BT Cotton Hoax in a University in India

Research Misconduct

Figure 1. Research misconduct (Latha, 2017).

One of the objectives of research is to improve or develop new products and of course, to serve man. Most of the researches are deeply embedded in the field of science and technology, for the betterment of the human lifestyle. However, in order to improve or develop new products, researchers must prove that this is of importance and is for the common good of the society. It is also important that they follow proper research ethics in order to prove that their research is not fabricated, falsified or plagiarizing other work. In the field of research, there are a lot of research misconduct policies used by editors to critique scientific journals.

Figure 2. Outwrestling research misconduct with policies (Macilwain, 22 June 2012, pp. 1417-1419)

Research must be, in a sense, exemplary. Research misconduct has been present in the field ever since, but the public only became concerned about it during 1980s and education in research misconduct has been taught since then.

An example of a research misconduct was done by University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad in Dharwad, India last 2011.

BT Cotton, A Hoax?

Based on a news from Times of India (TOI), a study regarding the development of a new indigenous gene was completely fake. The gene that was stated is a new variety of Bt Cotton or Bt gene (BNla106 truncated cry1 AC). Hence, the project team responsible for the study claimed that they had already developed a new variety of Bt cotton seeds. However, experts found that the construct of Bt cotton has a Monsanto gene (Mon-531), which exemplifies that the cotton seeds was never altered or still it is the common seed.

Moreover, the variety of BT cotton was already brought in the public in the year 2008 and the paper work of the UAS was published in the Current Science regardless of dubious claims that was later found out and thus, the published work was later on withdrawn (dated December 25, 2007). In 2012, the Monsanto gene was introduced by the media through a UAS staffer that it was indeed present and was never altered at all. Furthermore, it was found out through a 129-page report that a scope was contaminated due to the seeds being mass multiplied.

The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) efforts to get hold of seeds of the variety of Bt cotton (BNBt) whereas the UAS had claimed that they have developed it for the past five years. The ICAR has finally set a deadline of December 15 for the university to submit the seeds. Sources in ICAR headquarters told TOI that the latest communication made between them and UAS had made it clear that if the UAS did not send purified seeds by that date the council will conclude the university never had its own BT gene (BNla106 truncated cry1 AC) and all its claims were completely false.

Figure 3. 3 Categories of Scientific Misconduct (Armstrong, 2015).

If the latter was proven to be true, that questions the validity of the UAS claims, thus, the project team should be responsible for an act which had violated certain provisions of the research ethics. Evidenty, it presents an act of falsification and fabrification, since, the project team of UAS had already presented an information in the public without having a number of processes for the validation of the data.

As an eminent researchers, they were obliged to be guided with certain etiquettes and norms in regards on conducting a research. These etiquettes and norms are essential because the researches that will be published will improve the basic human life. If false researches were published in public, instead of helping it to progress, it might only lead to the raising of another problem in the society.

For the researchers to avoid misconducts of research, they must always take into consideration that the knowledge produced in their researches will either lead to have a better society or the other way around. The researchers should be objective in doing their research and studies; taking notes and considering only of the things needed for the research. They should also exercise honesty because there is nothing wrong on stating in their studies that they didn’t obtained the intended results.

With honesty, they can only conclude that the variables used were either suitable for the study or not; on the latter part, it can lead to the formation of another study relevant to the previous ones. Complying with the proper and ethical method in executing researches will surely give the exact information needed for the development and growth of the world.

References:

Alvarez, M. H. (2013). Introduction to Research: Critical Thinking for Scholarly Writing(2013 ed.). Calamba City, Laguna: Mary Help of Christians College, Inc.
Gross, C. (2016, January 13). Scientific Misconduct. Retrieved December 14, 2017, from http://w.astro.berkeley.edu/~kalas/ethics/documents/introduction/gross15a.pdfShrivastavi, S. (2014, November 25). Was UAS Dharwad’s Bt cotton claim a hoax? - Times of India. Retrieved December 14, 2017, from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Was-UAS-Dharwads-Bt-cotton-claim-a-hoax/articleshow/45264982.cms

Latha, K. (2017) Scientific misconduct. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/kusumalatha5/scientific-misconduct-72898753
Macilwain, C. (2012). Scientific Misconduct: More Cops, More Robbers? http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2012.06.001
Mahyco (Producer). (2015, April 22). Understand Bt Cotton and its impact on the sector [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtdoO6vVb3k
Armstrong, M. (2015). Week 2: Bad Science and More. Retrieved from http://miaarmstrong.blogspot.com/2015/02/week-2-bad-science-and-more.html

Acknowledgement:

Esteban Jose Pacada - How to avoid misconduct or violations,

Katrina Barros - Introduction, evidences of violation, resources

Sophia Pauline Laranan - Introduction, resources

Christian James Rodriguez - Provisions of research ethics violated, evidences of violation