BIOSAFETY ASSESSMENT OF LOCALLY DEVELOPED TRANSGENIC SUGARCANE
Genetically modified organisms have become obligatory to adopt certain precautions to overcome the risks related to release of GMOs. Through this study, an attempt was made to evaluate bio safety concerns of transgenic sugarcane with insect resistant gene, Cry1Ac. In short term feeding trial of 120 days, 20 broiler chicks divided into four random groups were caged separately. Group I fed on commercial chicken diet; group II fed on non transgenic sugarcane diet; group III fed on transgenic diet (commercial to transgenic ratio was 1:1) while group IV was fed on high dose transgenic diet (commercial to transgenic ratio was 1:2) Body weights of chicks increased normally in all four groups during the course of study. Biochemical tests and molecular tests done on chick's blood reported no significant difference among assorted groups. At the termination of the experiment, chicks were slaughtered and dissected vital organs were used for histological studies. It was found that tissues belong to group 3 and 4 were morphologically and histological similar to group 1 and 2. Also, no mRNA expression was observed in total RNA isolated from chicken's tissues. These findings suggest that there was no deleterious or harmful effect of the GM sugarcane on the chick's health and no transgene fragment has transferred from GM crop to animal's blood neither in their vital tissues. Conclusively, it is suggested that at least in short term period feeding trial, the genetically modified sugarcane doesn't not have adverse effect on animals feeding them.