could outcross other crops
   2. on environment
5. risk of Superweeds

Bio-technology regulation in India

Implementation of biosafety procedures, rules and guidelines under Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and Rules 1989 to ensure safety from the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

A three tier mechanism comprising

• Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSC) at the Institute/ company;
• the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) in the Department of Biotechnology;
• Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) in the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoE&F)for granting approval for research and development activities on recombinant DNA products

Agricultural biotechnology

1. Agronomic  traits
   1. Insect resistance
   1. Herbicide tolerance
   1. Disease resistance
   1. Temperature tolerance
2. Improving Nutritional content
   1. Vitamin A – Rice
   1. Banana 21 project has worked to improve the nutrition in bananas to combat micronutrient deficiencies in Uganda