Genetic Engineering; and its possibilities in India

Yesterday, I had an exceptionally good discussion about genetic engineering with some of my bio-folks and I assure you it was mind blowing. I started searching for the basic idea about it and tried to encapsulate it in this article for what it is going to be.

What is Genetic Engineering?

The act of changing an organism's genetic composition is referred to as "genetic engineering." It has several uses in sectors like agriculture, health, industry, and the environment. In this blog article, I will look at some of the potential for genetic engineering in India during the next five years, based on current trends and advances.

Our food and genetics

Agriculture is one of the most promising fields of genetic engineering in India. Rice, wheat, cotton, and sugarcane are all key crops produced and consumed in India. Genetic engineering can help increase production, quality, and resilience to biotic and abiotic challenges in these crops. For example, since its debut in 2002, Indian farmers have widely accepted genetically modified (GM) cotton, contributing to greater production and reduced pesticide usage. Similarly, Indian scientists have created GM mustard to increase oil content and herbicide resistance. In India, however, GM crops confront a number of problems, including regulatory impediments, public perception, biosafety concerns, and intellectual property rights issues. As a result, it is critical to establish a strong and clear regulatory structure.

Medical cases

Medicine is another possible use of genetic engineering in India. Novel therapeutics for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases, and genetic abnormalities can be developed via genetic engineering. Gene therapy, for example, involves inserting a functioning gene into a patient's cells to fix a faulty gene or improve a desired function. Gene editing is a recent approach that uses enzymes like CRISPR-Cas9 to precisely modify DNA sequences. Gene editing may be used to fix mutations, insert, or remove genes, and construct disease models in animals. Gene drives are another new technique that uses gene editing to change the inheritance patterns of genes in a population. By changing the mosquitoes that spread vector-borne illnesses like malaria and dengue, gene drives can be used to control or eliminate them. However, genetic engineering in medicine raises ethical, social, and legal concerns about safety, effectiveness, access, permission, and ownership. To ensure the appropriate and ethical use of genetic engineering in medicine in India, a clear and consistent regulatory structure, as well as ethical norms and supervision systems, are required.

Genetics in Industries

Industry is a third potential field for genetic engineering in India. Using microbes or plants, genetic engineering may be used to create valuable molecules such as enzymes, hormones, vaccines, biofuels, and bioplastics. Insulin, for example, is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels in humans. It is made possible by genetically modifying bacteria or yeast to express the human insulin gene. Similarly, biofuels are renewable energy sources generated from biomass, such as plants or algae. By changing the metabolic pathways or features of the biomass sources, genetic engineering can enhance the efficiency and variety of biofuel production. Bioplastics are biodegradable plastic substitutes manufactured from renewable materials such as starch or cellulose. By changing the biosynthesis or breakdown processes of the polymers, genetic engineering can help improve the characteristics and performance of bioplastics. However, in an industrial setting, genetic engineering faces technological, economic, and environmental issues such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, competitiveness, and sustainability. As a result, it is critical to have a supportive governmental framework, as well as venues for innovation and cooperation, to encourage the development and implementation of genetic engineering in industry in India.

Next Five years for India

In the next five years, genetic engineering has enormous potential in India. It can assist in addressing some of India's main difficulties in sectors such as agriculture, health, and manufacturing. However, a thorough analysis of the possible hazards and advantages connected with each use is also required. It also needs a comprehensive strategy that includes scientific research, regulatory monitoring, public participation, and ethical discussion. As a result, India will be able to harness the potential of genetic engineering for its social and economic growth.