The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Genetically modified crops should be tested for toxicity’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Genetically modified crops should be tested for toxicity’

G. Narasimha Rao

Recent findings of French scientists alarming, says expert

Kidney, liver problems have surfaced in rats fed with GM corn
Biotech firms must concentrate on fundamental research, he says

VISAKHAPATNAM: The much ado about the genetically modified (GM) crop varieties quickly turned into a frustration for the Indian farmers. The many promises like higher yield, no need to use pesticides and a buy-back facility did not materialise. The Indian farmer has also found that the crops have failed and more frustrating is the fact that the seeds have no reproductive character.

Added to this is the recent findings made by French scientists in their analysis that kidney and liver problems have surfaced in the rats that have been fed with GM corn.

“This is a new evidence that has come to light when the French scientists analysed the data of Monsanto company”, a biotechnologist from the US, Krishna Dronamraju said while talking to The Hindu.

Dr. Krishna Dronamraju who has done a lot of research in biotechnology and was also once nominated for the Nobel prize, is here to participate in the 95th Indian Science Congress commencing on Thursday.

In India the GM crops are being raised in small extent of land unlike in the US where they are being used extensively, he noted and felt it is better on the part of Indian Government to test the GM crops on a small scale to determine their toxicity.

Noticing the surge biotechnology is experiencing in India, he observed that the biotech companies in India must concentrate on fundamental research instead of only finding ways to earn profit. “They should get themselves involved in fundamental research to create new products and therapies”. They can also start philanthropic foundations similar to those existing in the US to support research and other activities, Dr.Dronamraju felt. Talking about other outstanding issues regarding biotechnology, he said efforts are being made to produce vaccines for AIDS, malaria and cancer.

New techniques have been invented in the gene therapy, like using the non-biological nano molecules in the place of virus to carry the DNA. The biodegradable chemical polymers are safer, he observed.

Seventy-year-old Dr. Krishna Dronamraju was in the news some years ago when he accompanied the then US President Clinton to India. “This is my proudest moment. I am invited by him to be part of his official delegation to India in 2000”, he said. He is advisor to both Mr. Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary on health care in America.

Dr. Krishna Dronamraju is from Pithapuram in East Godavari district. He studied B.Sc. (biology) at the M.R. College, Vizianagaram and took M.Sc. degree in plant genetics from Agra University in 1957. “That was one of the few places offering that subject then”, he said. Dr. Krishna Dronamraju received Ph.D. from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkota where he worked with noted scientist J.B.S. Haldane.

He left for the US in 1963 and is now heading the Foundation for Genetic Research located in Houston.

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