eChapters

Introduction

Rainfed agro-ecosystems occupy a considerable place in Indian agriculture, covering 80 M ha in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid climatic zones; constituting nearly 57% of the net cultivated area. Rainfed areas contribute almost 100% of forest products, 84-87% of coarse-grain cereals and pulses, 80% of horticulture, 77% of oilseeds, 60% of cotton and 50% of fine cereals including rice, wheat, maize, sorghum etc (Srinivasarao et al., 2010; 2011). Rainfed regions support 60% of livestock, 40% of human population and contribute 40% of food grains and several special-attribute commodities such as seed spices, dyes, herbs, gums, etc. (Srinivasarao et al., 2011). It is estimated that even after achieving the full irrigation potential, barring for successful completion of river linking project, nearly 45 to 50% of the total cultivated area will remain dependent on rain. Undoubtedly, the rainfed agriculture would continue to occupy a prominent place in Indian agriculture for a long time to come (Venkateswarlu et al., 2011). Despite the progress made so far, rainfed agriculture in India encounters multiple risks and constraints relating to biophysical and socio-economic issues. Agricultural productivity in rainfed areas continues to remain low and unstable due to weather aberrations, nutrient disorder and poor socio-economic status of farmers.

India has shown to the world that with 2.4 % of the land and 4 % of the water resources available at the global level, it can provide the food security to its millions. A record production of almost 265 million tonnes in 2013-14 is a testimony to the strides taken in the field of agriculture. However, the agriculture sector faces many new challenges in the future and climate change (global warming) is perhaps the most formidable one.

The new emerging demands of the relatively more-affluent Indian population, particularly its middle class, coupled with a net cultivated area unlikely to exceed 143 Mha in 2050 as well as an estimated rainfed agriculture to cover around 45 % of the net sown area, are further compounded with the harsh reality that highly productive agricultural land is being continuously lost out to the industry and urban sectors. How will the country meet the target of 400 Mt of food grain production is the mute question, in a situation where natural resource base is continuously degrading and climate change with its attendant impact is adversely affecting the agricultural production system (Singh, 2014).

Introduction

Climate is the primary determinant of agricultural productivity. Plant systems, and hence crop yields, are influenced by many environmental factors such as moisture and temperature, may act either synergistically or antagonistically with other factors in determining yields (Waggoner, 1983). In the recent years, climatic change/variability is a biggest challenging factor that affects agriculture in India and elsewhere and concern has been expressed by world community regarding the potential effects of climate change on agricultural productivity. Climate change is expected to influence crop production, hydrologic balances, input supplies and other components of agricultural systems. Agricultural systems are managed ecosystems. The climate change induced atmospheric stress will be the primary cause of crop loss worldwide, reducing average yields for most major crop plants. Environmental stresses such as erratic and insufficient rainfall, extreme temperatures, salinity, alkalinity, acidity, heavy metal toxicity, oxidative stress and others limit yield and productivity of many cultivated crop plants. Drought, extreme temperatures and oxidative stress are interconnected and affect the water relations of a plant on the cellular as well as whole plant level causing specific as well as unspecific reactions (Beck et al., 2007). This leads to a series of morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes that adversely affect plant growth and productivity (Wang et al., 2001).

Introduction

Agriculture is the mainstay of livelihood activity of about 70% of the state’s population. Madhya Pradesh is an agrarian state and the state’s economy is highly dependent on agriculture. Considering the sector’s sensitivity to climatic parameters it can be easily understood that the sector would be highly impacted by any change in these parameters.

Madhya Pradesh has a subtropical climate with three distinct seasons’ viz. winter from December to February, followed by summer season from March to May and rainy season extending from June to October. During winters the mean temperature remains around 10ºC and mean maximum temperature remains 25ºC and the minimum temperature goes down to 1°C in some regions. During summers, the mean minimum temperature is 22ºC and mean maximum is 38ºC. The maximum temperature during summer can go up to 48ºC, especially in May and June which are the hottest months.

Introduction

Increase in atmospheric carbondioxide (CO₂) and other green house gases viz. methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and CFC (Chloro-Flouro- Carbon) due to fossil fuel burning, rapid industrialization and deforestation, which reduces the amount of earth’s radiation, that escapes to space. Role of these gases to change in climate over a longer period of time is the key issue of climate change. Climate change is a change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity (IPCC 2007).

IPCC :The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and WMO (World Meteorological Organization) jointly established IPCC (Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change) to assess available scientific information on climate change as well as to study its impact during 1988. Since establishment, IPCC has produced five major assessment reports. According to IPCC, climate change is defined as a movement in climate system as a result of internal changes within climate or interaction among its components. Frequency of extreme events (viz. heat waves, intense rain, floods, droughts etc.) are reported to follow increasing trend. Fig.1 is showing natural climatological cycle in the earth throughout different seasons as various components of climate system (IPCC 1996).

Evidence over the past few decades has conclusively established that significant changes in climate are taking place worldwide as a result of enhanced anthropogenic activities. The fast pace of development and industrialization and indiscriminate destruction of natural environment, more so in the last century, have altered the concentration of atmospheric gases that lead to global warming. The major cause for climate change and global warming has been ascribed to the increased levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) etc. beyond their natural levels due to the uncontrolled activities such as burning of fossil fuels, increased use of refrigerants, and enhanced agricultural related practices.

r DNA Biotechnology
    
Concept of r DNA
    
DNA Preparation from Tissue
    
Reagents
    
Preparation
    
DNA Buffer (Tris-EDTA)
    
RNase A (20 mg/ml)
    
Toe DNA Preparation for Southern Blots
    
Southern Blot
    
PCR
    
Polymerase Chain Reaction
    
The Cycling Reactions
    
Denaturation at 94°C
    
Annealing at 54°C
    
Extension at 72°C
    
DNA Sequencing
    
The Sequencing Reaction
    
Denaturation at 94°C
    
Annealing at 50°C
    
Extension at 60°C
    
Separation of the Molecules
    
Detection on An Automated Sequencer
    
Assembling of The Sequenced Parts of a Gene
    
Freezing of Buffalo Semen (Jindal, 1995)
    
Tissue Culture
    
Preparation of Media
    
Laboratory Procedure for IVF (Kharche et al., 2008)
    
Source of Oocytes
    
Preparation of Estrous Goat Serum
    
Collection of Oocytes
    
Laparoscopic Ovum Pick-up
    
Oocyte Retrieval from Ovaries Collected form Slaughter 
    
House
    
Slicing Technique
    
Follicle Puncture Technique
    
Follicle Aspiration Technique
    
Follicle Isolation Technique
    
Evaluation of Oocytes
    
In vitro Maturation of Oocytes
    
Preparation of Cells for Co-culture
    
Assessment of Nuclear Maturation After in vitro Maturation of Oocytes
    
Analysis of Nuclear Status is Ascribed to One of the Following
    
Sperm Preparation for in vitro Fertilization of Oocytes
    
In vitro Fertilization of Oocytes
    
Assessment of in vitro Fertilization of Oocytes
    
Assessment of Cleavage
    
In vitro embryo culture

Animal Science Biotechnology Research Centres
    
Current Status and Some of the Achievements in Animal Heatlh
    
National Bioresource Development Board
    
Animal Biotechnology
    
Biotechnology Parks and Incubators
    
National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi
    
Bose Institute, Kolkata
    
Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi
    
National Centre For Cell Science, Pune
    
Centre for Dna Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (Cdfd) Hyderabad
    
National Institute for Plant Genome Research (Nipgr) New Delhi
    
Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development,Imphal
    
Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar
    
Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Limited
    
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnolgoy (Icgeb), New Delhi
    
Animal Biotechnology Research Abroad

Checks and Balances in Biotechnology Applications
    
Biosafety Issues in Animal Biotechnology Application
    
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
    
Recombinant DNA Safety Guidelines (1990)
    
Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 (2006)(Draft Amendment)
    
Revised Guidelines for Research in Transgenic Plants and Guidelines for Toxicity and Allergenicity Evaluation of Transgenic Seeds, Plants and Plant Parts (1998)
    
Guidelines for Generating Preclinical and Clinical Data for rDNA Vaccines, Diagnostics and other Biologicals (1999)
    
The Food Safety and Standards Act (2006)
    
Transgenic Animals Bioreactors
    
First Patent in Biotechnology
    
Biotechnology - Ethical Concerns
    
Some Priority Areas in the Field of Biotechnology
    
Suggestions for Future Development of Biotechnology Activities in the Field of Animal Health and Production in India
    
Epilogue

Information Sources for Biotechnology
    
Books
    
General Biotechnology Books
    
Animal Biotechnology Books
    
Review Articles
    
Journals
    
Animal Biotechnology Journals
    
Biotechnology Job Listings
    
The Scientist
    
Patents
    
Requirements for Setting up a Biotechnology Laboratory
    
Essential
    
Beneficial
    
Useful
    
PCR
    
Specifications of a Good PCR Macine
    
Gel Documentation System Electrophoresis
    
Laboratory Safety and Hazards

Environmental Biotechnology
    
Global Warming and Animal Health and Production
    
Genome Mapping
    
Human Genome
    
Livestock Genomics
    
Cattle Genome
    
Pig Genome
    
Bioinformatics
    
Major Branches of Bioinformatics Include
    
List of Bioinformatics Software Commonly Used in Animal Genomics Research
    
Sequence Analysis Software
    
Genetics Analysis Software
    
Functional Genomics Software
    
Biofuels
    
Advantages of Bioethanol
    
Ecological
    
Economical
    
Looking to the Future: The Potential of Second-Generation Biofuels
    
Future Role of Biofuels Depends on Profitability and New Technologies

Vaccines
    
Veterinary v/s Human Vaccines
    
Modern Veterinary Vaccines
    
rDNA Technology to Prepare Vaccines
    
Veterinary Viral Vaccines
    
Live Vaccines
    
Killed Vaccines
    
Genetically Engineered Viral Vaccines
    
Veterinary Bacterial Diseases Vaccines
    
Veterinary Parasitic Vaccines
    
Vaccines against cancer
    
Swine Flu
    
Foot and Mouth Disease
    
Adenovirus Vector Vaccine
    
Johne’s Disease
    
Diseases of Poultry
    
Newcastle Disease in Poultry
    
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
    
Rabies
    
Disease Diagnostics
    
The Nucleic Acid-hybridization Technique
    
Diagnostics Based on pcr
    
Diagnosis by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms and Related DNA-based Approaches
    
Diagnosis by DNA Probes and DNA Microarray Technology
    
Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Proteomics
    
Disease Diagnosis Kits Developed
    
Brucelosis
    
Rabies
    
Canine Distemper and Canine Parvo Virus
    
Canine Hepatitis Virus
    
Foot and Mouth Disease
    
New Castle Disease
    
Egg Drop Syndrome Virus-76 (EDS-76)
    
Proteomics for Disease Diagnostics
    
Nanotechnologies in Diagnosis and Vaccine Development
    
Monoclonal Antibodies
    
Immunotherapy
    
Problems
    
Animal Genomics for Disease Resistance
    
Gene Knockout Technology
    
Gene Pharming
    
Gene Therapy
    
Types of Gene Therapy
    
Germ Line Gene Therapy
    
Somatic Gene Therapy

Reproductive Biotechnology
    
Artificial Insemination (AI)
    
History and Future Perspectives of Artificial Insemination
    
Semen Cryopreservation
    
Buffalo
    
Goat
    
Cryoprotection and Anti Oxidants
    
Cryopreservation and Genetic Stability of Livestock Spermatozoa
    
Insemination Technique
    
Cattle and Buffalo
    
Sheep and Goat
    
Conception Rate with Artificial Insemination
    
Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET)
    
Advantages of Embryo Transfer
    
MOET Includes the Following Steps
    
Superovulatory Treatments
    
Insemination
    
Recovery of Embryos
    
Synchronization of Recipients
    
Cattle
    
Buffaloes
    
Goats
    
Horses
    
In vitro Maturation, fertilization and culture of Oocytes
    
Historical Development
    
In Vitro Maturation of Oocytes
    
In vitro Sperm Capacitation
    
Scope
    
Limitations
    
Embryo Cryopreservation
    
Ultrasonography in Reproductive Management
    
Ultrasound-guided Transvaginal Oocyte Pick-up (OPU)
    
Embryo Cloning or Nuclear Transfer
    
Blastomere Separation
    
Embryo Splitting
    
Nuclear Transfer Cloning (NT)
    
Embryonic Stem Cell Complementations
    
Limitations and Future Prospects of Cloning
    
Sexing of Embryos and Separation of X and Y Chromosomes Bearing Sperms
    
PCR  in Sex Determination
    
Transgenic Animal Production
    
Gene Transfer Through Direct DNA Microinjection
    
Gene Transfer with Retroviral-Vector Assistance
    
Gene Transfer through Production of Germ-line Chimeras
    
Parthenogenetic Embryos: An Emerging Tool in Reproductive Biotechnology for Multiplication of Superior Germ Plasm
    
Applications of Parthenogenesis
    
Livestock Genomics and Marker Assisted Selection (Use of DNA Level Markers)
    
Stem Cells
    
Vaccine for Fertility Control and Increase Prolificacy
    
Auto-immunization to Increase Prolificacy
    
Biotechnology of Conservation of Livestock Breed Biodiversity
    
Gene for Prolificity: Booroola Merino
    
Role of Biotechnology in Enhancing Production
    
Milk
    
Biotechnology of Rumen Manipulation
    
Genetically Modified Ruminal Microorganisms

Biotechnology of Animal Feeding
    
Probiotics
    
Biotechnology Crops as Animal Feed
    
Biotechnology of Animal Products
    
Some New Products made Possible by Biotechnology Include

Biotechnology Products and Technologies
    
Bottlenecks in Fast Progress of Animal Biotechnology
    
Why Biotechnology should be Used in Animal Husbandry and Dairy Production
    
Contribution of Livestock Sector to Food Basket
    
Biotechnology and Environment
    
Biotechnology of Nutrient Partitioning
    
Genetic Programming for Better Animals
    
Biotechnology of Reproduction
    
Biotechnology of Animal Health

1.    ———— is a synthetic antimicrobial drug against M. tuberculosis.
    A.    Penicillin    B.    Tetracycline
    C.    Erythromycin    D.    Isoniazid
Ans.    D.
2.    Which of the antibiotic is not used as a food preservative ?
    A.    Pimaricin    B.    Nisin
    C.    Tylosin    D.    b-lactam antibiotic
Ans.    D.
3.    Which of the following bacteria is susceptible to thiophen-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide?
    A.    M. bovis    B.    M. tuberculosis
    C.    M. chelonei    D.    M. fortuitum
Ans.    A.

A  disaster  (from  Latin  meaning,  “bad  star’)  is  the  impact  of  a  natural  or man-made event that negatively affects life, property, livelihood or industry often  resulting  in  permanent  changes  to  human  societies,  ecosystems  and environment.  The  event  itself  is  not  a  disaster;  it  is  the  impact  that  is  a disaster. Their possibility of occurrence, time, place and severity of the strike can  be  reasonably  and  in  some  cases  accurately  predicted  by  technological and scientific advances. Hence, we can to some extent reduce the impact of damage  though  we  cannot  reduce  the  extent  of  damage  itself.  Despite  the severe impacts suffered – including trauma, starvation, dehydration, infection, disease and shock-animals are often the silent victims of disasters, and there is a real need around for the provision of effective training and management programmes to ensure that their survival and welfare are adequately accounted for. This demands the study of disaster management in methodical and orderly approach.The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a ‘disaster’ as any occurrence that  causes  damage,  destruction,  ecological  disruption,  loss  of  human  life, human suffering, deterioration of health and health services on a scale sufficient to  warrant  an  extraordinary  response  from  outside  the  affected  community or area (WHO, 1999). It is an event, concentrated in time and space, which causes social, economic, cultural and political devastation and which affects both individual people and communities (Kumar, 1998). 

“It  is not uncommon for animals to exhibit behavioral changes before an impending disaster. Wild animals often vacate areas, gather in strange groupings and sometimes will even enter into human habitats they normally avoid,” animal behavior expert Diana L.Guerrero said.Three days before the earthquake, thousands of toads roamed the streets of Mianzhu, a hard-hit city where at least 2,000 people have been reported killed.

Efforts to Mitigate Natural Disaster at National and Global Level

What is A ‘Disaster’?

It as ‘an event that has occurred unexpectedly with destructive consequences’ - (UNOCHA 2005). 
It as ‘a calamitous event resulting in loss of life, great human suffering and distress, and large scale material damage’ - (IFRC2005).
None of the international agencies take animals into account in their definitions

Nuclear Disasters

What is NUCLEAR ENERGY or NUCLEAR POWER?

It is the energy released in nuclear fission or nuclear fusion.
Motive power generated by nuclear reactor.
Where atomic energy of a substance get converted in to electrical energy.

WHO defines Disaster as “any occurrence, that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of health and health services, on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area”