GEAC
GEAC (மரபணு பொறியியல் ஒப்புதல் குழு)
Do not confuse GEAC with RCGM. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee is the final authority for GM organism safety, not a research laboratory. One wrong acronym in the exam hall costs you four marks.
The idea
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is an organization set up by the Indian Government to make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services.
Why it matters
It exists to regulate genetic modification activities to prevent unpredictable ecological consequences and ensure ethical standards.
NEET lens
The Indian Government established the GEAC to regulate GM research and validate the safety of introducing GM organisms for public use. It holds the mandate to approve the commercial release of transgenic crops. Memorize this function; it is a high-yield question regarding biotechnology governance.
Introduction
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is the Indian Government body that makes decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services.
Core concept
Why regulation is needed (NCERT): the manipulation of living organisms by humans 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, which make decisions on the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services. Modification or use of living organisms for public services (as food and medicine sources, for example) has also created problems with patents granted for them.
Go deeper
GEAC is the regulatory checkpoint: Bt cotton, for example, was released commercially only after GEAC approval.
From Class 10
Before a genetically modified crop can be grown in India, a government committee has to check that it is safe — that committee is GEAC.