GM Crops Information SharingNeeds and Challenges
Dr. T. R. Sharma
Genoinformatics Lab
National Research Center on Plant Biotechnology
IARI, New Delhi-110012
www.nrcpb.org Email: trsharma@nrcpb.org
Need of Information Sharing ?
As per Cartagena Protocol : Information sharing about GMOs
is essential for:
• the trans boundary movement of GMOs
• effective management & transfer of GMOs across borders.
• to harmonize the policies in the region
• to put in place the legal and regulatory systems
• to define principles of risk assessment and management
• to harmonize administrative functions
Sharing specific info
Transgene Construction
Sharing specific info
Plant Transformation – DNA Delivery
microprojectile bombardment
“biolistics” or “gene gun”
tiny DNA-coated particles are
shot into plant cells
versatile method
complex DNA integration
patterns: tandem arrays of
fragmented molecules
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
natural property of
Agrobacterium to transfer DNA
to host plant cells is exploited to
introduce genes of interest
difficult with cereal crops
simple DNA integration patterns
Sharing specific info
Plant Transformation – Target Cells
All Crop Transformation Protocols Deliver
DNA to Plant Cells in Tissue Culture
Tissue cultures allow regeneration of
fertile plants from single cells
Large number of target cells available
for DNA delivery in a compact form
(callus)
Establishment, maintenance and plant
regeneration is labor intensive
Methods limited to a few genotypes,
usually not commercial varieties
Can introduce undesirable mutations
Sharing specific info
Plant Transformation – Selection
•At best only 1 in 1000 cells integrate
delivered DNA
tissue culture cells
under selection
•Transformed cells (events) are marked by
co-introducing gene that provides
resistance to selective agents
•Transformed cells are selected by killing
non-transformed cells with selective agent.
Three main types of selective agents:
•antibiotics
•herbicides
•plant growth regulators
Selectable markers assist in following
inheritance of transgenes.
Herbicide Leaf Paint Assay
transgenic non-transgenic
resistant
susceptible
Adoption of Bt Cotton in India
Year
Area (ha)
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
44,500
100,000
500,000
Area under Bt cotton in India
Biosaftey Concerns Related to GMOs
Major Concerns –GM Food & GM crops
¾ Bio-safety of human and animal health
¾ Labeling GM and non-GM food
¾ Antibiotic resistance genes in GM food
¾ Environmental concerns
¾ Gene transfer
¾ Effects on bio-diversity
¾ Public awareness
¾ Socio-economic issues
Regulation and Implementation of GMOs
in India
¾ Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RDAC)
¾ Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC)
¾ Review Committee in General Manipulation (RCGM)
¾ Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC)
¾ State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC)
Sharing specific info
www.nrcpb.org
GM Crop Database
Objectives
•Retrieval, storage and management of data on
biosafety of GMOs
•To develop a dedicated Web site on GMOs
Relational Diagram Showing Relationship Among Different Databases
www.nrcpb.org
Click here to
access GM
crop database
GM Crop Database Home Page
GM Crop Database Home Page
GM Crop Database Home Page
GM Crop Database Home Page
Click on
About
About the Project Web Page
Funding Agency Web Page
Ministry of Environment -Home Page
Funding Agency Web Page
Global Environment Facility Home Page
Funding Agency Web Page
World Bank Home Page
Related Links Web Page
Statutory Committee Web Page
Contact Us Web Page
GM Crop Search Database Interface
Transgenic Line Query Interface
Transgenic Line Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Transgene Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Click for
Bt Line
Info
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Transgene Query Interface
Click for
biosafety data
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Transgene-Crop-Promoter Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Promoter Info Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Developer Institution Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Current status of information stored in transgenics
database
Crop
Cotton
Number of
transgenic line
Number of
genes
Number of
promoter
Developer
135*
4**
1***
20
4^
5^^
2^^^
1
Brinjal
-
-
-
-
Soybean
-
-
-
-
Tomato
-
-
-
-
Corn
-
-
-
Rice
2 ^^^^
*58 Bt cotton hybrids approved for commercial planting in India till date,
rest are released for field trials in different zones.
**(cry1Ac,cry1Ab,cry2Ab,Vip3A)
***(CaMV 35S)
^ (SGR1, SGR2, LLRICE06, LLRICE62)
^^(Psy, crtI, lyc, Zea mays psy, Bar)
^^^(Ubi-1 promoter, GT1 promoter)
^^^^(cry1F,cry1X)
Continued…….
Number of records in soil microflora, environmental
concern and health concern database
Name of Sub-Database
Number of records
Soil microflora
10
Environmental concern
9
Health concern
9
These records represent effect of transgenes viz. Cry1Ac,
Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab, Vip3A, Psy, CrtI, Lcy, Zea mays psy, Bar
gene on environment, health and soil microflora.
GM Publication Query Interface
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Result Page for the Query Submitted
Current status of information stored in
GM-Publication Database
Total number of records = 526
Year
Biosafety & IPR Issues
Food & Feed
Risks & Benefits
Environ & Health Concern
Bt
Cotton
Rice
Soybean
Brinjal
tomato
Corn
Soil Microflora
Selectable Marker
Others
2006
2
6
7
28
-
2005
14
5
6
6
7
4
5
15
4
7
15
2
3
3
2004
3
10
4
6
10
2
2
25
0
7
1
8
1
4
2003
5
7
10
10
13
6
1
12
1
8
1
8
5
8
2002
3
6
8
3
4
6
3
3
0
2
0
4
1
5
2001
4
5
8
8
5
5
4
3
0
3
1
3
0
9
2000 1999
7
2
5
1
3
1
4
1
8
3
6
0
1
2
6
6
0
0
2
3
1
0
3
1
1
1
9
4
1998 1997
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
3
1
0
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
5
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
2
1
Total
41
39
41
39
54
30
22
70
11
46
50
29
12
45
Current status of information stored in GM Publication
Database
Summary of Records in the Database
Information
Number of records
Crops
3
Cotton Lines
135
Transgene
9
Promoter
3
Soil microflora
10
Environmental concern
9
Health concern
9
Developer Institution
21
Review Articles
379
Research Papers
88
Biosafety and IPR issues
41
Other Publications
144
Other databases related to GMOs
BCH – The Biosafety Clearing- House – an informationExchange mechanism established under the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety is playing an important role in
assisting the exchange of information.
DATABASE NAME
GMO RES COM Database
AG BIOTECH INFONET
TRANSGENIC CROPS
AGBIOS
ICGEB
WEB ADDRESS
www.versailles.inra.fr/europe/gmorescom/index.php
www.biotech-info.net
http://cls.casa.colostate.edu/Transgenic crops/)
www.agbios.com
www.icgeb.org
GM CROP DATABASE
http://203.122.19.19/gmdb/gmdbhome.html
CROPLIFE INTERNATIONAL
DATABASE
http://croplife.intraspin.com
Contd.
SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
DATABASE
http://www.scidev.net
ESSENTIAL SCIENCE INDICATORS
http://www.esi-topics.com
AGBIOTECHNET
http://www.agbiotechnet.com
GMO COMPASS
http://www.gmo-compass.org
INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR
BIOTECHNOLOGY
http://www.nbiap.vt.edu
INTERNATIONAL PORTAL ON FOOD
SAFETY, ANIMAL & PLANT HEALTH
www.ipfsaph.com/En/default.jsp
PATENT LENS
www.bios.net/patentlens/simple.cgi
ALLERMATCH
http://www.allermatch.org
GMO METHODS DATABASE
http://biotech.jrc.it/home/ict/methodsdatabase.htm
GM CONTAMINATION REGISTER
http://www.gmcontaminationregister.org
www.versailles.inra.fr/europe/gmorescom/index.php
•European site
•GMO Biosafety Research
•Information on risk of GMO to environment,agriculture,human and animal health
•Provides facility for browsing and searching database
www.biotech-info.net
•Provides categorized publication on GMOs
•Provides search engine to search about biosafety
•Highlights on general discussion and opinion on GM food
(http://cls.casa.colostate.edu/Transgenic crops/)
•Colorado state university, USA
•Provides news update about transgenic crops,
•Got certificate of excellence for providing educational materials on website
www.agbios.com
•Canadian company
•dedicated to provide public policy, regulatory and risk assessment expertise
for products of biotechnology
•Offers access to database of safety information on all GM plants
•Provides latest crop biotech news
www.icgeb.org
•ICGEB,New Delhi
•Have very good Biosafety bibliographic database.
•This site provides global information about GMOs like area of biotech crops and countries
involved and information on
risk assessment related to environment, health etc.
http://croplife.intraspin.com
•It is a database of published papers and reviews demonstrating the benefits and
safety implications associated with use of agricultural biotechnology products
•Offer different options for searching for information on biotech crops
http://www.agbiotechnet.com
•Leading database on agricultural biotechnology and Biosafety
information
•Provides categorized search on each topic related to biosafety
http://www.gmo-compass.org
•It is an online information database, which contains every GMO approval
& application submitted in the European Union
•Information on the food and feed produced from the respective GM plant
http://www.nbiap.vt.edu
• It is a National Resource of USA in Agbiotech Information
• provides information resources to support the use of agricultural biotechnology products
• provides database of US and International Field Tests of GMOs, database of GMOs
deregulated in the US and database of international Commercialized GMOs.
www.ipfsaph.com/En/default.jsp
• Provides good papers and information on various topics mainly risk analysis,
Biotechnology/GMOs, Food allergies etc.
• Many countries are involved in this.
• It facilitates trade in food and agricultural products and deals with food safety, animal and
plant health.
http://www.allermatch.org
•This website has been constructed through a joint effort of the Institute of Food Safety
and Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre in
Wegeningen, The Netherlands.
• It advises national and international authorities on the safety of genetically engineered
foods and feed.
• Allermatchtm provides three databases of sequences of known allergenic proteins
• Allermatchtm is a unique website where you can compare the amino acid sequence of
a protein of interest with sequences of allergenic proteins.
•It is an European site.
•Task of the project is to identify, develop and promote the use of efficient and appropriate DNA and protein-based analytical
methods for the detection and quantification of genetically modified organisms.
•The Database has been designed to allow direct and user-friendly access to information regarding methods of GMO analysis
•The database is organized into three sections: General information on the GMO and the corresponding method, essential
technical information on the method, specific information on the proficiency of the method and its validation status.
•GeneWatch UK and Greenpeace International have launched this joint initiative to record all incidents of contamination
arising from the intentional or accidental release of genetically modified (GM) organisms.
• It also includes illegal plantings of GM crops and the negative agricultural side-effects that have been reported.
• This site is intended to be a resource for individuals, public interest groups and governments. The register can be searched
to see where, when and how contamination has taken place.
Challenges in information sharing
•Most of the information are scattered across the www
•Great Challenge to develop a comprehensive DB
•Information on long term effects of GMOs- Not available
•Scientific community and private institutes
do not share info easily.
•Generation of information on possible effects of GMO
has to be expedited.
•Dissemination of info in regional languages and local dialects
will take lot of resources.
Conclusions
A comprehensive and detailed
database of the GM crops (and
concerns related to that) released or
to be released in India in future would
be highly essential for the success
and spread
of GM crops in the
country & for harnessing the fruits of
modern biotechnology.
Genoinformatics Lab, NRCPB- Computational Facility
Acknowledgements
Director, NRCPB
--Keerti Srivastava – RA (upto July 2006)
Sangeeta Singh – SRF
Ajay Kumar - RA
Financial Assistance
Ministry of Env. & Forest, GOI
GEF- World Bank