Marker free transgenics and methods of transgene detection

Abstract

The Winter school on “Marker free transgenics and methods of transgene detection” was organized at National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology (NRCPB), New Delhi under the aegis of ICAR. With the prediction of India surpassing China in population in near future, our country faces immense pressure and challenge to improve its agricultural productivity. Genetically modified (GM) crops with higher yield, resistance to pests/diseases and harsh environments posed by climate change hold a great promise to achieve this goal. The relaxation on GM crop trials in India is a welcome step and has revived the hopes of researchers to use the technology for a sustainable agricultural productivity gains. One of the major concerns constraining wider application of GM products in agriculture is the possibility of undesired transfer of selectable markers like antibiotic resistance genes to animal/human gut bacteria and herbicide resistance genes to weeds. This necessitates development of marker free transgenics for rational utilization of GM technology. Therefore, this training aimed at providing a comprehensive theoretical and practical exposure to the participants from National Agricultural Research System on techniques involved in development of transgenics and elimination of selectable markers to make them marker-free.