CONTENTS                                                  Mar-Apr 2002

IN THE NEWS
Biotech parks in India  Ö Human trial soon for the first DNA vaccine  Ö Mandatory PCR-based diagnosis for tuberculosis suggested in India Ö New TB vaccine trials begin  Ö EPA reapproves use of Bt corn for seven years  Ö Indian state seals biotech pact with North Carolina  Ö Sartorius India to set up biotech parks

MARKET NEWS
E&Y to tap India's bio-economy  Ö Avestha in pact with Genetic ID for GMO testing Ö International plant genetic resources treaty approved  Ö Novel enzymes and processes  Ö Bionomics bags R&D grant for breast cancer research  Ö Funding for toxicogenomics  Ö Collaboration to produce therapeutic proteins

INVENTIONS/NEW PRODUCTS
Genomic analysis kit  Ö Sequential bioreactor Ö Neuron cDNAs for gene expression research  Ö Genetic microarray scanner

R&D IDEAS
Gene that leads to high bone mass  Ö  DNA coding can keep out fake goods Ö BioMEMS for diabetes therapy  Ö Chip in a nerve cell  Ö HIV mutation urges new vaccine strategy  Ö Cheaper gene transfer method

GENOMICS
Genetic decoding raises hopes against malaria  Ö Sequencing of A. tumefaciens completed Ö Fission yeast genome sequenced

MEDICAL BIOTECH
Gene causing intellectual disability, epilepsy identified  Ö New antibody conjugate developed  Ö Antibiotics make human microbes drug-resistant Ö Gene therapy for male infertility  Ö Genetically engineered T cell tackles kidney cancer  Ö Unsuccessful copycats

BIOINFORMATICS
Teaming up for bioinformatic hub  Ö Data integration in life science research Ö Indian university to induct more biotech courses  Ö Microarray analysis software

AGRI BIOTECH
Perennial rice under development  Ö Fluorescent flowers  Ö Breakthrough in spider silk  Ö Reliance Life to make drugs from plants  Ö GM groundnut from ICRISAT  Ö Fungi make gold nanoparticles

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Bacteriological test kits  Ö Deciphering PCB degradation  Ö Bio-weapons detection  Ö Pollution causes birth defects

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

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