Modest start to RI genetic engineering
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Indonesia has entered the most modern branch of science in a very humble way.
From a temporary laboratory in his modest home here, Yanuarso, a staff researcher at the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), has begun experimenting with the artificial insemination of a local breed of chicken.
The chickens (ayam buras, or non-breeder chickens) are being experimented with to later set up a sperm and embryo bank for rare species of fowl.
"The development of biotechnology is to support conservation and it follows (Indonesia's commitment) to Agenda 21," said Prasetyo Sunaryo, the director of BPPT's division of technology and environment.
Agenda 21 refers to the action plans laid out at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
While acknowledging that he was not fully informed on the ethical questions of genetic engineering, Prasetyo said the agency is following the guidelines set by the office of the State Minister of Environment. "We support the Ministry, which has ruled that we should give priority to species that are on the verge of extinction."
Among the endangered species of fowl is the ayam pelung, a native chicken of Cianjur, West Java. Famed for its unique voice, there are now an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 left in Indonesia.
Yanuarso, a specialist in animal genetics and breeding, said some foreign countries have already started developing their own breeds of rare Indonesian animal and plant species.
He said many people here believe that Japanese scientists are developing their own version of the ayam pelung, following two visits by Prince Akishino, an avid bird collector, to the Cianjur regency.
"Fowl lovers sense that the Japanese will develop their own version because every time the Prince comes to Indonesia he always brings a large group of scientists with him."
Yanuarso showed a Trubus magazine report which said that foreign scientists have already developed the 'Bangkok pigeon' from a Javanese species.
Japan itself, since 1985, has prohibited the export of one its own rare bird species, the long-tailed onagadori tosa.
Indonesia, host to an upcoming international conference on biodiversity later this year, plans to push for intellectual property rights protection for its natural resources. Indonesia's biodiversity ranks second with the largest number of species in the world after Brazil.
Yanuarso told The Jakarta Post that biotechnology, as well as legal measures, will play a key role in the efforts to protect and save rare species.
Yanuarso said studies into the storage of chicken sperm was initiated in 1978 by British scientists, while the research has only recently been developed in this country.
BPPT's division has received Rp 90 million (US$40,000) this year for the program to inseminate hens, with most of the money going to the purchase of new equipment.
"We have a container to keep 2,400 vials of chicken sperm, which is much more efficient than keeping the same number of animals in one site," said Yanuarso, whose 54-square-meter home has been converted into a temporary laboratory pending the completion of the laboratory for conservation technology in Serpong, near here, scheduled for 1997.
Yanuarso has four part-time assistants helping him with the project. (anr)