CONTENTS                                                  Mar-Apr 2001

IN THE NEWS
Rabobank plans to form pharma, biotech forum Ö Are organic foods more nutritious? Ö GM crops area expanding Ö SAARC Technical Committee plans Biotech Council Ö Rice genome mapped Ö Transgenic bovine venture Ö Collaboration on gene expression Ö Transgenic rice technology Ö Indian 'basmati' to be tested in the United Kingdom Ö Organic wines Ö Lonza and Abgenix agree on manufacturing supply Ö GM food safety report Ö Germany: new biotechnology powerhouse in Europe Ö Dr. Reddy's terminates pact with Schein Pharma Ö Gentech to launch bioinformatics software Ö Next-generation DNA sequencers Ö Biotech parks: following the infotech path Ö Bangalore to host biotech meet Ö New horticulture subsidy plan Ö Pharma industry plans biotech park in Maharashtra Ö Labelling of bio-engineered food made optional Ö Dow Chemical and Diversa forge alliance Ö Monsanto goes ahead with GM wheat launch Ö Karnataka State of India unveils biotech policy Ö Indian Agriculture Commission is pro-biotech Ö Transgenic crops approved for use in the United States Ö Animal cloning prospects for the future Ö Gaur clone dies Ö Biosensors to detect landmines

INVENTIONS/NEW PRODUCTS
First GM monkey Ö New protease inhibitor Ö New genetic marker Ö Discovery of "Immortal Skin"

R&D IDEAS
New bio-engineered fungus Ö New tools to analyse cell and tissue structures Ö Liquid DNA Ö Plant-based contraceptive Ö Anti-rabies DNA vaccine Ö Treat early, treat hard Ö New bioinformatics platform introduced Ö DNA sensors to detect toxins Ö DNA chips

MEDICAL BIOTECH
Edible vaccine for hepatitis B Ö Gene therapy for diabetics

AGRI BIOTECH
New wheat variety developed Ö Transgenic potatoes Ö 'Golden mustard' project Ö 'Golden rice to be tested Ö Transgenic milk: a possible cure for mastitis Ö Indigenous GM potato to be field tested Ö Bigger, better bread

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