Since primitive times, man has selected and domesticated animals and plants for making use of them.

Not only this, men have been continuously exploring various germplasms and exerting selection pressure for continuous improvement in such stocks. Despite many facilities available by science today, a large number of animals and plants remain in the service of man.

During the 19th century, Gregory Mendel— an Austrian monk— propounded basic laws of inheritance on the basis of the data he himself had gathered and thus came to be known as the father of genetics. He was intelligent and lucky enough to select simple characters which are easily transferable in successive generations. During the last century many dramatic discoveries were made and with the advent of genetic engineering, great strides were made in the improvement of various organisms.

Chromosomes mapping through identification genes on different loci and their successful transfer to an unrelated individual is bound to usher a revolutionary era. The genetically modified cotton (B.T), corn, canola, soybean and more recently the development of GM golden rice are facing great opposition the world over. The transfer of genes from bacillus thuringiensis a fungi to cotton by multinational Monsanto is supposed to have complete resistance against chewing insects, especially bollworms. The area under B.T. cotton has gradually increased in USA, china, Australia and now being introduced in Indonesia. It is advocated that no spray is required to tide over the bolloworm menace at the same time it is supposed not to have any deleterious effect on the recipient plant, environment, flora and fauna.

However, instances have been quoted that bollworm larvae have been found on such GM plants. It is, however, believed with the passage of time such insects shall develop resistance against altered varieties. That’s why to delay the development of resistance certain percentage of susceptible plants is grown in such a stock.

On the other hand certain environmentalists, biologists and plant breeders genuinely feel if B.T. gene produces harmful toxin for insects,it could be injurious for other living beings as well, especially animals who consume cotton seed or cake and what about its oil which is a main constituent of edible oil.

Under the circumstances, we aught not to follow the foot prints of others. We must move cautiously in this direction rather than blindly follow others. Day in and day out instances are cited about reaction of human bodies on consumption of modified corn. Besides this such corn has contaminated the wild corn in Mexico and canola in Canada. Contaminated weeds are becoming a nuisance and difficult to eradicate. Fearing this the EU countries, including Italy, have suspended the approval of four corn and three canola varieties. Moreover, Japan has imposed restrictions on the import of transgenic soybean. While, Malaysia shall have no such material in future and with the passage of time growing resistance is being expressed the world over.

The cloning of Dolly has also led to heated controversy amongst biologists and environmentalists as to the uses and abuses of modified plants and animals. Agricultural experts and biologists are trying hard to overcome food scarcity and starvation in certain parts of globe. Under present circumstances it has become fairly difficult to feed even six billion people whilst the condition shall be still worst in 30 - 50 years time, when world population will touch 9 billion marks.

In this regards, breeders have attempted to transfer genes to distantly related plants, for instance the introduction of grain and cob size of corn into wheat. If they are successful to break the genetic barrier there would a great leap forward in solving food scarcity. In areas where rice is staple food the vitamin A deficiency is the main cause of death of over a million children and blindness to 350,000 every year.

In order to overcome such problems the scientists have been successful for the transfer of beta carotene which serves as building block for the synthesis of vitamin A from Daffodils into rice. It is hoped this transgenic rice will greatly solve the nutrient deficiency of rice eaters. However studies must be carried out to find out any ill effect that has been transferred into such rice varieties.

During the first Asian Agriculture Conference at Hong Kong (1995), I presented a paper on the chromosome mapping through identification of various genes consequently successful transfer of desired genes into unrelated organism or synthesis of a particular hormone produced by a certain gene in laboratory and ultimately using them to produce their beneficial effect on the recipient living being. By doing so we shall produce better quality of agricultural commodities in shortest possible time.

For example, water melon attains maximum size weighing 5-10 kg in a short span if this trait is transferred into any slow growing small size fruit, vegetables or crops. Similarly if we induce the size of cow or buffalo or camel in a goat or lamb we shall be able to produce more meat. Henceforth we can produce bigger size useful individual in less time that too at lower cost. It is hoped that time might come early or late which may revolutionise agricultural production. In future it is just possible that we may be able to predetermine the genetic constitution of an organism.

It will be possible to partially or wholly alter genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of any living being. It might certainly enhance the intelligence level, working capacity, longevity and much more changes beyond comprehension. In future couples in the west may have genetically modified offsprings with certain assured phenotypic and genotypic constitution required to be most suitable to a particular environment.