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Time of India
19-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Less water, more rice: Why gene editing of rice may be a game changer
Two varieties of rice - 'DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala)' and 'Pusa DST Rice 1', developed by ICAR and its institutes - are the world's first genome-edited varieties, and promise to be a game-changer in sustainable agriculture . Scientists say these two varieties, when cultivated on 5 million hectares, can produce 4.5 million tonnes of additional paddy and save a total of 7,500 million cubic metres of irrigation water. And, apart from a yield advantage of 20%-30%, these climate-resilient varieties could reduce methane emissions by 20%, the scientists claim. This could go a long way towards solving one of the biggest problems in cultivating rice, a staple for about 800 million Indians: its resource-heaviness. Each kilo of traditional rice requires, on average, 2,500 litres of water, and its cultivation consumes more than 50% of the irrigation water available to the country's agriculture sector. Genome editing enables scientists to make targeted changes in the native genes of living organisms, creating new and desirable traits without introducing foreign DNA. It involves adding, removing or modifying DNA sequences at specific locations in the genome. This technology has applications in various fields, including medicine, agriculture and basic research. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 복부비만 원인 "오래되고 딱딱한 묵은 지방" 간단히 녹이는 방법 남재현 체지방 다이어트 더 알아보기 Undo Because rice is such a resource-guzzler, ICAR's National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), which scientifically calculated the amount of water needed to produce 1kg of rice, noted that a major impact of climate change would be visible in the form of water stress, and that rice cultivation was likely to be most affected. "In the next two decades, there's a need to produce around 25% more from 10%-15% reduced share of water," said ICAR-NRRI in a research paper on managing water for rice-production systems. Genome editing allows the development of drought-tolerant rice varieties that have a low water requirement. ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) had launched a genome-editing research project in rice in 2018 and selected two widely cultivated mega rice varieties - 'Samba Mahsuri (BPT5204)' and 'MTU1010 (Cottondora Sannalu)' - to enhance their qualities through tech interventions. Scientists enhanced these rice varieties with better stress tolerance, improved yield and climate adaptability without compromising on their existing strengths as they developed the two new genome-edited varieties. Genome-edited varieties are, however, suitable for only those states/UTs for which the parent varieties are recommended: Tamil Nadu, Karnaktaka, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and (eastern) UP. ICAR is now accessing intellectual property rights before the newly developed genome-edited varieties are made available to farmers. Seeds for commercial cultivation are expected to reach farmers within two years. The Coalition for a GM-Free India - a network of organisations and individuals advocating for a GM-free India - has demanded that govt immediately withdraw the two genome-edited rice varieties and bring them under the purview of rigorous regulation. They claim the two varieties have the potential to harm humans and cause irreversible damage to the environment, apart from threatening the country's seed sovereignty. Since the genome-edited line contains no foreign DNA, it makes it comparable to conventionally bred varieties. Two key approaches - Site Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN1) and Site Directed Nuclease 2 (SDN2) - produce genetically edited organisms that are considered "indistinguishable from naturally occurring or conventionally bred mutants". As such, they are exempt from stringent bio-safety regulations under Rules 7-11 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Institutional Bio-safety Committee (IBC) of ICAR institutes approved the lines, and the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) granted clearance on May 31, 2023, for classification under India's relaxed regulatory framework for SDN1 and SDN2 genome edits. Viswanathan Chinnusamy, lead developer of the genome-edited rice and joint director (research), IARI, said plants with genome-edited seed varieties do not contain 'exogenous' (foreign) DNA, unlike genetically modified crops. He also dispelled health fears with gene-edited rice varieties, saying the genome-edited variety is equivalent to a mutant variety developed by a conventional approach. "Hence, it has no health or environmental concerns," he said.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
How did India develop genome edited rice?
The story so far: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently announced that India has become the first country in the world to develop rice varieties using genome editing technology. The new seeds will be available for farmers after the required clearances within six months and large-scale seed production will probably take place during the next three crop seasons. What are the new varieties? A team of researchers from various institutions, guided by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), were behind the development of the two varieties — the DRR Dhan 100, also known as Kamala, which was developed from a popular high yielding green rice Samba Mahsuri, and Pusa DST Rice 1, which was developed from the Maruteru 1010 (MTU1010) variety. What are its peculiarities? According to the ICAR, the increase in food demand, challenges posed by climate change and increasing biotic and abiotic stresses such as pest attacks and scarcity of water, led to the development of high yielding, climate resilient and nutritionally rich crop varieties. Kamala has shown superior yield, drought tolerance, high nitrogen use efficiency and 20 days earliness over its parent variety. It has an average yield of 5.37 tonnes per hectare against the 4.5 tonnes per hectare of Samba Mahsuri across two years and 25 locations of testing in the country. 'The earliness trait will help in saving water, fertilizers, and reduced emission of methane,' the ICAR said. The second variety, Pusa DST Rice 1, has a yield of 3,508 kilograms per hectare (a capacity of 9.66% more) over the parent rice variety, MTU 1010, which has an average yield of 3,199 kg per hectare under 'inland salinity stress'. It also showed a superiority of 14.66% over the MTU 1010 under alkalinity conditions, and a 30.4% yield advantage under coastal salinity stress. What was the technology used? According to Joint Director (Research), Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Viswanathan. C, scientists have used Site-Directed Nuclease 1 and Site-Directed Nuclease 2 (SDN-1 and SDN-2) genome editing techniques to develop the seeds. Though this technique was used to develop different crops since 2001, such as tomatoes, a fish variety in Japan and a soybean variety in the U.S., making a rice variety has been done for the first time. In 2020, the first peer-reviewed research paper on Pusa DST Rice 1 was published, which got cited in more than 300 papers since then. The paper on Kamala is in the stage of publication. 'The international research community has approved both the varieties,' Dr. Viswanathan said. Are they GM crops? Dr. Viswanathan says that since the genome editing technology SDN-3 is not involved in this process, they are not genetically modified (GM) crops. In the SDN-1 approach, scientists make a cut and the repair is done automatically while in SDN-2, scientists give guidance to the cell to do the repair and the cell copies it. In SDN-3, however, scientists introduce a foreign gene from other varieties and integrate it into the improved varieties. This process is considered as genetic modification. In this case, the mutant was developed without any foreign gene and mutation occurred through natural process. This is a precision mutation technique and several countries have exempted this process from the regulations required for developing GM crops. 'No foreign gene is there in these crops, only the native gene is there in the final product,' Dr. Viswanathan said. A team of scientists from various governmental institutions were part of this research. It was tested in the fields under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice during 2023 and 2024. What are the objections? Venugopal Badaravada, who was a farmers' representative in the ICAR governing body said that the ICAR's genome-edited rice claims are premature and misleading. A day after the announcement he said in a statement that farmers demand accountability, transparent data, and technologies that are tested in our fields — not just polished press releases. He was expelled from the governing body soon after this and the ICAR accused Mr. Badaravada of spreading falsehoods about the institution. The Coalition for a Genetically Modified-Free India, a group of activists who are fighting a case against GM crops in the Supreme Court, said the biotech industry and lobbies have resorted to falsely portraying gene editing as a precise and safe technology, whereas published scientific papers show that this is untrue. 'India's de-regulation of two kinds of gene editing is outright illegal,' the organisation said. They claimed that gene editing tools are proprietary technologies under Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) ownership and have a direct bearing on the seed sovereignty of the country's farming community. 'The Government of India has to reveal the situation with regard to IPRs on the released varieties transparently, immediately. The Government of India is compromising on farmers' seed sovereignty and our food sovereignty by bringing in technologies entangled in IPR issues,' they said.
Mint
12-05-2025
- Science
- Mint
This rice is set to make your meal climate-friendly
Earlier this month, India released the world's first genome-edited rice, a breakthrough that promises to retune its farm R&D space. The new varieties yield more using less water and are resilient to climate shocks. Mint explains why you must hold your plate and take note. Tell us more about these new varieties... These were released on 4 May by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which used genome editing (GE) to improve two rice cultivars—Samba Mahsuri and MTU1010. The project began in 2018. These advanced varieties can improve yields by up to 19% and are shorter-duration—they use less water and fertilizers. They emit less methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and overall have a lower carbon footprint. As per ICAR, the GE variants are more tolerant to drought, salinity and climate stresses. They can be grown across South, central and East India, as a sustainable choice for farmers in the era of climate crisis. Also Read | Can soil-less farming revive a Kashmiri rice variety on the verge of extinction? In what way is it designer rice? GE technology uses CRISPR-Cas, a protein that acts as molecular scissors to edit the DNA sequence of a genome. Editing a genome, which carries the genetic code of an organism, changes its character—a bit like rewriting the code of life. Using CRISPR-Cas, scientists can design or incorporate traits like increasing the number of grains on a plant. GE crops are different from genetically modified (GM) ones. In GM technology, a foreign DNA is inserted into plant genes. For example, genes from a soil bacterium were used to make Bt Cotton, the only GM crop allowed in India, to make it pest resistant. Also Read | Rice fortification can help tackle our problem of hidden hunger Can this technology be used for other crops? Yes. GE technology, it is hoped, will help India find a way out of its import dependency in pulses and oilseeds. ICAR is working on GE enhancement of these crops, for which the government has set aside ₹500 crore. Currently, India spends more than $20 billion every year to import pulses and oilseeds. By contrast, it is the world's largest exporter of rice. Also Read | Subsidies and MSP:It makes most sense for farmers to keep growing rice and wheat Are GE crops safe to consume? Scientists say GE crops pose only a marginal risk to human health and environment, and are as good as normally bred crops, which involve crossing plants. GE is more precise and a faster way to achieve results. The Coalition for GM-Free India has criticised the government's deregulation of GE techniques (compared with GM, which is tightly regulated), and alleged that the new varieties were released without any safety assessment. Experts say activists oppose gene technologies on the basis of speculative risks. Is the CRISPR tool globally accepted? Scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna received the 2020 Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing CRISPR-Cas. The Nobel committee said GE can be used for cancer therapies, hereditary diseases and develop innovative crops. GE has been used to create soy oil that can be stored for longer, reducing the use of chemical preservatives. GE was also used to make high-GABA tomato, which claims to lower blood pressure and improve sleep. But repurposing food as medicine may not be to everybody's taste.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Scientists create first ‘pangenome' of Asian rice
Scientists have assembled a first of its kind 'pangenome', a kind of reference genome, by stitching together key parts of genomes from 144 varieties of wild and cultivated varieties of rice from Asia. Much like the Human Genome Project in 2003 mapped genomes from a range of individuals, expressing the genetic diversity of the human species, the rice pangenome allows researchers to develop new rice cultivars and introduce new traits for disease-tolerance as well as resilience against climate shocks. Rice is staple for nearly two-thirds of the globe. It is the primary crop grown in India over the monsoon months of June-September. In 2024-25, India produced a record 220 million tonnes of rice over 51,000 ha with an average yield of 4.2 tonnes/ha. Several studies over the years have warned that rising temperatures due to climate change would not only affect yields but also increase arsenic uptake among several rice varieties. India's average temperature has increased by 0.7° C since 1901. 2024 was the hottest year on record, with the average minimum temperature 0.9° C above the long-term average. Earlier this month, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) announced the development of two varieties of genome-edited rice, Samba Mahsuri and MTU 1010, that reportedly promise higher yields and better drought resistance. These however are yet to be released into farmer fields. To develop the pangenome, the scientists — nearly all associated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences — report undertaking a 'deep analysis of complex gene flows' both within cultivars (domesticated) and between cultivars and wild rice, highlighting the evolutionary and domestication pathways of various rice types. This study reinforced support for the hypothesis that all Asian cultivated rice had an evolutionary origin from a wild variety called Or-IIIa, the ancestor of japonica. Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) was domesticated from its wild progenitor O. rufipogon, and is one of the most important food crops in the world. Or-IIIa is a variant of O. rufipogon. While reference genomes of a species generally confine themselves to identifying the characteristic genes that make up a species, a 'pangenome' has the common genes as well as maps out the unique genes found in the individual rice varieties. It presents a more complete understanding of the genetic variation present in rice. Primarily using 'PacBio high-fidelity'(HiFi) sequencing technology and computational methods, their analysis revealed 3.87 billion base pairs of novel genetic sequences absent from the single acknowledged reference genome, O sativa ssp japonica. They identified 69,531 genes collectively spanning the pangenome, with 28,907 core genes and 13,728 wild-rice-specific genes. Population genetics studies have earlier shown that ancient japonica rice was first domesticated from the O. rufipogon group IIIa (Or-IIIa) population in China, and that indica rice was subsequently domesticated when ancient japonica spread southward and westward in Asia and crossed with the local O. rufipogon group I (Or-I) population. Another key finding of the study was that of the 69,531 genes identified, about 20% were specific to wild rice. These genetic resources can improve understanding of rice environmental adaptation, phenotypic plasticity and regeneration potential. 'By bridging the gap between wild and cultivated rice genetics, our study opens new avenues and provides useful wild rice resources for developing superior and more productive rice varieties,' the authors note. 'These improved varieties could incorporate valuable traits from wild rice species, potentially enhancing their resilience to rapid environmental changes.'
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: What to know about gene editing for UPSC as world's first GE rice varieties make headlines
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on world's first genome edited (GE) rice varieties. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said it has developed the world's first genome edited (GE) rice varieties with superior yields, drought and salinity tolerance, and high nitrogen-use efficiency traits. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the two rice varieties at the ICAR's NASC Complex on Sunday (May 4). Key Takeaways : 1. Two affiliate institutions of ICAR— the Hyderabad -based Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) at New Delhi — have bred improved GE mutants of the popular Samba Mahsuri (BPT-5204) and Cottondora Sannalu (MTU-1010) varieties using CRISPR-Cas SDN-1 (Site-Directed Nucleases-1) technologies. 2. These two new GE rice varieties, which are climate-resilient, conserve water, and boost yields, have been named 'Kamala' and 'Pusa DST Rice 1'. They have better stress tolerance and climate adaptability without any compromises with their existing strengths. 3. DRR DHAN 100 (KAMALA): Developed by the ICAR-IIRR, this variety promises significantly higher yields, improved drought tolerance, and early maturity compared to its parent variety, Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204). According to the ICAR, DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) has been developed using genome editing technology targeting the Cytokinin Oxidase 2 (CKX2) gene (also known as Gn1a), to increase grain numbers per panicle. • 'Using the Site Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN1) genome editing approach, ICAR-IIRR scientists introduced precise mutations without incorporating any foreign DNA.' the Council said in a statement. The ICAR release pointed out that DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) retains the grain and cooking quality that makes Samba Mahsuri a consumer favourite. • The Kamala variety has been recommended for cultivation across major rice-growing states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala (Zone VII), Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Zone V), Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal (Zone III). 4. PUSA DST RICE 1: This new GE variety has been developed over the widely cultivated fine-grain variety called MTU1010 by ICAR-IARI. It has been developed through SDN1 genome-editing, this new variety targets the Drought and Salt Tolerance (DST) gene to improve the plant's resilience to harsh soil and climate conditions. • The new variety is relevant for farmers of saline and alkaline soils, where traditional varieties underperform. This variety of rice has been recommended for cultivation across key rice-growing states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala (Zone VII), Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Zone V), Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal (Zone III). Do you Know? India has exempted GE crops from biosafety regulations under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. These regulations govern both field trials and release for commercial cultivation in the case of GM crops that are treated as 'hazardous substances' under the Act. 5. In the case of 2 new genome edited (GE) rice varieties, scientists at IIRR have used the CRISPR-Cas12 protein for editing the 'cytokinin oxidase 2' gene (also called Gn1a) in Samba Mahsuri rice, in order to the increase the number of grains produced from each panicle (plant earhead) of this variety. Why Rice? 1. Rice, like other crops, is exposed to various biotic and abiotic stresses during its life cycle. Several diseases such as bacterial leaf blight and blast, and insect pests like the brown plant hopper, cause significant damage that result in devastating yield reductions. The crop losses from some of these biotic stresses can be as high as 50% and even reach 90% in epidemic conditions. 2. In addition, rice accounts for more than half of the fresh water used in agriculture. Water availability for agriculture in general is becoming a significant constraint now, due to ever-increasing domestic, urban and industrial consumption requirements. The situation will become more complex with decreased arable land availability as well, not to speak of the impact of climate change on crop productivity. Do you know? Paddy is India's principal crop of the kharif season, and is grown on one-third of the entire area under all foodgrain crops. It contributes about 4 0% to the country's foodgrain basket, and is critical to the nation's food security. West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Assam are the main paddy growing states. 3. Successful development of rice lines, incorporating important biotic and abiotic stress resistant traits, can provide solutions for minimising yield losses that affect consumers (from reduced availability) and producers (from lower incomes) alike. What is Gene Editing Technology ? 1. Gene editing, also known as genome editing, is a technique that allows scientists to 'cut' DNA strands and edit genes. The technology enables a simple but remarkably efficient way to 'edit' the genetic codes of organisms, thus opening up the possibility of 'correcting' genetic information to cure diseases, prevent physical deformities, or even produce cosmetic enhancements. How the technique works 2. Advanced research has allowed scientists to develop highly effective clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR) -associated proteins-based systems. This system allows for targeted intervention at the genome sequence. 3. Its mechanism is often compared to the 'cut-copy-paste', or 'find-replace' functionalities in common computer programmes. A bad stretch in the DNA sequence, which is the cause of disease or disorder, is located, cut, and removed — and then replaced with a 'correct' sequence. The tools used to achieve this are not mechanical, but biochemical — specific protein and RNA molecules. How is Gene Editing different from Gene Modification? 1. GE is different from genetic modification or GM. The latter involves introduction of genes from unrelated species into host plants. These could, for example, be genes from Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium, that code for the production of proteins toxic to various insect pests in cotton. 2. GE, on the other hand, entails mere 'editing' of genes naturally present in the host plant, leading to mutation or changes in their DNA sequence. No foreign genes or DNA are incorporated. 1. In the last decade, targeted genome editing using 'CRISPR/Cas9' has captivated the attention of the research community. The applications of this technology — an acronym for 'clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 ' — have gained significant traction in various fields of science, including agriculture. 2. CRISPR-Cas uses 'Cas' enzymes, or proteins that act like molecular 'scissors', to cut and modify the DNA sequence of a native gene at its targeted location. Such editing is intended to bring forth desirable alterations in that gene's expression and function. DON'T MISS | From largest economies to understanding GDP: 4 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains 3. CRISPR/Cas9 was originally identified and adapted from a naturally-occurring immunity mechanism in bacteria, which is employed against invading viruses. The bacteria basically capture snippets of DNA from the viruses and use them to create CRISPR arrays. These DNA segments allow the bacteria to 'remember' the viruses. In the event of the viruses attacking, the bacteria produce RNA (messenger that carries genetic information from the DNA) from the CRISPR arrays. The bacteria then uses Cas9 enzyme, which acts as a pair of 'molecular scissors', to cut the DNA apart and disabling the virus. Do you Know? CRISPR-Cas9 technology won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020. This technology is patented by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Its use is licensed. 4. The same system has been engineered by researchers to produce RNA complementary to a specific target DNA sequence in the genome of an organism. This 'guide' RNA binds itself only to that target sequence and no other regions of the genome. The Cas9 enzyme will, in turn, follow the guide RNA and cut the two strands of DNA at the targeted location. At this stage, the cell knows that the DNA is damaged and tries to repair it. The researchers can now use the natural DNA repair machinery to introduce changes, including by adding or deleting genetic material. 5. Such genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 is possible through three different approaches: Site-Directed Nuclease (SDN) 1, 2 and 3. 📍SDN1 produces a double-stranded break in the genome of a plant and modifies an existing trait without undertaking insertion of any foreign DNA or even editing at the site of interest. 📍SDN2 modifies the trait of interest by producing a double-stranded break and, while that is being repaired by the cell, editing a small sequence at the target site. 📍SDN3 uses site-specific insertion of a large, foreign DNA fragment to introduce a new trait of interest. (a) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing (b) A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients (c) A gene that makes plants pest-resistant Answer Key (a)
