GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS:
Genetically modified crops (GM crops) are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques.Genetic Modification is also done to increase nutritional value, bioremediation and for other purposes like production of pharmaceutical agents, biofuels etc.It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species. Foods/Crops produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods/crops.
Bt cotton is the only Genetically Modified (GM) crop that is allowed in India. It has alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common pest pink bollworm.
WHY GM CROPS ARE NEEDED?
- They are grown with desirable qualities
- To reduce pesticides and fertilisers usage
- GMO crops that are tolerant to herbicides help farmers control weeds without damaging the crops. When farmers use these herbicide-tolerant crops they do not need to till the soil, which they normally do to get rid of weeds.
- When it comes to insects, there are genetically modified plants that can repel only the very particular type of insect that feeds on it. With some crops, this has significantly lowered the need to apply pesticides. Other GM plants have been developed to be resistant to certain herbicides thus making weed control more straightforward and less expensive.
- Food Security
- Nutritional security
- Synthetics chemicals can be reduced
- More affordable crops
- Water consumption can be needed
WHY GM CROPS ARE NOT NEEDED?
- Affects diversity of Crops
- Farmers will become more dependent on manufacturers
- Contamination happens
- Natural organisms present in the soil can be affected
- Farmers won't get proper returns
- Seeds can be costlier
- Generalisation of Crops
- Declination of native Crops
ECOTONES:
Components of Ecosystem includes:
- Abiotic components
- Biotic components
- Temperature - eurythermal and stenothermal
- Water - Ph,euryhaline and stenohaline
- Light
- Soil
- Rainfall
RESPONSES TO ABIOTIC FACTOR:
- Regulate - thermoregulation,osmoregulation and Endothermic
- Conform - Body temperature changes with ambient temperature
- Migrate
- Suspend - diapason,hibernation,aestivation
Biotic Components
- Producers( Autotrophs)
- Consumers - primary,secondary and tertiary(Heterotrophs)
- Decomposers
Producers -> Primary -> Secondary ->Tertiary
Grass -> Grasshoppers -> Birds -> Humans
Credits:Leo Srilekha
