New postgraduate programme at RGCB
19.08.2019
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) is all set to offer a new Masters programme in Biotechnology that is said to be the sole postgraduate programme in the country that allows students the opportunity to choose among three specialisations - disease biology, molecular plant sciences, and molecular diagnostics and DNA profiling.
It was the only standalone Masters programme offered by the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, through (RGCB), Sudhanshu Vrati, executive director of the RCB said.
Forty-one students have been enrolled for the first batch of the programme from over 700 applicants from across the country.
Launching the programme here on Saturday, Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, said the country currently focussed on working with global partnerships in emerging technologies in the biotechnology sector.
Besides developing a conducive ecosystem for biotech start-ups, the department was supporting human resource development programmes such as the Star College scheme to support colleges and universities in improving science education across the country.
Around 180 colleges had been brought under the ambit of the programme. Similar schemes were in place at levels including in postgraduation and research.
Dr. Swarup added that the department was well ahead on its path to turn the biotechnology sector into a $100-billion industry by 2025 in line with the National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-20.
B. Anand, Additional Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; RGCB Director M. Radhakrishna Pillai; and RGCB MSc programme course coordinator Debasree Dutta also spoke on the occasion.
State witnesses surge in measles cases
20.05.2019
The current global resurgence in measles is having its resonance in Kerala too, which has been witnessing a serious surge in the disease since January. Across the globe, huge local outbreaks have been caused by travel as well as the increase in unvaccinated populations. In Kerala, however, majority of the cases are reported from Thiruvananthapuram, which has good vaccination coverage and amongst people who are well-nourished and have received at least one dose of vaccine in their lifetime.
Largest innovation hub opened in Kochi on January 13
08.01.2019
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate India's largest innovation hub, Integrated Startup Complex, at Kalamassery in Kochi, on January 13, which promises to provide top-quality infrastructure for incubation and acceleration.
Kerala's captive jumbos get genetic IDs
19.12.2018
DNA profiling may be a contentious issue among humans, but for Kerala's captive elephants, it's a done deal. In a first for India, every one of Kerala's captive elephants now has a unique DNA-based genetic ID. M. Radhakrishna Pillai, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), which was given the task of DNA fingerprinting the elephants, handed over the DNA database, prototypes of Unique Identification Cards, and a study report to the Forest Department's Chief Wildlife Warden P.C. Kesavan on Tuesday.
