Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee

Context:

• Experts on GM crop committees to declare conflict of interest

News:

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has amended the rules governing the selection of experts to the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the apex technical body regulating genetically modified (GM) seeds in India.

More info:

• Under the new rules, an “expert member” ought to be disclosing their “interest” that could conflict with their duties.
• The expert is also expected to take all steps necessary to ensure that any conflict of interest not affect any decision of the GEAC.
• An expert member with any direct or indirect association with a matter being discussed in a meeting of the committee is obliged to disclose this prior to the meeting.
• Unless specifically requested by the committee, the expert is expected to recuse their selves from the meeting.
• All selected members would also have to fill out a form detailing their professional affiliations to a decade prior to joining the committee.
• These rules come on the back of a Supreme Court order in 2023 requiring that the Centre form a national policy on GM crops.
• In that order, the SC delivered a split verdict on the validity of the Centre’s 2022 decision granting conditional approval for environmental release of GM mustard crops, thus leaving a final resolution on the release of the crop to a future Bench.

About GEAC:

• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• As per Rules, 1989, it is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
• The committee is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the enviornment including experimental field trials.
• GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.

Functions:

• The functions of GEAC as prescribed in the Rules 1989 are as follows:
• To appraise activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
• To appraise proposals relating to release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.
• The committee or any persons authorized by it has powers to take punitive action under the Environment Protection Act.

Composition:

• The composition of the GEAC has been prescribed in Rules 1989 as given below:
• Chairman- Special Secretary/Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC); Co-Chairman – Representative of Department of Biotechnology.
• Members: Representative of concerned Agencies and Departments, namely, Ministry of Industrial Development, Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Atomic Energy.
• Expert members: Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research, Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Director General of Health Services, Plant Protection Adviser, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and storage, Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board and three outside experts in individual capacity.
• Member Secretary: An official of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• The committee may co-opt other members/experts as necessary.

Meetings:

• GEAC meets on second Wednesday of every month to consider various application and policy issues.

Bacteria that can clean up pesticides

Context:

• Researchers find bacteria that can clean up pesticides from soil to enhance crop yield

News:

• IIT Bombay researchers have identified bacteria that can consume toxic pollutants in the soil and produce helpful nutrients as a by-product.

More info:

• Soil contamination is one of the major issues in the agriculture industry.
• These compounds are toxic, can inhibit seed germination, reduce plant growth, yield and also accumulate in seeds and plant biomass.
• Traditional approaches to remove these pollutants, like chemical treatments or soil removal, often turn out to be band-aid solutions – expensive and unable to tackle the problem completely.
• To address this issue, a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have identified bacteria from toxic environments.
• While doing so, they noticed that certain bacterial species, specifically from the genera Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, were especially good at breaking down aromatic compounds.
• In a recent study, researchers have used the power of specific bacterial species to remove organic pollutants from soil.
• These bacteria were isolated from contaminated soil and agricultural fields.
• They feed on pollutants, breaking them down into simpler, harmless, non-toxic compounds.
• In this way, they act as natural cleaners of polluted environments.
• Like feeding two birds with one scone, while breaking down aromatic pollutants, these bacteria were also found to convert insoluble forms of essential nutrients, such as phosphorus and potassium, into soluble forms and make them readily available to the plants.
• They also produce substances called siderophores, which help plants absorb iron in nutrient-limited environments.
• Moreover, these bacteria also contribute to plant growth and health by producing a high amount of growth hormone called indoleacetic acid (IAA).
• So, while these bacteria are cleaning the soil, they are also helping plants grow healthier and more robust by fertilising the soil and improving soil health.
• Interestingly, when a mixture of bacteria from the Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter genera is used, they significantly boost the growth and yield of crops (wheat, mung bean, spinach, fenugreek, etc.) up to 45-50%, the research said.
• As they say, ‘unity is the best policy.’
• Some strains might be really good at breaking down pollutants, while others might be better at promoting plant growth or defending against diseases.
• By combining them, we assembled a team of bacteria that can work together cooperatively, doing a variety of jobs simultaneously and more efficiently.
• Fungal diseases are another problem affecting several crops worldwide.
• According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, hundreds of fungal diseases impact 168 crops essential to human nutrition.
• Despite the use of fungicides and disease-resistant cultivars, fungal infections still cause global crop losses of 10–23% annually, with key calorie crops consumed in India, like rice and wheat, particularly affected.
• This study has a potential solution to this grave problem, too.
• These helpful bacteria produce substances like lytic enzymes and HCN [hydrogen cyanide] that can kill or inhibit the growth of plant pathogenic fungi.
• These bacteria act like a natural defence system for plants.
• Unlike chemical pesticides, which can harm the environment and beneficial organisms, these bacteria are eco-friendly and target only the harmful fungi.
• Although the findings from the research have a lot of potential in a real-world situation, the researchers believe that it will take some time for widespread adoption, as the technology will need to be scaled up, tested in different environments, and made available as commercial products.
• In the future, researchers also want to test how these helpful bacteria benefit plants during droughts and other environmental stress conditions.
• They also intend to create easy-to-use products, called bio-formulations, that combine the bacteria with natural materials, making them long-lasting and simple for farmers to apply in agriculture fields.

Hydrogels

Context:

• Hydrogel developed for targeted breast cancer therapy

News:

• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) and the Bose Institute, Kolkata have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel for localised cancer treatment.

More info:

• A statement issued by the IIT-G said this hydrogel serves as a stable reservoir for anti-cancer drugs, releasing it in a controlled manner while sparing healthy cells from harm.
• The findings of the research, expected to be revolutionary for breast cancer therapy.
• Current treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgical interventions, often have severe limitations.
• Surgical removal of tumours is sometimes not feasible, particularly for internal organs.
• At the same time, chemotherapy’s systemic delivery often results in harmful side effects by affecting both cancerous and healthy cells.
• The team addressed these challenges by designing a hydrogel that delivers drugs precisely to the tumour site, ensuring localised action.

About Hydrogels:

• Hydrogels are water-based, three-dimensional polymer networks capable of absorbing and retaining fluids.
• Their unique structure mimics living tissues, making them suitable for biomedical applications.
• The hydrogel, composed of ultra-short peptides – biocompatible and biodegradable building blocks of proteins – is designed to remain insoluble in biological fluids, ensuring it stays localised at the injection site.
• It responds to elevated glutathione (GSH) levels, a molecule abundant in tumour cells.
• Upon encountering high GSH levels, the hydrogel triggers a controlled drug release directly into the tumour, minimising its interaction with healthy tissues and reducing systemic side effects.
• This work exemplifies how scientific innovation can directly address the pressing needs of cancer treatment.
• The hydrogel’s unique properties allow it to work harmoniously with the biological environment, offering precision where it is needed most.
• The hydrogel showcased remarkable efficacy in preclinical trials on a murine model of breast cancer.
• A single injection of the hydrogel, loaded with the chemotherapy drug Doxorubicin, resulted in a ~75% reduction in the tumour size within 18 days.
• Crucially, the hydrogel remained localised at the tumour site, steadily releasing the drug over time without causing detectable side effects on other organs.
• This innovative delivery system enhances the drug’s effectiveness while reducing the required dosage, thus minimising toxicity.
• Laboratory studies further demonstrated that the hydrogel improves drug uptake by cancer cells, induces cell cycle arrest, and promotes programmed cell death, thereby attacking tumours on multiple fronts.

Vanuatu

Context:

• India announces $500,000 for quake-hit Vanuatu

News:

• India announced an assistance of $500,000 to the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu to help it deal with destruction caused by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake last month.

More info:

• The earthquake struck near Vanuatu’s coast in the South Pacific Ocean on December 17 causing major destruction and loss of lives.
• “As a close friend and partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation and as a gesture of solidarity with the friendly people of Vanuatu, the government of India extends a relief assistance of $500,000 to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
• It said India has firmly stood by Vanuatu during times of difficulty and devastation caused by natural disasters.
• “An important pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2019, is disaster risk reduction and management,” the MEA said.
• India is committed to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and continues to be a responsible and steadfast responder in the region, it said.

About Vanuatu:

• Vanuatu, country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, consisting of a chain of 13 principal and many smaller islands located about 800 km west of Fiji and 1,770 km east of Australia.
• The islands extend north-south for some 650 km in an irregular Y shape.
• The Torres Islands are the northernmost group.
• Formerly the jointly administered Anglo-French condominium of the New Hebrides, Vanuatu achieved independence in 1980.
• The name Vanuatu means “Our Land Forever” in many of the locally used Melanesian languages.
• The capital, largest city, and commercial centre is Port-Vila (Vila), on Éfaté.
• Much of the group is covered by dense rain forest, but drier regions have patches of savanna grassland.
• Vanuatu is also home to the estuarine crocodile.
• The indigenous population, called ni-Vanuatu, is overwhelmingly Melanesian, though some of the outlying islands have Polynesian populations.