Scientists have worked out a mechanism to “switch on” genes introduced in a plant or an animal that has the potential for treatment of diseases like diabetes and parkinson as also for genetic crop modification. In the normal procedure, a gene which has been introduced in plants or animals during gene therapy remains switched on. Thus, an insulin gene introduced in diabetics would keep producing insulin all the time, Subba Reddy Palli from the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky told at a sectional symposium at the 93rd Science Congress here. With the gene switch technology, these genes can be made to express when needed, he said. In the technology, besides the desired gene, an element called “response element” and another called “receptor” are also introduced in the plant or animal. All three as a unit are called a “gene switch”. It has been found that a chemical called “Ecdysone Agonist”, which is an insecticide, attaches to the receptor of the gene switch (in case of plants) turning on the gene concerned, leading to the production of the compound for which gene is meant for, he said. The technology has potential for use in gene therapy for diseases such as diabetes and parkinsons, he said adding it can also be used during genetic modification of crops and other plants, diminishing the risks involved in GM technology (as gene would function only when the chemcial is introduced).
