"It happened by sheer accident"

More great discoveries in the realm of science get stumbled upon by the unprepared mind than untangled by methodical research. dna fingerprinting,…

'The world's entire gene-pool is open for manipulation'

INDRA VASIL was one of the first scientists to successfully manipulate wheat plants using genetic engineering techniques. Before he came in, …

The goat gamble

It has been a slow and steady shift over decades. Forced by declining returns from farming in ecologically fragile areas, small farmers have been …

Solving poverty

Gurdev S Khush is the principal plant breeder in the Plant breeding, genetics and biochemistry division of the International Rice Research …

A plant breeder comes into his own

Awards are finally coming to K Vinod Prabhu, 54, a plant breeder, for his work on building resistance in wheat, mustard and rice through the …

Saving rice

Rice is at the heart of a fierce strategy debate as the country prepares to launch the second Green Revolution in the eastern states. …

Breed basket

Even when it comes to dogs, we still haven't got over the colonial hangover. We import breeds and give them English names. Rajat Ghai speaks to S …

The crossbreeding scam

Local animal breeds are better adapted to their specific environment than foreign imports, but today in India they are under threat

Fewer ribbits in Western Ghats? Erratic, deficit rainfall hits breeding cycles of frogs

Researchers say amphibians are not getting enough time to complete the breeding cycles, eggs drying out early

Go Gokul gone

For all the noise around cow protection, NDA's cow mission, the very first it announced on assuming power, has nearly died

Waiting for the "white" revolution

Using artificial methods to increase the number of superior breeds of cows and buffaloes, scientists hope to make India abundant in milk.

ITPGRFA: Decisions on key issues deferred at meet of treaty on plant genetic resources

One positive outcome at the ITPGRFA meet was the recognition of the contribution of farmers in preserving the diversity of crops that feed …

Fresh panic at Odisha village as 60 test positive for dengue

Rayagada only district in the state to record dengue cases so far, according to a health official

Scientists develop first-ever oleic acid-rich peanut

Farmers in southern states cultivate groundnuts, but they have not benefited from the fast-growing confectionery industry till now

Bacteria in insects can help curb population of disease-causing mosquitoes: study

The study was aimed at male sterility to curb population of mosquitoes known to cause Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and Yellow fever

Supreme Court stays commercial release of GM Mustard; to hear the matter on October 17

The apex court is hearing a petition which seeks moratorium on the release of any genetically modified organisms into the environment pending a …

Deliverance by detention

Conservation strategy stands on a fork in the road: one leads to animal protection in their natural habitats, or sanctuaries; the other to …

Reviving the Tharparker cattle breed

An NGO in Barmer has launched Tharparker animal breed improvement programmes in Minjrad and another village in the district. Two pure Tharparker …

The mysterious existence of a leafless kauri stump, kept alive by its forest neighbours

Whatever happens on their journey from feeding themselves to being fed happens out of sight — likely below ground

Changes in livestock breeding needed to boost A2 milk: study

The frequency of A2 casein is high in indigenous breeds of India as compared to that of exotic, indicating an opportunity for Indian dairy …

Yes, it is possible to forecast outbreak of dengue

The forecasting should be based on models specific for different climatic zones in the country

Caught in captivity

While about 50 per cent of conservation breeding programmes remain only on paper, the ongoing projects are riddled with unscientific protocols …

Plant microbiomes are not exactly a ‘treasure-trove’

Breeding plants with more beneficial bacteria to feed the world won’t be simple, study says

Genetically engineered foods safe for health, environment: Study

The report recommended that new crop varieties should be regulated on a plant’s characteristics rather than the process by which it was …

Livestock largesse

Farmers and livestock owners are herding in a fortune as the animal sciences go into overdrive and squeeze out maximum yields