Gene Banks and Seed Banks: Conservation of Genetic Resources

TOPIC CLASSIFICATION

Subject: Science & Technology — Biotechnology and Conservation
Sub-topic: Gene Banks — Types (Seed Banks, Field Gene Banks, In Vitro Banks, Cryobanks, DNA Banks), National Gene Bank (NGB — India), Seed Banks — Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Indian Seed Vault (Chang La, Ladakh), Plant Genetic Resources, Genetic Erosion, Crop Wild Relatives, Plant Variety Protection, Farmers' Rights, Biodiversity Act 2002, National Biodiversity Authority, Benefit Sharing
Mains GS Paper-III: Science & Technology — biotechnology, conservation of genetic resources, food security; GS Paper-III: Agriculture — seed security, climate-resilient crops.

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EXAMINER REASONING

Gene banks are the libraries of biological diversity — insurance against genetic erosion and food insecurity. Prelims tests: National Gene Bank (NGB — NBPGR), Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Indian Seed Vault (Chang La), types of gene banks (seed, field, in vitro, cryo, DNA), Plant Variety Protection and Farmers Rights Act (PPV&FR Act, 2001), Nagoya Protocol, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), ICAR-NBPGR. Mains demands: (a) types of gene banks — seed banks (orthodox seeds — dried and frozen), field gene banks (living collections — for recalcitrant seeds like mango, cocoa), in vitro banks (tissue culture), cryobanks (liquid nitrogen — -196°C), DNA banks (genetic sequences), (b) India's National Gene Bank — established 1996 at NBPGR, New Delhi — holds 4.5+ lakh accessions of crop germplasm — one of the largest in Asia, (c) Svalbard Global Seed Vault — Norway (2008) — more than 1.2 million seed samples — backup for gene banks worldwide, (d) Indian Seed Vault at Chang La — Ladakh (2011) — built by DRDO-Defence Institute of High Altitude Research — cold desert conditions make it ideal natural cold storage, (e) genetic erosion — loss of genetic diversity due to monoculture farming, climate change, urbanisation — the Green Revolution's high-yielding varieties replaced thousands of traditional varieties, (f) legal framework — PPV&FR Act (2001) — farmers' rights to save, use, share seed — National Biodiversity Act (2002), (g) climate-resilient crops — gene banks provide genetic material for breeding crops resistant to drought, flood, salinity, pests. The examiner's favourite framing is: "How do gene banks and seed banks contribute to food security and agricultural sustainability?"

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Core Concept

Types of Gene Banks