Explain genome editing technology and how does it differ from genetic modification?
Genome editing (also called gene editing) is a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organism’s DNA. These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome. Several approaches to genome editing have been developed. A well-known one is called CRISPR-Cas9, which is short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9.
How is gene editing different from GMO development?
- Genetically modified organisms (GMO) involves modification of the genetic material of the host by introduction of a foreign genetic material.
- In the case of agriculture, soil bacteria is the best mining source for such genes which are then inserted into the host genome using genetic engineering.
- For example, in case of cotton, introduction of genes cry1Ac and cry2Ab mined from the soil bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) allow the native cotton plant to generate endotoxins to fight pink bollworm naturally.
- The basic difference between genome editing and genetic engineering is that while the former does not involve the introduction of foreign genetic material, the latter does.
- In the case of agriculture, both the techniques aim to generate variants which are better yielding and more resistant to biotic and abiotic stress.
- Before the advent of genetic engineering, such variety improvement was done through selective breeding which involved carefully crossing plants with specific traits to produce the desired trait in the offspring.
Regulatory Issues
- GM crops have been a source of controversy across the world, with many environmentalists rejecting them due to bio safety concerns and inadequate evidence.
- In India, the introduction of genetically modified crops is a lengthy procedure involving numerous levels of scrutiny.
- Bt cotton is the only crop that has managed to get through the regulatory hurdles so far.
- Scientists in India and throughout the world have been quick to distinguish between genetically modified (GM) and genome-edited (GE) crops.
- They have pointed out that the latter has no foreign genetic material, making them indistinguishable from typical hybrids.
- Genome-edited crops and genetically modified crops have been lumped together in European Union nations.
Relatable laws
- In India, genetically modified organisms are regulated by a set of rules, guidelines, and policies backed by the “Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export, and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989” notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
- Aside from that, the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) 2017 National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research involving Human Participants, as well as the Biomedical and Health Research Control Bill, both imply regulation of the gene-editing process. This is particularly true when the phrase “modification, deletion, or removal of sections of heritable material” is used. However, the word “gene editing” is not mentioned at all.
How to structure:
- Give a brief intro about genome editing
- Explain in detail, mention the features of both
- Explain the differences
- Mention Latest advancements/India’s schemes
- Conclude
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