Genetically Modified Crops:
Meaning:
The crops in which one or many of its traits are altered or
enhanced through a process of genetic engineering known
as GM crops i.e. Bt. Cotton developed against cotton boll
worms.
Important Points:
• Bacillus thuringensis is a soil bacterium that produces
proteins lethal to insect larvae affecting the digestive
system of boll worms.
• The gene responsible for this effect is Cry-lAc.
• GM cotton is only crop permitted by Genetic Engineering
Approval Committee (GEAC) under Ministry of
Environment and Forestry first permitted on March, 2002.
• Bt. Cotton varieties developed by Mahyco: MECH-12,
MECH-162, MFCH-184 for Southern States and RCH-134,
RCH-138 suitable for Northern India.
• Mahyco collaborated with Monsanto to developed Bt.
Variety Bollgourd-1, using Cry -I Ac gene.
• Recently Bt. Variety developed as Bollgourd-ll, having both
genes of Cry I Ac and Cry 2 Ab gene.
History:
• First transgenic crop was: Bt. Tobacco (1987)
• Country having first position for transgenic plants is:USA
• Rank of India for transgenic plants is: Fourth
• The position of transgenic plants in world (in area):
Soyabean (> 60 %) > Maize > Cotton > Canola.
• Mostly GM traits are used as herbicides resistant traits
followed by quality improvements and insecticides
resistant traits.
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