The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), operating within the Ministry of Science and Technology, has begun enforcing streamlined biosafety regulation to assist researchers and industries in dealing with recombinant DNA technology. This action comes in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the surge in management of hazardous microorganisms that has come with it.
Indian Biosafety Knowledge Portal
Launched in May 2019, the Indian Biosafety Knowledge Portal serves as an online platform where the DBT collects all new applications connected to research proposals. By making this process web-based, a new level of transparency and efficiency has been introduced. The main goal of the portal is to offer scientific information and regulatory guidance to researchers, industry professionals, and other stakeholders, specifically in relation to Genetically Modified Organisms/Living Modified Organisms (GMOs/LMOs) and their products.
Institutional Biosafety Committee’s Role
The Institutional Biosafety Committee has been granted decision-making authority regarding the import, export, and exchange of GMOs and their products for research & development purposes under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
Efforts to Facilitate Covid-19 Research and Development
Amidst the pandemic, DBT has proactively taken steps to support researchers and industries carrying out research on Covid-19.
Understanding India’s Biosafety and Recombinant DNA Guidelines
“Biosafety” refers to the policies and procedures designed to prevent risks to human health and safety and the environment due to the use of GMOs for research and trade. A three-tier mechanism involving the Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSC) at the institute/company level, the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) within DBT, and the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) in the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoE&F) has been implemented.
What is Recombinant DNA Technology?
Recombinant DNA technology or genetic engineering, involves the generation of artificial Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) by combining genetic materials from different sources. This process follows a specific sequence: isolation of genetic material, cutting the gene at recognition sites, ligation of DNA molecules, insertion of recombinant DNA into the host, and multiplication and expression in the host cell. Recombinant DNA creates new genetic combinations that are valuable to various fields including science, medicine, agriculture, and industry.
Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology
This technology has a range of applications such as gene therapy for correcting genetic defects causing hereditary diseases, clinical diagnosis like HIV detection, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) which measures antibodies in blood, production of insulin, and development of genetically-modified organisms for agriculture, like Flavr Savr tomatoes.
