GM crops to genome editing: India's journey, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• Two genome edited (GE) rice lines are set for release after successful field trials in 2023 and 2024.
• A GE mustard line is undergoing trials in 16 locations during the 2025-26 rabi season, with potential release by August 2026.
• GE crops are exempted from stringent biosafety regulations applied to genetically modified (GM) crops.
• The government allocated Rs 500 crore in the 2023-24 Union Budget for GE crop research and breeding.

Detailed Insights:

• GM crops involve inserting foreign genes, while GE crops involve editing genes already present in the host plant.
• The CRISPR-Cas system is used to edit specific genes in rice and mustard varieties for improved yield and stress tolerance.
• The Gn1a gene in rice, when edited, leads to increased cytokinin accumulation, resulting in more grains per panicle and higher yields.
• ICAR has identified 178 genes in 24 field crops and 43 target genes in 16 horticultural crops for editing.
• Scientists are receiving advanced training in GE technology in the US, Europe, Australia, and CIMMYT.
• An indigenous GE tool using TnpB proteins has been patented, offering a potentially cheaper and more effective alternative to CRISPR-Cas9.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Genome Editing (GE): Modifying genes already present in a host plant to induce desired traits.
• CRISPR-Cas: A technology using protein enzymes to cut and modify DNA at targeted locations.
• Cytokinin: A plant hormone that stimulates the formation of flowers, influencing grain production in rice.
• TnpB Proteins: Transposon-associated proteins used in a new GE tool for precise DNA editing in plants.