Genetic and morphological characterization of traditional rice and bean varieties from the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil / Caracterização genética e morfológica de arroz e feijão do Pantanal mato-grossense, Brasil

Farmers from the district of São Pedro de Joselândia, belonging to the municipality of Barão de Melgaço, Pantanal of Mato Grosso, have been cultivating for some time two rice plant materials and three types of beans that, according to them, are not commercial. For this reason, the objective of this work was to test the originality of the materials by means of genetic and morphological characterization in order to identify whether the nature of the subsamples would be effectively traditional or whether they are varieties already known in the market. Morphological analyzes of the cultivated plants (phenotypic characteristics, cycle and flowering) and seed of the rice subsamples, hereinafter called Agulhinha Vermelho and Branquinho and of the Amarelinho, Rosinha and Roxinho subsamples were performed. Also, the evaluation of distribution of comparative genetic variability with other materials of the same species, already cataloged, was determined. The subsamples were characterized as traditional varieties different from those already cataloged and they are not found in the Nuclear Collection of Rice and Beans of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). They have distinct morphological characteristics, being potential species for use in the market of new technologies. This should guarantee to the residents of that community that they are breeders of specific materials of cultural heritage adapted to the local conditions.

Agricultores do distrito de São Pedro de Joselândia, pertencente ao município de Barão de Melgaço ­ Pantanal Norte do estado de Mato Grosso, vêm cultivando há tempos dois materiais vegetais de arroz e três materiais de feijão que, segundo os mesmos, não são comerciais. Por essa razão, com este trabalho o objetivo foi realizar a caracterização genética e morfológica desses materiais a fim de identificar se a natureza das subamostras seria efetivamente tradicional, ou se trataria de variedades conhecidas no mercado e descrever suas características. Foram realizadas análises morfológicas das plantas cultivadas (características fenotípicas, ciclo e florescimento) e de sementes das subamostras de arroz, doravante denominadas Agulhinha vermelho e Branquinho e das subamostras de feijão Amarelinho, Rosinha e Roxinho. Ainda, determinou-se a avaliação de distribuição de variabilidade genética comparativa com demais materiais das mesmas espécies, já catalogados. Observou-se que as subamostras foram caracterizadas como variedades tradicionais, diferentes daquelas já catalogadas e que não se encontram na Coleção Nuclear de Arroz e Feijão da Embrapa. As mesmas possuem características morfológicas distintas, podendo ser materiais com potencial para o uso no mercado de novas tecnologias, o que deve garantir aos moradores da comunidade, serem obtentores de materiais específicos e adaptado às condições locais.

Protection of genetic heritage in the era of cloning

Research on human beings has expanded greatly due to progress and the evolution of society as well as customs. Not only the unceasing development of research on human beings, but also interference in the beginning and end of life with homologous and heterogonous human reproduction, surrogate motherhood, cloning, gene therapies, eugenics,euthanasia, dysthanasia, orthothanasia, assisted suicide, genetic engineering, reassignment surgery in cases of transsexuality, the use of recombinant DNA technology and embryonic stem cells, transplantation of human organs and tissues, biotechnology and many other scientific advances. Scientific progress goes faster than the real needs of human beings, who are the final recipient of the entire evolutionary progress. Hence, there is the need to scrutinize whether new technologies are necessary, suitable and timely so that humanity can achieve its postulate of bene vivere. Human cloning, as an abrupt scientific fact, has presented itself to the world community as a procedure that can be performed with relative success and with little difficulty, since it achieved its objectives with the cloning of Dolly the sheep. This issue became the topic of discussion not only in the scientific community but in the lay population, and it received from both, global disapproval. The conclusion is that the human being is unique, with a life cycle defined by the rules of nature. Reversal will cause a violation of the genetic heritage and, above all, will confront the constitutional principle of human dignity.

A regulamentação do acesso aos recursos genéticos e aos conhecimentos tradicionais associados no Brasil / Regulation to access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in Brazil

A implementação, em nível nacional, da Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica, especialmente dos artigos 8j e 15, que tratam respectivamente do conhecimento tradicional e do acesso aos recursos genéticos e da repartição dos benefícios provenientes da sua utilização, tem gerado intenso debate quanto ao seu impacto sobre a pesquisa. No Brasil vigora atualmente a Medida Provisória 2.186-16/01 (MP) que instituiu as regras para o acesso a e a remessa de componentes do patrimônio genético e o acesso a conhecimentos tradicionais associados. Essa norma previu a criação da autoridade nacional competente o Conselho de Gestão do Patrimônio Genético (CGEN) no âmbito do Ministério do Meio Ambiente, o qual iniciou suas atividades em abril de 2002. Em 2003, com o novo governo, a implementação da MP buscou atender, na medida do possível, as demandas de setores da sociedade, editando atos que esclareceram conceitos básicos para sua implementação, diminuindo a burocracia para a aplicação da norma e dando maior transparência às ações do CGEN. Entretanto essas ações estão limitadas pelo texto legal vigente, assim foi elaborado um anteprojeto de lei para, após sua análise pela casa Civil, ser encaminhado pelo Executivo Federal ao Congresso Nacional. A retomada do processo legislativo, iniciado em 1995 e interrompido em 2000 com a primeira edição da referida MP, dará a sociedade uma nova chance para que participe da discussão dessa matéria, agora com mais conhecimento de causa.

The nationwide enforcement of the Convention on Biological Diversity, particularly articles 8j and 15 which address respectively traditional knowledge and access to genetic resources and distribution of the benefits deriving from it's utilization, has generated an intense debate regarding it's impact on research. Today, in Brazil, Provisional Measure 2.186-16/01 (MP), which established the rules for the access and sending of genetic patrimony components and the access to associated traditional knowledge, is in effect. This norm foresaw the creation inside the Ministry of the Environment of a national competent authority the Genetic Heritage Management Council (CGEN), whose activities began in April 2002. In 2003, with the new government, enforcement of the MP tried to address, as far as possible, the demands of sectors of society, publishing acts that clarify concepts which are fundamental for it's enforcement, reducing bureaucracy in the application of the norm and giving greater transparency to the actions of the CGEN. However, as these actions are limited by the legal text in force, a preliminary draft was made for a law to be sent by the Federal Executive Government to the National Congress, after being analyzed by the competent government department. Taking up again the legislative process, began in 1995 and interrupted in 2000 with the first edition of the above MP mentioned, society will have a new opportunity to participate in the discussion of this matter, with deeper understanding.