Editorial  

US Forces Changes in India's GM Policy  (Click and read online)

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 Lead Story- What Will Synthetic Biology Deliver?

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The behaviour of bioengineered systems remains unpredictable, a function of the fact that genetic circuits that have been created artificially tend to mutate rapidly and frequently and often become non-functional. Synthetic microorganisms should undoubtedly be treated as dangerous till proven to be otherwise.  Read more.... Subscription required

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Synthetic Biology - Major Areas of Research in Synthetic Biology

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The world's first synthetic biology conference convened in June 2004.Two months later, the University of California at Berkeley announced the establishment of the world's first synthetic biology department. In 2005,three synthetic biology start-ups attracted over $43 million in venture capital, and by late 2006 there's talk of establishing an industry trade group for gene synthesisers.  Read complete.. Subscription required

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Synthetic Biology - DNA Computing : Using Life to Build A Computer

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The fledgling science of DNA computing is based on the apt comparison that, like a computer, DNA both stores and processes coded information. DNA computing was born in 1994 when Leonard Adleman… Read complete.. Subscription required

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Synthetic Biology - Cautioning Against Synthetic Biology Technology

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The tools for DNA synthesis technologies are not only advancing at break-neck pace, they are becoming cheaper, geographically disperse and widely accessible. The economic and technical barriers to synthetic genomics research are collapsing… Read complete.. Subscription required

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FAQs - Synthetic Biology Explained

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What is synthetic biology?

Synthetic biology refers to both the design and fabrication of biological components and systems that do not already exist in the natural world and also the re-design and fabrication of existing biological systems....Subscription required

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IPRs - Need for a Sui Generis Regime

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There is a need to develop more sui generis legislation to protect IK and rights of indigenous peoples.However,a domestic regime has to be complemented by an effective international regime. .  Read complete

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IPRs - Biotechnological Inventions: Some Social and Ethical Issues

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It is worthwhile and timely to consider the tools that patent law offers to address some of the ethical and social issues arising from biotechnology patenting.. Read complete.. Subscription required

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GM Issue - The Threat of GE Rice Contamination

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A recent study conducted by Greenpeace demonstrates that even limited field trials can cause enormous economic damage, as much as $1.2 billion ....Read complete

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Genetics - Metagenomics Helps In Conserving Microbes

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The application of metagenomics to study natural microbial ecosystems without the traditional requirement for cultivation has resulted in the discovery of many unexpected evolutionary lines. Subscription required

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Stem Cell Update - Turning Human Skin Cells into Embryonic Stem Cell-Like Cells

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The induced pluripotent stem or iPS cells were indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells in terms of their appearance and behaviour in cell culture  Read more.. Subscription required

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Frontiers - Systems Biology : Looking at the Whole

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Instead of analysing individual parts or aspects of the organism, such as protein metabolism or a cell nucleus, systems biology focuses on bringing together these parts and studying how these parts act together in an organism. .... Read complete

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Science News

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TRIGENOMIC WILD WHEAT:

CSIRO scientists have combined disease resistance genes from three different grass species have been combined in the world's first 'trigenomic' chromosome, which can now be used to breed disease resistant wheat varieties.... Read more ...

CELLS SORTED WITH BEAMS OF LIGHT:

Separating out particular kinds of cells from a sample could become faster, cheaper and easier thanks to a new system developed by MIT researchers that involves levitating the cells with light...Read more...Subscription required

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Biofuel Update - Govts Need to Review Biofuel Craze

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Food or fuel?

In the wake of the biofuel race, global food demand is shifting towards higher-value vegetables, dairy, fruits and meat as a result of rapid economic growth in developing countries, including China and India. Philippines, among the vanguards in the rush to cultivate biofuel crops, is now feeling the negative effects of this move on food supply. ..Read more...Subscription required

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 Policy - ICMR Draft Guidelines for Stem Cell Research

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The monitoring and review of stem cell research in India is regulated at two levels. All institutions and investigators carrying out research on human stem cells should be registered at the national level with the National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy (NAC- SCRT) and the other at the Institutional level Stem Cell Research and Therapy (IC-SCRT)... Subscription required

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Community - Multilateral Gene Pools -- Access to Benefit Sharing

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The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for food and agriculture signed in 2004 has since been ratified by 115 countries, including India. This treaty has established a global, multilateral plant gene pool which is now fully operational and functions under the Food and Agricultural Organisation. It boosts the fair and equitable sharing of plant genetic material for food and agriculture.. Read complete

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Happenings - Raising Public Awareness

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Gene Campaign has been spearheading a campaign to inform and educate people regarding biodiversity, farmers rights, GE foods and crops and the dangers posed by them to our health and environment by using a variety of communication tools..   Subscription required