Beware of BT Brinjals

“Science without conscience is but ruin of the soul” wrote Francois

Rabelais. We allow all types of havocs, to wreck the population, out of
both ignorance and indifference. After the havoc takes place we give
juicy explanations, have debates and start the blame game. The very
thought of allowing untested BT Brinjals sends shivers down the
collective spine of innocent millions who would be consuming it
unaware of the possible dangers it can have on the health.
Bureaucrats are either chicken hearted or operate with childish
knowledge, media lacks the gall to oppose for fear of losing
advertisement revenue from the perpetrators of these activities, at
least scientist must extricate themselves from the shell of academicism
and provide a welcome antidote by boldly spelling out the possible
health hazards. Now that we have information explosion, let us use the
full potential of our limbic brains and prevent the havoc instead of
searching for cures and culprits after the havoc.

We have clear cut right not to allow BT Brinjals it as per

1] Cartagena Protocol, which demands an extra-cautious approach for

testing GM varieties in regions where the crop originated.

1a] Peru, where potato originated, and Mexico, original home of corn,
have a ban on genetic testing of these two. This comes from the fear
that the alien gene, mostly sourced from other species, could escape
(in some instances it indeed has) from the modified varieties, and
contaminate the crop’s entire natural genetic diversity

2] Brinjal originated in INDIA-

2a] I.S. Bisht, a principal scientist at the Delhi-based National Bureau

of Plant Genetic Resources, asserts that Solanum melongena L (the
botanical name for brinjal) originated in the wild in India and adjoining
areas—a view seconded by noted food historian K.T. Achaya, who also
states that brinjal is an indigenous vegetable that originated from a
wild ancestor. The bureau has acquired and conserved as many as
2,500 varieties of brinjal, 95 per cent of them from India.

2b] 4th century BC brinjal recipe from Ettuthogai, an ancient

Tamil text: Smear green brinjal with gingelly oil. Roast it on charcoal
and then peel it. Mash it when cold. Heat some more gingelly oil. Add
mustard seeds, curry leaves, crushed pepper corns, ginger powder and
chopped fresh ginger. Finally, add the mashed brinjal and cook briefly
till well-blended. (Courtesy: Jacob Aruni)

2c] the history of the popular Sode Matha temple, in Karnataka’s

Udupi district, is inseparable from the vegetable. Poisoned, Lord
Hayavadana asked for a naivedyam prepared from a special type of
brinjal called gulla. That variety is now widely known as ‘mattu gulla’,
the former being the name of the village where it was first cultivated

2d] Brinjal is even older than Sanskrit, which had to borrow the word
‘vartaka’ and ‘vrntaka’ from the Munda language

3] Greatness of Brinjal. Dr. James S. McLester, well-known

professor of medicine at the University of Alabama and one of the
pioneers in treating nutritional deficiencies, says: "If a man would
enjoy sustained vigor and would experience his normal expectancy ...
he must eat a liberal quantity of good protein." Good protein means, of
course, a complete protein-one containing all 10 essential amino acids
and Brinjal has almost all the essential amino acids Arginine, Lysine,
Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Methonine, Crystine, Theonine, Cystine,
Threonine, Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine.

4] Brinjal is richer in nicotine than any other edible plant, with a

concentration of 100 ng/g (or 0.01 mg/100g.

5] Brinjal is high in histamines. A few proteins and at least one

secondary metabolite have been identified as potential allergens.

These three factors essential amino acids, nicotine and histamines

make any gene inserted into BRINJAL really deadly to the person who
consumes it as it can get into the vital body organs and cause damage
to health much faster.

6] Genes inserted into GM food survive digestive processes and are

transferred into the human body. They are known to have transferred
themselves into intestinal bacteria too. Bt toxin had caused powerful
immune responses and abnormal cell growth in mice. It has also been
shown that all the Cry proteins in Bt crops have amino acid sequence
similar to known allergens and are hence potential allergens.

7] Bt brinjal has been modified to produce an

unknown chimeric insecticide toxin containing Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac
modified sequences

Bt brinjal produces into the vegetable cells a protein

inducing resistance towards at least kanamycin, a well known
antibiotic

Bt toxins have never been authorized as such for mammalian

consumption.
Artificial ones should not be either, before a more serious
assessment.

8] I would like to add here a very meaningful letter written by a

scientist with conscience to the MINISTER concerned on this issue:-

“Na ruteh shrantasya sakhayay devaha-God does not help inactive people”
- Rig Veda (4.33.11)

SUNDARAMURTHY V.T,
‘Sri Vaishnava Sri’
23, Maniyakarar Street, Veerakeralam, Coimbatore-641 007, Tamil Nadu,
India
E- Mail :< vtsmurthycbe@yahoo.co.in > Phone: 0422-2473853

October 23/24, 2009

To
Honorable Shri.Jairam Ramesh,
Union Minister,
Ministry of Environment & Forests,
Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi - 110 003
E-Mail: “Hon.Shri .Jairam Ramesh”<
jairam@sansad.nic.in> ,

Respected Sir.
Pranam JI
I salute and bow my head Sir for having taken a decision not
to hurry up with a transgenic crop and having given an
opportunity to the public and stake holders to open their
minds to give their unbiased views on such crops.
Sir your earlier statement that ‘GM crop is acceptable but
GM food is not’ is the best one made by keeping the health
of 120 cores of Indian and finest bio diversity of our country
in the mind. As one of the citizens of this Nobel Country with
the base intelligence I submit the following for your kind
notice.

The Genetic improvement of crops by conventional and

biotechnology approaches involves the addition of genetic
variation to varieties and cause changes in the plant genome
that result in unintended effects on crop traits. But the
screening processes help to have the varieties with desirable
traits.The dwarf gene in wheat and Rice besides making
them highly fertiliser responsive laid the foundation for
Green revolution and prevented starvation death of billion
people around the world particularly the Indian sub
continent.Thanks to Dr.Norman Borlaug. The fertilizer
responsiveness made the mankind to over do in the system
to cause an irreversible damage to the Agro system.
Similarly with cotton where we advocated the use of
pesticides saying that they have “Tonic effects” and increase
the productivity. But over, indiscriminate use led into
collapse of the system with unintended health hazards to
human beings. These are all due to existence of very little
knowledge on the biochemistry and changed plant
metabolism under these situation and mono culture which
replaced the existing polycrop system in those days.

The 21 stTechnological Century provides us various tools to study and assess

the biological mechanism with ease. The Chinese group of scientists have
elicited how the Bt- gene has modified the nitrogen metabolism and
increased the free amino acid, soluble protein, nitrate reductase and the
glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity in cotton (Chen, D.H. et al.Field
Crops Res. 87: 235- 244 2004). Such of these basic informations will aid for
developing appropriate agronomy which may not go against the wellbeing of
the system and will help to keep our system intact to some extent.
The transfer of genes into plants is one of the breeding
methods like hybridization and mutagenesis and cannot be
ignored or discarded as this mode help to transfer specific
gene into the matrix of the plant cell for getting a desired
effect with in short time span. The advance made in the field
of gene transfer enabled the mankind to introduce the Bt-
gene to the crop easily (Perlak, F.J et al..Proce. Natl.
Acad.Sci, USA 91: 7217-7221, 1994) and get quick benefit
as against other methods. But there are some known and
unknown implications that are woven with this method and
crops developed.

It has been conclusively established that the BT material

exudes Bt proteins through roots into the soil and gets
accumulated to interact with the soil fauna. The insecticidal
toxin binds tightly to clays and humic acids and persisting in
various soils for at least 234 days like DDT. We took
several decades to ban the use of DDT in our India as it has
caused several irrevocable Ecological and health hazards.
The same effects are likely to descend to our dynamic agro
system with transgenic crops.They besides creating the
ecological problems that are associated with monoculture
agriculture may result in cumulative effects of toxins in soils.
The Scientists of Indian Institute of Agriculture Reseach
(IARI), New Delhi have brought to light that the transgenic
crop (Bt) has reduced the total mineral-N+ NO3 -N) in soil
by 14 % and enhanced P besides reducing Dehydrogenase
activity, and respiration of our own soil indicating that there
is reduced activity of soil microflora (B. Sarkar et al., J.
Agronomy & Crop Science
194, 2008.). About seventy five percent of total area under
cotton in our country is under the transgenic materials and
we do not know what is happening in our soil in these areas
in our system. If the soil ecosystem and its species dynamic
are affected it is difficult even to imagine what type of
catastrophe will embrace our country and her finest
biodiversity.

The Bt materials are known to carry unknown fragments of

RNA and DNA genetic material and new proteins, but whose
biological effects particularly toxicity and allergic action for
humans and animals are not fully brought to light. It has
been reported that the unintended DNA and RNA fragments
in genetically modified maize may bring some “unexpected
turbulences” (Rosati et al. Plant Molecular Biology, 67: 271-
281(2008), and whether the presence of these fragments
are specific to certain Bt genes are not known. It has been
reported recently that orally administered DNA is known to
interact with the Immune system and if it is so what will be
the effect of food containing the unintended DNA is also not
known. Scientists have evaluated the gut and peripheral
immune response to genetically modified maize in mice and
found recurrent changes in the immune system (Finamore
et al. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 56:11533-
11539, (2008) like T-cells). Such  changes in the number
of a special type of lymphocytes ( T-cells are known to be
involved in the modulation of inflammatory response and
associated with asthma or with untreated food allergy in
children. Alterations of the Immunopheno types induced by
the transgenic maize were associated with the increase in
some cytokines (like Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 13,
Interleukin 12p70 and MIP-1) which are important in the
human immune response (Finamore et al. Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 56:11533-11539, (2008). It
is note worthy that Scientists have also traced fragments of
synthetic transgenes in the blood of piglets fed with
transgene food.( Mazza et al. Transgenic Research ,14: 775-
784,2005) and feared that these may interact with the
immune system .

Laboratory animals fed GM foods have developed stomach

lesions, intestinal damage, and proliferative cell growth in
the walls of the stomach and intestines. The only published
human feeding experiment has revealed that the genes
inserted into GM soya crops transfer into the intestinal
bacteria and continue to function even after stopping to eat
GM foods and this indicates that the GM proteins
continuously producing in the human bodies.

GM soya and GM corn both contain at least one new

unexpected allergen not found in natural crops.

Mice and rats fed GM food had resulted in smaller and

partially atrophied livers and in some heavier which could
signal inflammation.

Both male and female animals displayed troubling

reproductive problems when fed GM soya Over half of the
babies of mother rats fed GM soya died within three weeks,
compared to 10 percent of the non-GM soy offspring. The
GM babies were smaller and were unable to conceive in a
subsequent study. Male rats and mice fed GM soy had
altered testicles, including fewer young sperm cells.
(American Academy of Environmental Medicine & LIA
Foundation, Source: Examiner)

The Bt materials are known to interfere with the non target

species, wellbeing of predators (Hilbeck, A., M. et al
Environmental Entomology 27, 460-487. 1998) and
parasites. It is also feared that vector-mediated horizontal
gene transfer and recombination to create new pathogenic
organisms The Bt protein is moving up trophic levels of food
chain and contaminates the bee hieves.Whether our hives in
and around the major honey producing state Punjab
surrounded by 13.5 lakh hectares of cotton crop do have
pollen grains of transgenic cotton is not known. It is also
known fact that DNA can persist in the field plot for at least
a year (Meier & Wackernagel, Transgenic Research 12, 293-
304 2003)
It is well known fact that 500 species of insect pests have
already developed resistance to conventional insecticides,
pests can also evolve resistance to Bt toxins present in
transgenic crops (Altieri.M, The Ecological Impacts of
Agricultural Biotechnology, An ActionBioscience.org original
article,2001) despites the usage of refuge crops that is
being recommended for cultivation of transgenic crops. The
recent report says that the transgenic cotton in tribal area of
Dungarpur, in Rajasthan has been plagued by insects
including bollworm at varied levels.

The removal of one species of insect pest from the given eco
niche either by nature or man will pave the way for an
Ecological Succession of another one as evidenced earlier in
our cotton system (Sundaramurthy, V.T., Outlook on
Agriculture 31: 95-106, 2002). The second such Succession
has already set in our cotton growing regions where the crop
is devastated by the mealy bugs. The main concern with
transgenes that confer significant biological advantages is
that they may transform wild/weed plants into new or worst
weeds.

The Brinjal is native of India belongs to the family

Solanaceae, has more than 2000 local varieties, more than
31 improved varieties were released by IIHR, Bangalore,
IARI, New Delhi, Agricultural Universities and State
Agriculture Departments (Yawalkar K.S, Vegetable Crops in
India, 1992) cultivated on 550,000 hectares in different
interesting eco niches having different soils and fertility,
temperature, rainfall and water yielding 25- 30 tonnes of
fruits\ha and infested by about 12 species of insects. This
vegetable meets the demand of local market and also
export. The shoot and fruit bores (Euzophera particella and
Leucinodes orbanalis,) are the most important pests.It is a
good achievement made by our scientists of the Private
Sector who developed transgenic variety to ward off these
borers. It is likely to result the same effects as that of other
Bt-food crops as detailed in this mail (vide Attachment). It
is every likely hood that some of the transgenic materials
may go harmoniously with environment and health of living
beings.

Considering its role in reducing the use of toxic pesticides

and residue before allowing the Brinjal to enter into our
system we should have informations on the compositions of
fruits, such as various carbohydrates,proteins, lipids, and
their composition, terpenes, alkaloids, nature and content of
fibres, presence of any new compounds or metabolites that
may affect the general physiology of human beings, induce
drug resistance and resistance to pathogenic organisms, and
its effects on the intestinal fauna.But it is safe to have a
detailed informations on the calorific value, nature of toxins
that are produced by the inserted genes,its effects on the in
take and digestion, feed conversion and efficiency ratios
and digestive disorder if any. The morphology and function
of internal organs particularly liver, haematology particularly
the prothrombin, platelet count, haemoglobin concentration
and haematocrit value, and biochemicals such as glucose
total albumin, lactose dehydrogenase, bilirubin, alkaline
phosphatase , alanine, aspartate aminotransferases ,sodium,
potassium and calcium levels, and reproduction in the test
animals. Its effect on, production and composition of milk in
cow also needs to be ascertained as the refuse are used as
feed in the rural areas. The data on these aspects collected
either at different meteorological zones ( We have about 110
such zones in our country) or fruits produced at these area
are to be used as the expression of genes including the alien
one is controlled by temperature and nutritive status of
soil.It is not sound to relay on data collected with the fruits
grown at one single experimental area

The reactions of this variety to other pests and soil borne

diseases may also be documented at various ecological
zones of our country.
Honourable Sir, with your kind permission I submit to bring
to your kind notice the reality that is going on in our rural
areas.

‘The crop brinjal is not cultivated in large areas contiguously

like cotton. It is in small patches and so adoption of
mechanical control (pinching) measure is easy and a distinct
possibility. In the fruiting stage, only the affluent farmers
apply pesticides and not the small farmers cultivating local
varieties. It is a practice even now in villages to remove the
borer damaged portion of the fruit for feeding the
cattle.Undamged portion is reserved for human
consumption’

We have the best diversity in this crop and loved by all.The

mothers in Gudiyatham area near Vellore in Tamilnadu used
to visit her daughters not with costly presents but with a
basket full or at least a few fruits ( as told to me by my
friend after submitting the mail) of local variety of
Brinjal to please them. This is a good example for the social
binding that this crop has with the Indian population. Let us
not destroy such age old bindings in the name of science.
These crops I think need no sophisticated technology to
improve further as has been demonstrated earlier by our
scientists in the Public and Private Research Establishments
in the country. If at all it needs any improvement let our
scientists introduce drought, saline tolerant and yield
increasing genes. The cultivation of GM crops in several
countries does not mean that it should be accepted in our
country with 120 cores of population and varied interesting
biodiversity.

Sir, since insertion of Bt gene into plant system is

somewhat easier and does not involve huge budget every
one is dabbling with this materials with out making proper
analysis on its impact on the system.The gene transfer is
one of the finest tools that is being used to improve the
quality of food materials in number of countries. They have
succeeded in developing the carotene rich Rice variety,
Flood-Tolerant Rice, Superhybrid Rice, folate rich Lettuce ,
drought-resistant tomato with more lycopene and
antioxidants, Grapes with quality wine, shatter-resistant
brassicas, Inserting weed genes to protect crops from global
warming , mass production of HIV Microbicide in plants and
attempts are under way to enrich food with essential
nutrients omega-3 fatty acid in tomato and okra (Bharati
Vidyapeeth University's Interactive Research School for
Health Affairs (IRSHA) in India). The novel approach zinc
finger nuclease in Biotech is used for targeting specific genes
in plants for their manipulation to get the desired effects.
The Government should encourage such new approaches in
improving the quality and yield of food crops as mere food
security with out conferring health security through food
may not help the population to prosper under changing
scenarios.The Government besides developing an
Independent Post -Monitoring System should
encourage ‘improvement in transgenic methods that will
minimize risks; research to identify transgenic plant traits
that would provide environmental benefits; research to
develop transgenic plants with such traits; research on the
environmental impacts of transgenic crops’ in the country
by providing adequate funds.

I end this mail by inscribing the statement made by our

beloved
Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji:
“We need to strike a balance between using the potential of
biotechnology to meet the requirements of hungry people
while addressing concerns about interfering with nature”
to save Indians as Human beings.

Thanking you Sir,

With Respectful Regards

Respectfully yours
Sundaramurthy V.T.
Post Script:

I was given to understand that A Brand of GM CHIP has

entered into our south Delhi despite a ban on this.”

Balayogi

balayogiv@gmail.com