Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1

Context

India unveils the world’s first genome-edited rice varieties—Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1—promising 25–30% higher yields without foreign DNA.

About

Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1 are two new genome-edited rice varieties developed in India to help increase crop yield and deal with climate challenges like drought and salinity.
- Kamala was developed by the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) in Hyderabad.
- Pusa DST Rice 1 was developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Delhi.
Significance:
- These varieties are expected to increase rice yield by 25–30%.
- They are not genetically modified (non-GMO) — meaning no foreign genes were added. Instead, scientists made small, precise changes in the rice plant’s own genes using a technology called genome editing.
- They are safe, environmentally friendly, and could be ready for commercial farming in 4–5 years.
- They also perform well under stress conditions like drought, making them suitable for changing climate conditions.
These rice types are likely to replace popular varieties like Sambha Mahsuri and Cottondora Sannalu, which are widely grown across India.
Policy and Legal Framework: In 2022, India exempted certain genome-edited crops (Site Directed Nuclease 1 and 2 types) from the strict biosafety rules applied to GM crops.
- This legal change opened the door for quicker deployment of genome-edited crops like Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1.

Genome Editing in Agriculture

Genome editing is a biotechnology technique that allows scientists to make targeted, precise changes to an organism's DNA.
In this case, scientists used it to tweak the rice plant’s native genes to improve characteristics like drought tolerance, disease resistance, and grain yield — without inserting genes from other species (as is done in GM crops).
A well-known tool used for this is CRISPR-Cas9.
Example: Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1: New Indian rice varieties created by editing their own native genes to improve yield and drought resistance — no foreign DNA added.
How it works: Scientists use tools like CRISPR to make small, targeted changes in the plant or animal’s existing genome — such as turning off a gene, fixing a mutation, or enhancing a trait.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

A GMO is an organism — usually a crop or animal — whose DNA has been altered by inserting foreign genetic material (genes from another species) to achieve specific traits like pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, or nutritional enhancement.
Example:
- Bt Cotton: It contains a gene from a soil bacterium (Bacillus thuringiensis) that protects it from pests like bollworms.
- Golden Rice: It has genes from daffodil and a soil microbe added to help the rice produce vitamin A.
How it works: Scientists take a gene from one organism and insert it into another using genetic engineering techniques.
- This creates new gene combinations not found in nature.

Key Differences Between GMO and Genome Editing:

Feature	GMO	Genome Editing (Non-GMO)
Genetic material used	Adds genes from other species	Edits the organism’s own genes
Is foreign DNA added?	Yes	No
Example crops	Bt Cotton, Golden Rice	Kamala Rice, Pusa DST Rice 1
Regulatory path	Strict, lengthy, costly	Simpler, faster (especially SDN-1/2)
Common tool used	Recombinant DNA technology	CRISPR/Cas9
Acceptance	Often controversial	Gaining more acceptance globally