Ethical Issues & Biopiracy MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

• The manipulation of living organisms by the human race cannot go on any further, without regulation. 
• Some ethical standards are required to evaluate the morality of all human activities that might help or harm living organisms.
• Genetic modification of organisms can have unpredictable results when such organisms are introduced into the ecosystem.
• Therefore, the Indian Government has set up organisations such as GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee), which will make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM-organisms for public services
• The modification/usage of living organisms for public services (as food and medicine sources, for example) has also created problems with patents granted for the same.

Biopiracy:

• Biopiracy is the term used to refer to the use of bio-resources by multinational companies and other organisations without proper authorisation from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment

Case of Indian Basmati:

• Rice is an important food grain, the presence of which goes back thousands of years in Asia’s agricultural history. 
• There are an estimated 200,000 varieties of rice in India alone. 
• The diversity of rice in India is one of the richest in the world. 
• Basmati rice is distinct for its unique aroma and flavour and 27 documented varieties of Basmati are grown in India. 
• There is a reference to Basmati in ancient texts, folklore and poetry, as it has been grown for centuries. 
• In 1997, an American company called Rice Tec got patent rights on Basmati rice through the US Patent and Trademark Office. 
• This allowed the company to sell a ‘new’ variety of Basmati, in the US and abroad. 
• This ‘new’ variety of Basmati had actually been derived from Indian farmer’s varieties.
• Indian Basmati was crossed with semi-dwarf varieties and claimed as an invention or a novelty. 
• The patent extends to functional equivalents, implying that other people selling Basmati rice could be restricted by the patent. 
• Several attempts have also been made to patent uses, products and processes based on Indian traditional herbal medicines, e.g., turmeric neem. 
• If we are not vigilant and we do not immediately counter these patent applications, other countries/individuals may encash on our rich legacy and we may not be able to do anything about it.