INGENIEUR
INGENIEUR
4 . Export Documentation :
● Export Permit : Required for each consignment , issued by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services ( MAQIS ).
● Certificate of Origin : To verify that the bird ’ s nests are produced in Malaysia .
5 . Compliance with Importing Country
Requirements :
● China : One of the largest markets for Malaysian bird ’ s nests , requires compliance with specific standards , including testing for nitrite levels and certification by the General Administration of Customs China ( GACC ).
● Other Countries : Exporters must comply with the specific import requirements of each destination country , which may include additional certifications and inspections .
6 . Quality Assurance and Testing :
● Laboratory Testing : Bird ’ s nests must be tested by accredited laboratories to ensure they meet the required quality and safety standards .
● Third-Party Certification : Some markets may require third-party certification to validate compliance with their standards .
USE OF ISOTOPES FOR SEED MODIFICATION
Isotope techniques in seed modification , particularly through the use of radiation , are employed to induce genetic mutations . These mutations can lead to the development of new plant varieties with desirable traits such as improved yield , disease resistance , or better nutritional quality . The process is often referred to as mutagenesis and involves the following steps :
PROCESS OF ISOTOPE-INDUCED MUTAGENESIS 1 . Selection of Isotope : Commonly used isotopes for inducing mutations include gamma rays ( from Cobalt-60 or Cesium-137 ) and X-rays . These isotopes emit radiation that can penetrate plant tissues and alter DNA .
2 . Exposure : Seeds or plant tissues are exposed to controlled doses of radiation . The duration and intensity of exposure are critical to achieving the desired mutation rate without causing excessive damage to the plants .
3 . Mutation Induction : The radiation causes random changes or mutations in the DNA of the seeds . These mutations can occur in various forms , such as point mutations , deletions , insertions , or chromosomal rearrangements .
4 . Selection and Breeding : After irradiation , the seeds are planted , and the resulting plants are screened for desirable traits . Plants exhibiting beneficial characteristics are selected and further bred to stabilise these traits over successive generations .
5 . Field Testing and Commercialisation : Selected mutant varieties undergo rigorous field testing to evaluate their performance under different environmental conditions . Successful varieties are then multiplied and released for commercial cultivation .
The benefits of this technology is yield improvement , drought tolerance , pest and disease resistance , and enhance nutritional profiles . Since mutagenesis involves inducing natural mutations rather than introducing foreign genes , the resulting plants are not considered genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ) in many regulatory frameworks .
Isotope techniques for seed modification , particularly through radiation-induced mutagenesis , provide a powerful tool for developing new plant varieties with desirable traits . Bioengineering enhances this process by offering precise genetic manipulation methods , such as CRISPR , and accelerating breeding programmes through marker-assisted selection . Together , these approaches contribute significantly to the advancement of modern agriculture , enabling the creation of high-yield , resilient , and nutritionally superior crops .
66 VOL 99 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2024