The double-edged sword
Picture this: A doctor draws out cells from a foetus to diagnose if it will develop into a normal child. A simple and quick test of the sample …
"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,…
GEAC has power only to withdraw permission
Arjula R Reddy, a plant geneticist, was appointed co-chairperson of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in 2009. At present, he …
Bt-by-Bt assessment
On November 10, 2002, people wearing 'Bollgard' caps visited cotton farmer R Narsimha Reddy at his home in Aleru, a village in Nalgonda, Andhra …
Solving poverty
Gurdev S Khush is the principal plant breeder in the Plant breeding, genetics and biochemistry division of the International Rice Research …
The world gets a note of caution on gene drives introduction
The Convention on Biological Diversity meeting wants countries to seek “free, prior and informed consent” before introducing new …
We are all the same
At first sight, two humans may seem to differ enormously. But looks can be misleading. Among animals, humans make up an unusual group. All humans …
Completing the great gene jigsaw
An epiphanic understanding of gene sequencing at last seems to reveal the tale of life and death
Aliens in the voters list
A green signal by the Swiss to carry on research in genetic engineering is making environmental organisations see red
Future science
Biological issues took precedence over all others at the recently-held science congress in Chennai
Digital diagnosis: intelligent machines do a better job than humans
Humans can only do so much when it comes to diagnosing a patient. So why not let machines take over? They learn faster …
Selling God's secrets
After 20 years of scepticism, increasing sales have finally convinced industries that genetic engineering holds the key to the future.
Revoked!
The cancellation of a US firm's rights on a method to genetically engineer cotton has brought weaknesses in India's patent system into focus
Can the Grim Reaper wait, please?
A timeless dream: eternal youth, unblemished by illness. The search for the font of immortality has taken a late 20th century turn into what …
What price the constitution?
Breakthroughs in genetic engineering have led to questions on the ethics of suchexperiments. Should scientists alone be steering the decision-…
The debate continues
Are genetically modified organisms good or bad? The debate continues and more and more people are getting involved on both sides
Dying very young
High mortality rate of cloned animals and unsuccessful attempts to clone monkeys worry researchers
Unsuccessful copycats
Mutations in cloned monkey embryos prove that a lot has to done before primates can be cloned successfully
There are ample facts to support biotechnology
CLIVE JAMES, chairperson, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications gives T V JAYAN and CLIFFORD POLYCARP his …
Nipping malaria in the bud
Scientists are focussing on strengthening genetically the defence mechanism of mosquitoes so as to render them inhospitable to the malarial parasite.
Bird's eye view of biotechnology is useful
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Cyborg controversy
There's gaiety on the greens as the European Parliament drops a directive on patenting genetically-engineered life-forms
The metal gobblers
Genetically engineered crops could reclaim the vast areas of land poisoned by the rapid strides of development
Biodiversity or Biotrade?
Competing goals of free trade and environmental protection puts the much-awaited Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety indefinitely on hold