Environmental

Science
(CHY1002)
Dr. Subrata Dutta
Department of Chemistry
School of Advance Science
Vellore Institute of Technology
Course Content
Module 1 Environment and Ecosystem 7 hours CO: 1, 2

Key environmental problems, their basic causes and sustainable solutions. IPAT equation. Ecosystem, earth – life support
system and ecosystem components; Food chain, food web, Energy flow in ecosystem; Ecological succession- stages involved,
Primary and secondary succession, Hydrarch, mesarch, xerarch; Nutrient, water, carbon, nitrogen, cycles; Effect of human
activities on these cycles

Module 2 Biodiversity 6 hours CO: 1,3

Importance, types, mega-biodiversity; Species interaction - Extinct, endemic, endangered and rare species; Hot-spots; GM
crops- Advantages and disadvantages; Terrestrial biodiversity and Aquatic biodiversity – Significance, Threats due to natural
and anthropogenic activities and Conservation methods.
Impact on Environment

What does “Bio” mean?

Bio =

What does “ Diversity” mean?

Diversity = Variety

The term coined by Water G. Rosen in 1986.

What is biodiversity

➢ Biodiversity means the variety and variability among living organisms (all plants, animals
and microorganisms) and the ecosystem in which they occur.

➢ Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety of the earth’s species, or varying life-
forms, the genes they contain, the ecosystems in which they live, and the ecosystem
processes of energy flow and nutrient cycling that sustain all life.

Includes all terrestrial, marine and other aquatic organisms.

What is biodiversity

• Used as a measure of the health of biological systems.

• Biodiversity found on Earth today: Many millions of distinct biological species, No one
knows exactly how many species occur in our planet.
• Scientists discovered that the total members of species on earth are in between 10-50
million, of which only 1.7 million species have been identified so far.
• Covers diversity within species, Between species and Variations among ecosystems.
Biodiversity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yC0a3xhwJc
&ab_channel=WWF-India
Importance of Biodiversity

➢ The earth’s biodiversity is a vital part of the natural capital that helps keep us alive
and supports our economies.
• At least 40 % of the world’s economy and 80 % of the needs of the poor are derived
from biological resources.
➢ With the help of technology, we use biodiversity to provide us with food, wood,
fibers, energy from wood and biofuels, and medicines.
• Economic role of Biodiversity
❖Food, Fiber, Shelter, , Fuel etc.
❖ Goods: Timber, Paper,
❖ Pharmaceuticals: Penicillin, Cinchona, Digitalis, Vinca, Atropine
❖ Rubber, paper, Cotton.
❖ Recreation: Wild-life tourism, Trekking nature photography and Bird watching.
Importance of Biodiversity

➢ Biodiversity also plays critical roles in preserving the quality of the air and water,
maintaining the fertility of topsoil, decomposing and recycling waste, and controlling
populations of species that humans consider to be pests.

➢ In carrying out these free ecological services, which are also part of the earth’s natural
capital, biodiversity helps to sustain life on the earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WOflTif7T8
&ab_channel=DWNews
Types of Biodiversity

There are four types of biodiversity observed

• Functional diversity
• Genetic Diversity
• Species Diversity
• Ecological Diversity
Types of Biodiversity
Genetic Diversity
▪ Variation in genes within same species
▪ Basic source of biodiversity
▪ In the pictures all are dogs but different genes so different names
▪ Other examples – varieties of rice, varieties of banana
Genetic Diversity
Species diversity

▪ Variations found in the population of species or different species of a community in a

given area

▪ Monkeys, dragonflies, and meadow beauties are all different species in a Prairie

▪ Indices of measuring species diversity – Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson index

Saki Monkey Golden Skimmer Meadow Beauty

Species diversity

One important component of species diversity is species richness, the number of different
species present.

high species richness Low species richness

coral reef grove of aspen trees

in Alberta
Ecosystem diversity

▪ Variations in the ecosystem

Example: Prairie, rain forest and Pond
- different trophic structure, food web etc.
▪ Also show variations in physical parameters
- temperature, moisture, altitude etc.

Paines Prairie Florida Sand hill Pond

Hoh Rain Forest

 Values of Biodiversity

The value of biodiversity in the life of all the organisms including humans is enormous

a) Direct value:
❖ Consumption use value: Food, drug (medicine), Fuel.
❖ Productive use value: commercially usable values where the product is
marketed and sold.

b) Indirect value:
❖ Social value
❖ Ethnical value
❖ Aesthetic value
❖ Option value
❖ Ecosystem service value
Consumption use value

Food: A large number of wild plants are consumed by human beings as food. Nearly 80 -
90% of our food crops have been domesticated only from the tropical wild plants.

• A large number of wild animals are also consumed as food.

• About 80,000 edible plant species have been reported from wild.

Drugs and medicines: Around 70% of modern medicines are derived from plant and plant
extracts. 20,000 plant species are believed to be used medicinally, particularly in the
traditional system of Unani, Ayurveda.
• India uses 3000 Species of plants in Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani system of
medicines.
• Life saving drugs like quinine (Malaria), reserpine (hypertension), pencillin (antibiotic)
and morphine(pain kill) are all of plant origin
Productive value

Biodiversity products have obtained a commercial value. These products are marketed and
sold. These products may be derived from the animals and plants.

Animal products like

• silk from silk-worm
• wool from sheep
• tusks of elephants
• fur of many animals
• Leather and meat
Indirect value

Ethical value: It involves ethical issues like “all life must be preserved.” It is based on the
concept of “Live and Let Live”. We do not use many of the plant and animal species
directly, but we still feel that they should not go to extinction.

Aesthetic value: a monetary value placed on a forest, species, or a part of nature

because of its beauty. The most important aesthetic value of biodiversity is eco-tourism

Eco - tourism: People far places spend a lot of time and money to visit the beautiful
areas, where they can enjoy the aesthetic value of biodiversity. This type of tourism is
known as eco – tourism.

Social value: These are the values associated with the social life, customs, religion and
psycho-spiritual aspects of the people. Many of the plants are considered holy in our
country like Tulsi (holy basil), Peepal, Mango, Lotus, Bael etc

Optional value: it is based on the willingness of people to pay to protect some forms of
natural capital for use by future generations
Course Content
Module 1 Environment and Ecosystem 7 hours CO: 1, 2

Key environmental problems, their basic causes and sustainable solutions. IPAT equation. Ecosystem, earth – life support
system and ecosystem components; Food chain, food web, Energy flow in ecosystem; Ecological succession- stages involved,
Primary and secondary succession, Hydrarch, mesarch, xerarch; Nutrient, water, carbon, nitrogen, cycles; Effect of human
activities on these cycles

Module 2 Biodiversity 6 hours CO: 1,3

Importance, types, mega-biodiversity; Species interaction - Extinct, endemic, endangered and rare species; Hot-spots; GM
crops- Advantages and disadvantages; Terrestrial biodiversity and Aquatic biodiversity – Significance, Threats due to natural
and anthropogenic activities and Conservation methods.
BIODIVERSITY AT GLOBAL, NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS
Global Level:

➢ Global biodiversity is the measure of biodiversity on our planet Earth and it is defined
as the total variability of life on Earth.
➢ Conservative estimates of the existing biodiversity is ten million species, but if
estimates for insects are correct then it could be around 30 million species, we have till
now enlisted about 1.4 million species.
National and Local Level

➢ India has over 108,276 species of bacteria, fungi, plants and animals already identified and
described.
➢ Out of these, 84 percent species constitute fungi (21.2 percent), flowering plants (13.9
percent), and insect (49.3 percent).
➢ In terms of the number of species, the insecta alone constitute nearly half of the
biodiversity in India
 INDIA AS A MEGADIVERSE NATION
➢ Mega biodiversity is a concept first proposed in a paper at the Smithsonian‟s 1988
biodiversity conference.
➢ It recognizes that a very small number of units (17 countries out of a global 200+) are
home to an inordinately large share of world’s biodiversity (USA, Mexico, Columbia,
Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, India,
Madagascar, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia).

➢ Most of the megadiversity areas are large, but several, such as those in Madagascar, the
Philippines and Ecuador pack high diversity into relatively small land areas.

USA
China
Mexico Venezuela Philippines
DR Congo PNG
Colombia India
Ecuador Malaysia
Peru
Indonesia
Brazil
Madagascar
South Africa Australia
INDIA AS A MEGADIVERSE NATION

➢ India is one of the 17 mega diversity countries.

➢ 6% of the world’s biodiversity are found in India.
➢ India ranks 10th among the plant rich countries of the world.
➢ 11th in terms of number of endemic species.
➢ 6 th in origin of agricultural crops.
➢ Out of a total of 25 biodiversity hot-spots in the world, India possesses two (one in the
north-east region and one in the western ghats).
➢ The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India (2000) records –
• 47,000 species of plants - 7% of the global flora (the plants of a particular region, habitat,
or geological period).
• 81,000 species of animals - 6.5% of global fauna (the animals of a particular region,
habitat, or geological period.
INDIA AS A MEGADIVERSE NATION
INDIA AS A MEGADIVERSE NATION
Endemism: Species which are restricted only to a particular area are know as endemic. India
Shows a good number of endemic species. About 62% of amphibians and 50% of lizards are
endemic to India. Western ghats are the site of maximum endemism.

Center of origin: A large number of species are known to have originated in India. Nearly
5000 species of flowering plant had their origin in India. India has been the center of origin
of 166 species of crop plants and 320 species of wild relatives of cultivated crops, thereby
providing a broad spectrum of diversity of our crop plants.

India’s World Number of species

Ranking in India
Mammals 8th 372
Birds 8th 1175
Reptiles 5th 399
Amphibia 15th 181
Angiosperms 15th to 20th 15000
 National and Local Level
Based on their spatial distribution, regional biodiversity has bee categorized into four types of
species richness
➢ Point richness : refers to the number of species that can be found at a single point in
a given space.

➢ Alpha (α-) richness : refers to the number of species found in a small homogeneous
area.

➢ Beta (β-) richness: it is also known as ecosystem diversity. It measures the rate of
change in species composition across different habitats. In simple terms, it calculates
the number of species that are not the same in two different environments.

β = (S1-c) + (S2 –c)

Where,

S1 = the total number of species recorded in the first community/ environment/ecosystem.

S2 = the total number of species recorded in the second community/

environment/ecosystem.

c = number of species common to both communities.

National and Local Level

➢ Gamma (γ-) richness: It is a measure of total biodiversity of several ecosystems within an

entire region. It refers to total species richness over a large area or region.

γ = (S1 + S2 – c)

Where,

S1 = the total number of species recorded in the first community/ environment/ecosystem.

S2 = the total number of species recorded in the second community/

environment/ecosystem.

c = number of species common to both communities

 BIOGEOGRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION OF INDIA

Our country can be divided into ten major regions based on the geography, climate and
pattern of vegetation seen and the communities of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians,
insects and other invertebrates that live in them

India’s Biogeographic Zones:

1. The cold mountainous snow covered Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh

2. The Himalayan ranges and valleys of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttatkhand, Assam
and other North-eastern States.
3. The Terrain, the low land where the Himalayan rivers flow into the plains (semi- arid)
4. The Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains.
5. The Thar Desert of Rajasthan
6. The region of the Deccan plateau, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
and Tamilnadu
7. The North eastern States of India
8. The Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala
9. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands
10. The long western and eastern coastal belt with sandy beaches, forests and mangroves.
 BIOGEOGRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION OF INDIA

Our country can be divided into ten major regions based on the geography, climate and
pattern of vegetation seen and the communities of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians,
insects and other invertebrates that live in them

▪ Trans-Himalayan
▪ Himalayan
▪ Desert
▪ Semi-arid
▪ Western ghats
▪ Deccan plateau
▪ Gangetic plain
▪ North-east India
▪ Islands
▪ Coasts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGG
qrRBU2xk&t=158s&ab_channel=ATREECE
PF
Module 2 Biodiversity 6 hours CO: 1,3

Importance, types, mega-biodiversity; Species interaction - Extinct, endemic, endangered and rare species; Hot-spots;
GM crops- Advantages and disadvantages; Terrestrial biodiversity and Aquatic biodiversity – Significance, Threats due to
natural and anthropogenic activities and Conservation methods.
Ecological niche

While different species may share

or live in a similar habitat,
ecological niche is their unique way
of living with in it
How do species interact?

Species Interact in Five Major Ways: Ecologists identify five basic types of
interactions between species as they share limited resources such as food, shelter, and space
❑ Interspecific competition: occurs when members of two or more species interact to
gain access to the same limited resources such as food, water, light, and space.

❑ Predation: occurs when a member of one species (the predator) feeds directly on all or
part of a member of another species (the prey).

❑ Parasitism : occurs when one organism (the parasite) feeds on another organism (the
host), usually by living on or in the host.

❑ Mutualism: an interaction that benefits both species by providing each with food,
shelter, or some other resource.

❑ Commensalism: an interaction that benefits one species but has little or no effect on
the other.

These five types of species interactions affect the resource use and population sizes of the
species in an ecosystem
Interspecific competition

• The most common interaction between species is competition for limited resources.

• While fighting for resources - ability of one species to become more efficient than
another species in getting food, space, light, or other resources.

• Each species plays a role in its ecosystem called its ecological niche.

• When two species compete with one another for the same resources such as food, light,
or space, their niches overlap. The greater this overlap, the more intense their
competition for key resources.
Interspecific competition

The losing species must

a) must move to another area (if possible)
b) adapt by shifting its feeding habits or behavior through natural selection to reduce or
alter its niche.
c) suffer a sharp population decline,
d) become extinct in that area.
Interspecific competition

Inter-specific competition involves organism among different species

When niches overlap, competition results

Interspecific competition

Humans compete with many other species for space, food, and other resources.
As our ecological footprints grow and spread and we convert more of the earth’s land,
aquatic resources, and net primary productivity to our uses, we are taking over the habitats
of many other species and depriving them of resources they need to survive.
Interspecific competition

Some Species Evolve Ways to Share Resources

some species develop adaptations that allow them to reduce or avoid competition with
other species for resources.

resource partitioning: It occurs when species competing for similar scarce resources
evolve specialized traits that allow them to share resources by using parts of them, using
them at different times, or using them in different ways.
Resource partitioning
Some Species Evolve Ways to Share Resources: resource partitioning
Example shows resource partitioning by some insect-eating bird species. In this case, their
adaptations allow them to reduce competition by feeding in different portions of certain
spruce trees and by feeding on different insect species shows how the evolution of
specialized feeding niches has reduced competition for resources among bird species in a
coastal wetland (spruce tree: a widespread tree which has a distinctive conical shape)
 Resource partitioning

Some Species Evolve Ways to Share

Resources
Another example of resource
partitioning through natural selection
involves birds called honeycreepers
that live in the US state of Hawaii. Long
ago these birds started from a single
ancestral species. But through
evolution by natural selection there
are now numerous honeycreeper
species. Each has a different type of
specialized beak for feeding on certain
food sources such as specific types of
insects, nectar from particular types of
flowers, and certain types of seeds and
fruits
Predation

Most Consumer Species Feed on Live Organisms of Other Species

In predation, a member of one species (the predator) feeds directly on all or part of a living
organism (the prey) as part of a food web.

Two different species, such as a brown bear (the predator, or hunter) and a salmon (the prey,
or hunted), form a predator–prey relationship
Predation
Predators have a variety of methods that help them to capture prey

Herbivores can simply walk, swim, or fly up to the plants they feed on.

Carnivores feeding on mobile prey have two main options: pursuit and ambush( a surprise
attack).
• Cheetah catch prey by running fast.
• Eagle can fly and have keen eyesight.
• African lions capture giraffes by hunting in packs
Predation
Predators have a variety of methods that help them to capture prey

Sometime predators use camouflage to hide in plain sight and ambush their prey.
• Snowy owls hunt in snow-covered areas
• Some predators use chemical warfare to attack their prey. For example, some spiders and
poisonous snakes use venom to paralyze their prey and to deter their predators
How prey reacts?

Prey species have evolved many ways to avoid predators - run, swim, or fly fast.

Many lizards have brightly colored tails that break off when they are attacked, often giving
them enough time to escape.

Some prey species use the camouflage of certain shapes or colors.

Chameleons and cuttlefish have the ability to change color. Some insect species have shapes
that look like twigs (a), bark, thorns, or even bird droppings on leaves. A leaf insect can be
almost invisible against its background (b).
How prey reacts?

Chemical warfare is another common strategy

Some prey species discourage predators with chemicals that are poisonous (oleander
plants), irritating (stinging nettles and bombardier beetles), foul smelling (skunks, skunk
cabbages, and stinkbugs), or bad tasting (buttercups and monarch butterflies. When
attacked, some species of squid and octopus emit clouds of black ink, allowing them to
escape by confusing their predators.
How prey reacts?

Many bad-tasting, bad-smelling, toxic, or stinging prey species have evolved warning
coloration, brightly colored advertising that helps experienced predators to recognize and
avoid them. They flash a warning: “Eating me is risky.” Examples are brilliantly colored
poisonous frogs and foul-tasting monarch butterflies . When a bird such as a blue jay eats a
monarch butterfly, it usually vomits and learns to avoid them
How prey reacts?

Some butterfly species such as the nonpoisonous viceroy gain protection by looking and
acting like the monarch, a protective device known as mimicry. Other prey species use
behavioral strategies to avoid predation. Some moths have wings that look like the eyes of
much larger animals. Some attempt to scare off predators by puffing up (blowfish),
spreading their wings (peacocks), or mimicking a predator. Other prey species gain some
protection by living in large groups such as fish.
 How prey reacts?

Coevolution : When populations of two different species interact in such a way over a long
period of time, changes in the gene pool of one species can lead to changes in the gene pool
of the other. Such changes can help both sides to become more competitive or to avoid or
reduce competition
Parasitism

Parasitism occurs when one species (the parasite) feeds on another organism (the host),
usually by living on or inside the host.

In this relationship, the parasite benefits and the host is often harmed but not immediately
killed.

Examples:
• Tapeworms live inside their hosts.
• Some parasites such as mistletoe plants and sea lampreys attach themselves to the
outsides of their hosts.
• Some parasites such as fleas and ticks move from one host to another while others,
such as tapeworms, spend their adult lives within a single host.
Mutualism
• In mutualism, two species behave in ways that benefit both by providing each with
food, shelter, or some other resource.

• Helps to sustain the populations of the participating species and by providing

favorable habitats for certain organisms and influencing their distribution.

Mutualistic relationships that combine nutrition and
protection: One involves birds that ride on the backs of
large animals like African buffalo, elephants, and
rhinoceroses . The birds remove and eat parasites and
pests (such as ticks and flies) from the animal’s body and
often make noises warning the larger animals when
predators are approaching
Clownfish usually live in a group within sea
anemones, whose tentacles sting and paralyze most
fish that touch them. The clownfish, which are not
harmed by the tentacles, gain protection from
predators and feed on the detritus left from the
anemones’ meals. The sea anemones benefit because
the clownfish protect them from some of their
predators and parasites
Commensalism

In Some Interactions, One Species Benefits and the Other Is Not Harmed

Commensalism is an interaction that benefits one species but has little, if any, beneficial
or harmful effect on the other.
Species classification

Extinct species: Species which are no longer known to exist in the world.

▪ Genetics and demographic phenomena

▪ Genetic pollution
▪ Habitat degradation
▪ Predation, competition, and disease
▪ Coextinction
▪ Climate change
▪ Human activities
Extinct species
Consequence of extinction species
→ When a species can no longer be found anywhere on the earth it has suffered
biological extinction.

→ Biological extinction is forever and represents an irreversible loss of natural capital.

→ The disappearance of species, especially those that play keystone and foundation
roles, can weaken or break some of the connections in the ecosystem where it once
existed and thus can threaten or lessen ecosystem services. This can lead to
extinctions of other species with strong connections to species that go extinct.
Endemic Species

Endemic Species: Those species that exist only in one geographical region. Species can be
endemic to large or small areas of the world. Some may be endemic to the particular
continent; some are endemic to a part of a continent, and others to a single island
 Endangered species

Endangered species:

A species is said to be endangered when its number has been reduced to a critical level or
whose habitats have been drastically reduced and if such a species is not protected and
conserved, it is in immediate danger of extinction.
Endangered species

Bengal Tiger (2500 left in wild) Grizzly bear

Bald eagle
Vulnerable species

▪ A species is said to be in vulnerable category if its population is facing continuous decline

due to overexploitation or habitat destruction.
▪ Such a species is still abundant, but under a serious threat of becoming endangered if
causal factors are not checked.
▪ There is a 10% or greater probability of extinction within 100 years

Dugong Slow Leopard Military Macaw

Rare species

Rare species : Species with small world populations that are not at present endangered or
vulnerable but are at risk

Giant Panda Cheetah California condor

From Wikipedia
Hot spots of biodiversity

Hot spots - Geographical regions with high biodiversity (species richness) and endemism

Criteria for recognizing hot spots are:

• Richness of the endemic species.
• They should have a significant percentage of specialized species.
• At least 0.5 % of plant species should be

➢ There are 34 hotspots in the world

➢ Two of them are in India, western ghats and eastern Himalayas.
➢ Although these hotspots cover only a little more than 2% of the earth’s land surface,
they contain an estimated 50% of the world’s flowering plant species and 42% of all
terrestrial vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians).
➢ These hot spots have about 50% of the terrestrial biodiversity.
➢ They are also home for a large majority of the world’s endangered or critically
endangered species
Hot spots of biodiversity in the world
Hot spots in India: western ghats

western ghats
• 40% plants, 62% amphibians, 50%
lizards are endemic
• Forests occur up to 500 m elevation –
(20% forest) are evergreen – forest in
500-1500 m are semi-evergreen
• Only 6.8% of the original forests are
existing now in this region Examples:
Different species of lizards, reticulated
python, Indian salamander, lizard hawk

Eastern Himalayas

• Northern Himalayan states of

India, some part in Nepal and
Bhutan.
• 35,000 plant species of which
30% are endemic species, 63%
mammals, 60% of the Indian
birds are from North East
Module 2 Biodiversity 6 hours CO: 1,3

Importance, types, mega-biodiversity; Species interaction - Extinct, endemic, endangered and rare species; Hot-spots; GM
crops- Advantages and disadvantages; Terrestrial biodiversity and Aquatic biodiversity – Significance, Threats due to natural
and anthropogenic activities and Conservation methods.
Genetically
Modified
Organism
 CHALLENGES AHEAD

❖ Population in 2050 AD: 9 Billion

❖ Shrinking area of cultivated land
❖ Diminishing water resources
❖ Malnutrition and undernourishment
❖ Deterioration in soil quality
❖ Climate change (global warming)
 Gene – What is it?

Species
Importance of gene – Cross breeding
Traditional cross breeding- very slow process
How are GMOs made?
History of GMOs

India’s 1st GM cotton

2002
 What are genetically modified organism (GMOs)?

➢ Scientists are creating a gene revolution by using genetic

engineering or by gene splicing to develop genetically improved
strains of crops and livestock animals.
➢ It involves altering genetic material through adding, deleting, or
changing segments of its DNA to produce desirable traits or to
eliminate undesirable ones.
➢ It enables to transfer genes between different species that would
not interbreed in nature. The resulting organisms are called
genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
➢ A GMO is any organism whose genetic material has been altered
using genetic engineering techniques. GMOs are used to produce
many medications, foods, etc.
How are GMOs made?
1) To produce a GMO plant, scientists first identify
what trait they want that plant to have, such as
resistance to drought, herbicides, or insects.

2) Then, they find an organism (plant, animal, or

microorganism) that already has that trait within its
genes.

3) Next, scientists use tools to insert the gene into the

DNA of the plant

4) In the laboratory, scientists grow the new corn

plant to ensure it has adopted the desired trait (insect
resistance). If successful, scientists first grow and
monitor the new corn plant (now called Bt corn
because it contains a gene from Bacillus
thuringiensis) in greenhouses and then in small field
tests before moving it into larger field tests

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vribRyVQ6G8&ab_channel=FuseSchool-
GlobalEducation
 What are genetically modified crops?

➢ Genetically modified crops (GMCs, GM crops, or biotech crops) are plants used in
agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques. In
most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally
in the species.

The main aim of Genetically

Modified Crops
♦ To create a food that is
able resist harmful insects
chemicals, pests, disease
♦ To make food stay fresh
for a long time.

Some examples of genetically modified crops and food are Corn, tomato, potatoes,
Alfalfa, Soya bean, rice, wheat, poultry
What are genetically modified crops?
Some achievements by genetic engineers

• Pest-resistant plants
• Genetically modified bacteria to clean oil spills
• Chickens that lay less cholesterol eggs
• Tomatoes with genes to prevent some types of cancer
• Artificially grown meat

Advantages of genetic engineering

• It is faster than traditional cross breeding.

• It costs less
• It allows transfer of traits between genetically different plants or animals
Advantages

❖ Gene technology is one of the best solutions to the problem of world hunger

• It can increase production and lower the cost of food.

• Less pesticides, fertilizers and water needed

❖ It can boost immunity and develop inbuilt vaccines for livestock and poultry.

❖ Crops could be grown in areas suffering from drought and salt.

❖ Genetically modified foods are able to grow faster.

❖ Genetically modified foods are often thought to be more nutritious, tasty and lasting
longer.

❖ Many people rely on genetically modified foods for medicines. e.g. insulin for diabetics
Disadvantages

❖ Genetically modified crops can contaminate other crops simply by pollen being blown
by wind from one field to another.

❖ Sometimes genetically modified crops have allergenic effects

❖ New viruses could evolve from the mass production of genetically modified crops.

❖ The more gene technology is used, the worse the environment.

❖ Pests may develop resistance to genetically modified crops that have been designed to
kill them.

❖ May be harmful to good insects and to ecosystem

Genetically modified brinjal (Bt brinjal)

❖ Second most cultivated vegetable in India

❖ Eaten by almost all Indians

❖ Cultivated over 5 lakh hectares

❖ Annual yield 8 lakh tonnes

❖ Traditional brinjal is vulnerable to pests

So the company producing brinjal wants to

introduce genetically modified brinjal to get
financial benefits

Example: Mahyco monsanto biotech (india)

private limited
 What is genetically modified (GM) brinjal?

▪ GM brinjal or Bt brinjal is being developed by Monsanto, a multinational company based in

the USA partnership within India by M/s Mahyco [Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company]

▪ Created by inserting a crystal protein gene (Cry1Ac) from the soil bacterium Bacillus
thuringiensis into the genome of brinjal. The plant can produce its own pesticide to kill
and shoot insect

Mechanism:
Why should we worry about GM brinjal?

▪ Antibiotic resistance: the gene package is resistant to Neomycin and Streptomycin

▪ Toxicity of proteins released
▪ Not tested for allergic reactions
▪ No long-term safety tests conducted
▪ Babies have higher risk–but not tested
▪ Ecological imbalance – killing of other insects
▪ Loss of consumer choice – we cannot differentiate between GM and non-GM brinjal
▪ Farmer’s seed sovereignty under threat
▪ Possibility of gene contamination
▪ Price raise
▪ Regulatory problems
Controversy

❖ Several studies on Bt crops in particular and GM crops in general show that

there are many potential health hazards in foods bio-engineered in this
manner.

❖ GM-fed animals in various studies have shown problems with growth, organ
development and damage, Immune responsiveness etc.

❖ With Bt crops, a recent study from Madhya Pradesh in India shows adverse
human health impacts in farm and factory workers with allergies caused by Bt
Cotton.

❖ Itching skin, eruptions on the body, swollen faces etc., were also reported,
correlated with levels of exposure to Bt Cotton.

❖ Organizations like Greenpeace have been in the forefront of the campaign

opposing the GM variety of Brinjal