The Hindu Business Line : Focus on genetic literacy, RGCB told

THE Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) here has been asked to focus on aspects of genetic literacy for the farming community, social sustainability of new technologies and their economic significance.

This was stated here by Dr Manju Sharma, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, while delivering the Dr M.R. Das Memorial Oration at the RGCB recently.

"Scientists of the centre have to work for the people of this region as a friend, philosopher and guide, especially when it comes to sustainable utilisation of bioresources of the region as a feed stock for industrial and economic progress," she added.

Increased economic growth spurred by genetically improved crops would provide much-needed resources in the efforts to conserve biodiversity. India was one of the world's 12 megadiversity areas, with over 45,000 wild plant species and 77,000 wild animal species registered, accounting for about 6.5 per cent of the world's known wildlife.

The biological wealth of India was a valuable asset to be managed prudently, particularly since the Convention of Biodiversity recognised that the biodiversity present within the political frontiers of a country was the sovereign property of that country.

The diversity of living forms in India was the result of climate and soil variability and cultural and ethnic diversity. The country had a tribal population of 53 million, belonging to 550 communities.

There were three megacentres of endemic biodiversity in the country - the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Himalayas - and 25 micro-endemic centres. "Today we all are sitting here in one of the identified hot spots of mega biodiversity", Dr Sharma said, referring to the proximity of the place to Western Ghats.

"It is very important that while staying in a region that happens to be one of the hot spots, environmental and ecological research get high priority. We have the rich bioresources base that can provide novel genes, molecules and enzymes for commercial exploitation. These would eventually become a significant source of revenue for the State of Kerala".

According to Dr Sharma, the late Dr M.R. Das, founder director, had given a roadmap wherein RGCB had laid special emphasis on infectious diseases, plant molecular biology and the molecular basis of biological functions, genetic diseases and environmental biotechnology.

What RGBC needed to do now was to have specified focus areas, clear targets and well-defined objects and milestones. It would also be necessary to selectively work on some missions looking at the regional issues and the rich biodiversity of Kerala.

"Biotechnology research was moving with tremendous speed. Indian scientists must keep pace with it and harness the fruits of this new field of science for the welfare of humankind. That is how we have defined our mission for the next 10 years", Dr Sharma said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Kannur district joins `deficient rain' list

EPFO trustees seek to scrap minimum age for pension

`Excise duty cut can lift PC sales'

`Excise dispute settlement panel working well'

Rising wheat prices may spell end of party for biscuit cos

EU must engage with new India: Sinha

`Latvia can serve as gateway to tap EU markets'

Multilateral pacts have priority over RTAs: EC

Bilateral trade treaties posing threat to vanaspati, plastic industries

GEAC allegations over Shankinase — Shantha Bio says it followed procedures

Lab at your doorstep