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Biotechnology
Gene leakage
@Jyotika_Sood Issue Date: Dec 15, 2010
A BACTERIUM, which the biotech industry uses as a vehicle to insert foreign genes in plants, can alter the genetic makeup of other life forms like fungi in the environment, shows a research by UK scientists. This is a way, apart from cross pollination, modified genes could escape into the environment, said the researchers. They call for considering the finding during the risk assessment of bacteria-mediated genetically modified (GM) plants.
Stop replication
Issue Date: Aug 15, 2010
EVERY criminal has a weak spot. And so does the virus that attacks silkworms.
PM qualifies Bt brinjal moratorium
Issue Date: Mar 31, 2010
Prime minister Manmohan Singh has supported the moratorium on Bt brinjal by the Union minister of state for environment, Jairam Ramesh. Singh qualified his support by saying the period of the moratorium will be decided by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC); the committee would also resolve the conflict among scientists on allowing commercial production of the genetically modified (GM) crop.
Something for GM rallyists
Issue Date: Apr 30, 2010
THE seed giant Monsanto has admitted pests have developed resistance to Bt crops introduced in India. A news story published in Science on March 20, wrote Monsanto “detected unusual survival” of pink bollworms that fed on Bt cotton. Pushpa M Bhargava stated “this should be an eye opener”.
Billed to confuse
Issue Date: Mar 15, 2010
If the nationwide furore over Bt brinjal was driven by the fear of unsafe food being pushed down the throat, the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (brai) bill goes a step further to silence all opposition. The bill will bring about changes in regulating the research, transport, import, manufacture and use of genetically modified (GM) products in the country.
'Microbes can be patented'
Issue Date: Jun 15, 2009
Mashelkar report says modified organisms are intellectual property
THE expert group on patent law headed by R A Mashelkar has recommended that microbes like bacteria, fungi and virus should be patented if they have been modified. The committee has also said India cannot limit its patents to new chemical substances in pharmaceutical products. The recommendations were submitted to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry in early April.
Biosafety v global trade
US pitched against EU The US government has backed biotech companies, while European countries have reservations about transgenic crops--largely due to the presence of Green parties and strong consumer rights groups. Member states France, Greece, Hungary and Austria have banned cultivation of two GM maize varieties on grounds of safety, leading to a confrontation.Following rules doesn't pay
Issue Date: Apr 15, 2009
Organizations that continued with embryonic stem cell research benefit
Get us water
Issue Date: Sep 30, 2008
people of Hebbagodi village in Anekal Taluk, Bangalore, are threatening to go on hunger strike if Biocon, a
biotechnology firm, does not arrange for drinking water supply to the village.
Underground water in Hebbagodi and five surrounding villages is contaminated and the residents allege it is primarily because of Biocon's
13-hectare insulin plant at Hebbagodi. The gram panchayat, taluk panchayat and the zilla panchayat have passed resolutions for the closure of
the Biocon plant.
