BIOTECHNOLOGY

A comprehensive mycofloral diversity of pedosphere, phyllosphere and aerosphere of Som. (Persea bombycina Kost.) Manjit Kumar   Ray ,  Piyush Kumar   Mishra ,  Saurav   Das doi:  https://doi.org/10.1101/349167 Abstract Sericulture is an important cottage industry of Assam producing natural silk of both Mulberry and Non-Mulberry silk. The sericulture industry is closely associated with the Assamese traditions and rituals. In non-mulberry silk, Muga silkworm which is endemic to North-East India only produce exquisite silks of golden color. Rearing of Muga silkworm is one of the important aspects to producing silk of high quality. The quality of the primary host plant i.e. Som (Persea bombycina Kost.) greatly affects the quality of cocoon and silk produced by these industries. Therefore, planting and growing a disease-free plant has its own importance in sericulture. However, Som is very susceptible to different foliar diseases caused by fungi, which can redu...

Admission Notice: MVSc /PhD in Animal Biotechnology college of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam, India A written test will be held on 18th July 2017 to select candidates for admission in to the MVSc/PhD courses in Animal Biotechnology at College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara. Students admitted to the MVSc program shall be entitled to studentship from DBT, Govt of India @ Rs. 12000.00 per month and one-time thesis grant of Rs. 50,000.00. For details pls click the below links: 1.  http://www.vetbifguwahati.ernet.in/ 2. http://www.vetbifguwahati.ernet.in/notice_board/misc/admTest_PG_2017.pdf

The Indian Council of Medical Research awards the following categories of fellowships to young scientists to enable them to carry out research in the field of Biomedical Sciences at the permanent Institutes of the Council, other Biomedical Research Institutes, Medical Colleges, and Universities in India where adequate laboratories and other facilities to carry out research are available: 1. Research Associates 2. Senior Research Fellowships Fellowship Rules APPLICATIONS : Applications for the fellowships are invited by advertisement in newspapers and by the issue of a circular to all medical colleges, institutes etc. The following conditions are required to be fulfilled: The applications should be sent through the Guide and the Head of the Institute where the candidate proposes to work. If employed, a certificate from his employer to accept the fellowship should be submitted. The candidate should not draw any stipend or salary or be in receipt of any other type of fin...

The Institutional Biotech Hub, Department of Biotechnology, Gauhati University is organizing a 7 days’ workshop cum training program on “Prospecting Traditional Herbal Therapy to Modern Drug Discovery” from 22nd May to 28th May 2017. The last date for receipt of application form is 15th May 2017. Interested participants may visit the following link for details and to download the application form. http://www.gauhati.ac.in/notification/1492772527biotech%20hub%20workshop2017.pdf

Agent Orange is a herbicide and defoliant chemical. It is widely known for its use by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. It was a mixture of equal parts of two herbicides, 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D. The chemical damaged the health of people who came into contact with it as well as extensively contaminated the environment.   Environment : Agent Orange caused enormous environmental damag e in Vietnam. Over 3,100,000 hectares (31,000 km2) of forest were defoliated. Defoliants eroded tree cover and seedling forest stock, making reforestation difficult in numerous areas. Animal species diversity sharply reduced in contrast with unsprayed areas. Toxicology : Due to its fat-soluble nature, agent orange/dioxin enters through physical contact or ingestion. Dioxin easily accumulates in the food chain. Dioxin enters the body by attaching to a protein called the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a tra...

Yes we can. There is whole new branch of biology for this, SYNTHETIC GENOMICS. Synthetic genomics is a nascent field of synthetic biology, that uses aspects of genetic modification on preexisting life forms or artificial gene synthesis to create a new DNA or entire new life forms. Craig venter and his team has created new bacteria with synthetic genome. As a summarized article, read:   After 20 Year Quest, Biologists Create Synthetic Bacteria With No Extra Genes     Source: https://www.quora.com/profile/Saurav-Das-9

The answer will be : Fluroantimonic acid, it has a pH = - 31.3 ( Hammett acidity function). It is like ten million billion times stronger than the concentrated sulfuric acid.

In Biology, Polymorphism is the variation within a population. Polymorphism is the occurrence of one or more distinct individual with characteristic difference in phenotype within the members of same species. Polymorphisms occurs due to genetic variation (which may be a result of mutation or random mating) or due to environmental factors (Geographical distribution) Polymorphisms can be detected with Morphological markers (different morphological parameters), DNA markers (RFLP, AFLP, SSR, SNP etc.), biochemical markers (Isozymes).

1. Hair is made up of Keratin , but keratin is colorless so what gives our hair the unique color? 2. The answer is Melanin. 3. Melanocyte gland produces two different kinds of melanin. One is "Eumelanin" and other is "Pheomelanin". 4. Eumelanin is responsible for Black and Brown color. 5. Pheomelanin is responsible for Red and Orange color. So, Which gene controls their concentration in our hair? 1. MC1R - MC1R gene translates into Melanocortin 1 Receptor protein, which controls the production of this two melanin. 2. If MC1R is active in a cell, it stimulates the production of Eumelanin, while if the MC1R gene is blocked or polymorphic, it will stimulates the production of Pheomelanin.

As a popular, Probiotics like yogurt can help someone to create a good gut microbiome. Along with this I want to add, there is another Term Known as “ PREBIOTIC ”. Most of the people are unaware about this term. Prebiotics   are substances that induce the growth or activity of microorganisms that contribute to the well-being of their host. Prebiotics by definition are a type of non-digestible fiber compounds which are found in different plants. In simple term” Prebiotics are specific food or like fertilizer to increase the amount of specific bacteria in your gut”. So increase the intake of prebiotics in your diet to increase the good bacteria in your gut. Table Source: Wikipedia.

Talking about food chain. You can include bacteria to each and every food chain out there. They are the decomposers, they break down the complex organic matter found in the dead bodies of plants and animals. The digested material then provides a food source for other organisms. The decomposing process greatly increases the nutrient-load of an ecosystem which allows for greater biodiversity. There is another concept “ Microbial Loop”. You can connect microorganisms to aquatic and soil ecosystems. The pathway starts with dissolved organic matter (DOM : DOM consists of molecules which were once parts of living organisms such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids) which makes its way through various trophic levels via its incorporation into bacterial biomass, and then coupled with the classical food chain. The term microbial loop was coined by   Farooq Azam and   Tom Fenchel   et al (1983). The microbial loop is ecologically significant because it is dire...

They are single cell organisms and they had limited source of energy. So, it is very important for them to use the limited energy in very efficient manner. They can’t take the risk of wasting energy running constitutive gene expression which is quite not necessary at particular set of environmental conditions. If we talk about, lac operon. let's say, in first set of environmental condition, i am getting glucose in the medium directly, so it will be total waste of my energy if i turn the operon on ( In the presence of glucose, the   lac   repressor   halts production of the enzymes encoded by the   lac   operon, the   catabolite activator protein   (CAP), required for production of the enzymes, remains inactive, and   EIIAGlc   shuts down lactose permease to prevent transport of lactose into the cell). In the second case, when there is no direct availability of preferable energy sources, like glucose, and there is only lactose in the mediu...

The Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) is an on-going National Program of Fellowships in Basic Sciences, initiated and funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to attract exceptionally and highly motivated students for pursuing basic science courses and research career in science. The selection of students is made from those studying in XI standard to 1st year in any undergraduate Program in Basic Sciences namely B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./M.S. in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology having aptitude for scientific research. Special groups / committees are set up at IISc, to screen the applications and conduct an aptitude test at various centres in the country. Based on the performance in the aptitude test, short-listed students are called for an interview which is the final stage of the selection procedure. For receiving a fellowship, both aptitude test and interview marks are considered. Last Date: 26th August. For...

PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Notification for the position of one Project Fellow Applications are invited on plain paper from eligible candidates along with detailed bio-data supported by attested copies of certificates along with reference letter from the institution where you studied/worked last for the following project fellow position in UGC Major Research Project. 1. Research Position : Project Fellow - One position 2. Name of the Project:“Screening for molecular targets of anti-cancer drug using Saccharomyces cerevisiae“. 3. Duration of the Project: Three Years (2013-2016) 4. Project Fellowship: Rs. 14,000 per month for the first two years and Rs. 16,000 for the third year. 5. Qualification: M. Sc., Biochemistry/Microbiology/Biotechnology/Life sciences with minimum 60 % marks or equivalent CGPA. Research experience in life sciences would be desirable but not essential. 6. Last date for the receipt of application : 09.08.201...

Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL) is implementing since last 18 years, a scheme of practical industrial training for M.Sc./M.Tech./B.E./B.Tech. Biotechnology students. The objective of this progamme is to provide industry-specific training to Biotech students for skill development and enhancing their job opportunities in biotech industry. This programme provides an opportunity to Biotech Industry for training and selecting suitable manpower. The training period is for six months during which a trainee is paid stipend of Rs.8000/- per month and trainer company is paid a bench fee to cover the expenses for providing training. The next batch of training will commence in October. For all the informations, application and advertisement please visit...  http://bcil.nic.in/bitp2013/index.asp

Parasporin, a novel protein with a unique cytocidal activity, was first discovered from Non-Insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis by Mizuki et al. . The term parasporin is defined as "Bacillus thuringiensis and related bacterial parasporal proteins that are non-hemolytic but capable of preferentially killing cancer cells". The whole idea came from the view that, it has been well established that Non-insecticidal B. thuringiensis strains are more widely distributed than insecticidal ones, and which raises a question whether such non-insecticidal inclusions have any biological activity which is as yet undiscovered. And astoundingly on the road to find the answer a strong cytocidal protein has been discovered which have activities against human cancer cells. The proteins were heterogeneous in cytotoxicity spectra Source: a. http://parasporin.fitc.pref.fukuoka.jp/index.html b. Parasporin, a Human Leukemic Cell-Recognizing Parasporal Protein of Bacillus thuringiensis,  ...

Researchers from Exeter University,  UK  has  developed  a genetically modified strain of  E. coli  bacteria which can convert sugar into oil that is almost identical to conventional diesel.  The engineered  E. coli  used genetic code from the insect pathogen  Photorhabdus luminescens  and from the cyanobacterium  Nostoc punctiforme  as well as soil microbe  Bacillus subtilis  to make the fuel molecules from fatty acids, along with a gene from the camphor tree— Cinamomum camphora —to cut the resulting hydrocarbon to the right length. Professor John Love, a synthetic biologist from the University of Exeter, said: "Rather than making a replacement fuel like some  bio-fuels   we have made a substitute fossil fuel. This  research work  is published in Applied Biological Sciences, PNAS  ( http://www.pnas.org/content/110/19/7636.full.pdf+html ) Synthesis of customized petr...

Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous element with atomic number 33. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.  It can be found in many oxidative forms (-3, 0, +3, +5) and is released through various natural and anthropogenic activities. Humans may get exposed to arsenic through food, water and air. Exposure may also occur through skin contact with soil or water that contains arsenic; but exposure through groundwater contamination is more serious and has become the major concern throughout the world. According to recent reports over 150 millions of people are exposed to chronic arsenic poisoning by groundwater throughout the world. Owing to its extreme toxicity EPA (Environmental Protection Act, US) has ranked the arsenic as number one in a list of drinking water contaminants and has set the arsenic standard for drinking water at .010 parts per million (10 parts per billion). Early exposure leads to change in skin Pigmentation and development of keratosis at chronic lev...

Bahona College, Jorhat is organizing a UGC sponsored national seminar on “Research in Biological Sciences for sustainable development by the application of Mathematics and allied branches”  by  the Departments of Botany, Mathematics and Computer Science in collaboration with Assam Science Society, Bahona Branch on 10 th and 11 th May, 2013 .  Thrust areas: ·          Recent research in Biological Sciences for sustainability. ·           Biophysics and Biochemistry research for sustainability. ·          Issues related to global environmental crisis, biodiversity loss and conservation. ·          Management of Bioresources. ·          Phytochemical and Zoochemical investigations to validate the traditional knowledge. ·      ...