One plant braves the scorching sun. Another knocks out pests. What's the secret of their success? The traits these exhibit are in the genes in their cells. What would happen if a sun tolerant gene were introduced into the pest resisting plant? We would be able to grow a new genetically modified plant. It would be sun proof AND pest proof!
Put a gene from thale cress plant into tomato plant. We now are able to grow a genetically modified (GM) tomato plant that is salt tolerant. It GROWS in the salty soil! The salt is stored in the leaves. Who carried the salt? The thale cress gene. We reap juicy tomatoes but these are NOT salty! What did we gain? Hey! The saline soil's salt was mopped up!
Hate vaccinations? Gulping antibiotics? Just include GM fruits in your diet. These will have edible vaccines. So munch that GM potato packed with antibiotics. Now you just have to EAT to keep diseases at bay!
Do you have a Vitamin A deficiency? EAT 'golden' rice! This has been genetically altered to contain beta-carotene. This GM rice is rich. It has a wealth of healthy VITAMINS!
Indian farmers worry about scorching summers and scanty rains. A gene from a weed (Arabidopsis thaliana) was put into Indian mustard. Good news! The plant guzzled less water! Bajra genes put into rice and wheat gave the same result. Our Indian weather is unpredictable. So these anti-drought seeds help us to counter hostile weather conditions. We will now grow plants that are LESS thirsty!
So Indian agriculture has some smart new entrants- the sturdy, hardy GM crops also known as transgenic plants. These are more nutritious and the seeds more oily. We can happily say BYE- BYE to poisonous pesticides! Our GM plants ARE pest proof!