Understanding transgenics application

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Introduction

The crops that are developed through genetic engineering techniques are called transgenic crops. Transgenic crops are popularly known as transgenics or genetically modified (GM) crops. In transgenics, the target gene of one organism is inserted into a crop to obtain a desirable change in its physiology. The first transgenic crop was developed in cotton and commercialized as Bt cotton. The transgenic era started with the insertion of a soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringenesis gene into a cotton genotype, which showed resistance to the devastating cotton insect Helicoverpa armigera. The use of genetic engineering techniques in plant science has revolutionized agriculture, and it has shifted to a new era.

Earlier, about three decades ago, it was not possible to sequence genes and understand the biochemical and genetic mechanisms of action of genes, but now everybody is familiar with genetic tools and techniques. It is now possible to sequence genes and understand the proper physiology and mechanisms of crops by the use of genetic engineering techniques.

Since there are several controversies about the application of genetic engineering techniques in crop science, we should understand their proper application. Every technique has both positive and negative impacts depending on its use and application. Consumers are aware, and most people believe long-term use of transgenic products could harm our health. Natural and organic farming supported scientists and farmers who spoke out against transgenics, and they discard GM products because they raise questions about the products ' naturalness. They believe transgenic crops are unnatural and against the environment and soil; in the long term, they harm both our health and our environment. Thus, these crops should be discarded. For example, Monsanto released a maize variety that was introduced in Nepal, but Nepalese farmers rejected these seeds, and the government banned the seeds in 2013. This type of incident also happened in India.

Now the question arises, what is the use of GMOs? Shouldn't scientists work on GM crops? GM products have already created several controversies. Thus, we should think unbiasedly based on the facts and figures and public beliefs. Scientists should use genetic engineering techniques in the right way and at the right time. Scientists could again think about transgenic applications.

We know most consumers do not prefer transgenic products. Because transgenic mustard was developed by an Indian scientist, but he was unable to release this variety due to public pressure. It will be better to apply genetic engineering techniques differently. Genetic engineering techniques could be successfully applied to non-edible food crops. Non-edible food crops are those plants or crops that are not eaten by human beings. Such types of crops may be cotton, hemp, jute, flowers, timber timber-producing plants. It also includes agroforestry plants and fodder crops. In microbiology, genetic engineering techniques could be applied to grow plastic-degrading bacteria, compost-decomposing microorganisms.

Proper use of genetic engineering techniques in the above crops is not directly related to human health, and people would also support to development of such techniques. Growing transgenic cotton and hemp could be more beneficial to farmers because they are insect-resistant. Similarly, transgenics could be used to grow different types of flowers for business purposes. Better timber plants could be grown from these techniques, using genetic engineering techniques to produce plastic-degrading bacteria for environmental purposes.

Most of our edible crops are already facing several biotic and abiotic stresses, which are responsible for decreasing productivity. Scientists have been searching for techniques that could address the biotic stress, and they think transgenics could be a possible way. Hence, they developed several transgenic field crops in viz. cotton, rice, maize, brinjal, and mustard, etc. For example, golden rice is also a transgenic crop. It is believed that transgenics could help to mitigate the food insecurity problem to a certain level by minimizing loss due to insects. Thus, they use these techniques on different crops so that we can feed the world up to 2050 with limited land and resources.

Fig. Schematic diagram of a transgenic cotton crop 

The Nepalese government does not allow to cultivation of transgenic crops. Nepalese people think that transgenic crops may ruin and destroy the living flora and fauna of Nepal. However, Nepalese people consume transgenic products from the market unknowingly. People of Nepal consume popcorn brought from the USA.  But they do not know about it. 

Keywords: transcgencs, GMO, transgenic crop, genetic engineering, GM foods, Bt cotton

 

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