‘BioAsia 2020’ commenced in Hyderabad

The 17th edition of Asia’s largest biotechnology and life sciences forum, ‘BioAsia 2020’ recently commenced in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana. The three-day event began with the theme of ‘Today for Tomorrow’. More than 2000 delegates from as many as 37 countries.  A massive exhibition with 175 exhibitors and experts is also set to be ..

Topics: BioAsia 2020 • Biotechnology • Biotechnology in India • Hyderabad • Life sciences

Union Science and Technology (S&T) and Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched ‘UMMID’ initiative

The Union Science and Technology (S&T) and Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has recently launched ‘UMMID (Unique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders)’ initiative to tackle inherited genetic diseases of newborn babies. The aim of the new initiative is to create awareness about genetic disorders amongst clinicians and establish molecular diagnostics in hospitals ..

Topics: Biology • Cancer research • Life sciences • Medical genetics • Medical tests • Molecular diagnostics

The researchers of United States find that Electronic cigarettes damage brain stem cells

The researchers in the United States (US) have found that Electronic Cigarettes (ECs) produce a stress response in brain stem cells. They identified the mechanism underlying EC-induced stem cell toxicity as “Stress-Induced Mitochondrial Hyper-fusion (SIMH) using cultured mouse neural stem cells. The study showed that exposure of stem cells to e-liquids, aerosols, or nicotine produces ..

Topics: Astrocyte • Biology • Biotechnology • Branches of biology • Cloning • Developmental biology • Induced stem cells • Life sciences • Neural stem cell • Neuron • nicotine • Stem cells

Researchers created world’s first gene-edited Lizard

Researchers from the University of Georgia have successfully targeted the pigmentation genes of Anolis sagrei lizards to create four nearly transparent albino offspring. The lizards have been genetically modified using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool. Researchers were able to microinject CRISPR proteins into multiple immature eggs or oocytes located in the ovaries of 21 Anolis ..

Topics: Biology • Biotechnology • Branches of biology • Cas9 • CRISPR • CRISPR gene editing • Emerging technologies • Genetic engineering • Genome editing • Human Nature • Immune system • Life sciences

India ranked as world’s fifth largest cultivated area under genetically modified (GM) crops

According to the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/ GM Crops in 2017 by International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), India has the world’s fifth largest cultivated area under genetically modified (GM) crops. However, this entire area is under single crop – cotton. Currently, the country with highest area under transgenic crops, at ..

Topics: Alfalfa • Biological engineering • Biotechnology • Cotton • Emerging technologies • Food and drink • Genetically modified crops • International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications • Life sciences • Maize • Molecular biology