Bangalore: Indian scientists who created protein-rich potato by genetic modification (GM) say they have now put the same gene in rice to enhance its protein content.

"We have transformed the rice by adding the amaranthus gene (AmA1) in the laboratory," Subhra Chakraborty of the National Centre for Plant Genome Research in New Delhi said.

"The project was initiated this year by the Department of Biotechnology," she told the 10th congress of Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists today (Dec 10, 2003).

The gene had been added to five rice varieties cultivated in India, including IR-72 and Pusa Basmati, Chakraborty said.

Rice normally contains about seven per cent protein. The gene addition was expected to improve the amount of protein and also the amino-acid content, she said.

Chakraborty said work had also started for putting the AmA1 gene into cassava and sweet potato that are eaten by the poor in several parts of the world.

"These crops contain only carbohydrates and no protein at all," she pointed out. "By putting the AmA1 gene we expect to render these poor man's food more nutritious than they are at present.

PTI