HUNDREDS OF INSTITUTIONS WORKING ON GENETIC ENGINEERING IN INDIA
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Genetic engineering (also called genetic modification) is a process that uses laboratory-based technologies to alter the DNA makeup of an organism. This may involve changing a single base pair (A-T or C-G), deleting a region of DNA or adding a new segment of DNA. Genetic engineering aims to modify the genes to enhance the capabilities of the organism beyond what is normal. Ethical controversy surrounds the possible use of both of these technologies in plants, nonhuman animals, and humans.
Genetic Engineering is a fast-growing area in the country and at present, there are around 300 institutions in the public and private sectors which are working on research programmes relevant to important sectors including agriculture.
The Government is making concerted efforts to promote and strengthen this area by providing research facilities and supporting research programmes covering both basic and applied aspects in the fields of agriculture, floriculture, fisheries and animal sciences.
The Government had earlier set up three Genetic Engineering Units in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Presently, a Centre for Genetic Engineering and Strain Manipulation is being supported at Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. The Government has also established a National Centre for Plant Genome Research in New Delhi to work in the area of plant genomics. In addition, Centres for Plant Molecular Biology were established at seven national institutions and universities to promote plant molecular biology research including the application of genetic engineering for crop improvement. There are many other general universities, state agricultural universities, and national agricultural research institutions which have developed fairly good competence for undertaking research in this field.
The Government is supporting research programmes on the application of genetic engineering techniques for improving the productivity of our important crops by reducing their losses due to biotic and abiotic stresses, heterosis breeding and improving their nutritional quality. In the area of animal sciences efforts are being made for the use of genetic engineering techniques to develop suitable transgenic animals, vaccines and animal feed, while in the fisheries area, programmes is being pursued for developing transgenic fish for various purposes.
In West Bengal, Bose Institute, Kolkata; Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Kalyani; and Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur are being supported for developing transgenic rice resistant to salinity & drought, tungro viral disease and improved mustard respectively.