Sambhav-2024

Approach

• Start the answer with a discussion that sets a context for the question.
• Discuss the impact of gene editing on agriculture and human health.
• Explain the content with a focus on transgenic and cisgenic organisms.
• Conclude suitably.

Introduction

Gene editing, particularly through techniques like CRISPR-Cas9, has revolutionized agriculture and holds immense potential for human health. This technology allows for precise modification of an organism's genetic material, offering solutions to various challenges in both agriculture and human health.

Body

Transgenic Organisms Enhancing Agricultural Productivity:

• Increased Yield:
  • Transgenic crops are engineered to be resistant to pests, diseases, and herbicides, leading to higher crop yields.
  • Bt cotton, which produces a protein toxic to bollworms, has increased cotton yields in India.
  • Studies suggest an average increase of 21-22% in crop yields due to genetically modified (GM) technology.
• Improved Nutritional Content:
  • Genetic modification can enhance the nutritional value of crops, addressing malnutrition.
  • Golden Rice, engineered to produce beta-carotene, addresses vitamin A deficiency in developing countries.
• Reduced Environmental Impact:
  • Transgenic crops can reduce the need for chemical pesticides and herbicides, benefiting the environment. Herbicide-tolerant crops reduce the use of environmentally harmful herbicides.

Cisgenic Organisms as Safe and Sustainable Alternatives:

• Enhanced Sustainability:
  • Cisgenic crops are developed using genes from sexually compatible organisms, ensuring genetic compatibility and reducing the risk of unintended effects.
  • Cisgenic potatoes are engineered for late blight resistance without using antibiotic resistance genes.
• Potential for Disease Resistance:
  • Cisgenic crops can be engineered for disease resistance, reducing crop losses and enhancing food security.
  • Genetically modified bananas resistant to Panama disease, a fungal disease threatening banana crops worldwide, are being promoted.
• Consumer Acceptance:
  • Cisgenic crops may be more readily accepted by consumers concerned about the use of genetic modification.
  • Consumer acceptance of cisgenic apples engineered for non-browning traits is widely recognised.

Impact on Human Health:

• Dietary Benefits:
  • Gene editing can enhance the nutritional content of crops, address deficiencies, and improve human health.
  • Fortified crops can provide essential nutrients lacking in diets, such as iron, zinc, and Folic Acid supplements, etc. Biofortified varieties of rice, wheat, and maize, have been developed to address nutrient deficiencies in diets.
    • For example, "Golden Rice" is a genetically modified rice variety enriched with beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. This innovation aims to combat vitamin A deficiency, a leading cause of blindness and other health problems in many developing countries where rice is a staple food.
• Disease Resistance:
  • Gene editing offers potential treatments for genetic diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, by correcting or replacing faulty genes.
  • CRISPR-Cas9 technology has been used to edit the DNA of human embryos to correct genetic defects.
• Gene Editing in Disease Prevention:
  • Beyond therapeutic applications, gene editing can also be employed for disease prevention through targeted interventions, such as editing immune cells to confer resistance to infectious diseases like HIV or malaria.

Ethical Considerations:

• Gene editing raises ethical questions, particularly regarding germline editing and the potential for designer babies.
• The case of He Jiankui, who claimed to have edited the genes of twin babies to make them resistant to HIV, sparked international controversy.

Conclusion

Gene editing, through both transgenic and cisgenic approaches, has revolutionized agriculture by enhancing productivity, sustainability, and nutritional value. Moreover, it offers promising prospects for treating genetic diseases and improving human health. However, careful regulation and ethical considerations are necessary to ensure the responsible use of this powerful technology.