CONTENTS                                                  Jan-Feb 2001

IN THE NEWS
Radobank code on biotech funding Ö Eli Lilly plans R&D and production base in India Ö Becker Underwood takes over MicroBio Group Inc. Ö CDRI to develop diabetes molecule Ö Schering-Plough to develop and commercialize interferon Ö IBM invests in life sciences Ö Bharat Biotech to make rotavirus vaccine Ö Italy's first genomic company Ö DNA sequencing agreement Ö Software integrates molecular biology research with Internet Ö Genomics alliance Ö SPIC biotech unit plans to diversify Ö Gene altering technology Ö USV forays into insulin market

INVENTIONS/NEW PRODUCTS
In utero immunization technique developed Ö New drugs for fungal and intractable infectious diseases Ö Next-generation proteomics software launched Ö A snare for the weak Ö Biolog technology for gene function determination Ö New AIDS detection system Ö New biomolecular purification process

R&D IDEAS
RNAi ascribes function to 25 per cent of worm genome Ö Telomerase reverses ageing in skin model Ö Protein aptamers define gene function Ö Stemming the brain drain Ö Molecule that affects brain function discovered Ö Chromosome targeting Ö Mutations causing blindness and heart attack identified Ö Key proteins in cholesterol disorders targeted Ö Study to prevent premature death in older persons

MEDICAL BIOTECH
Potential drug for malaria Ö New cancer treatment Ö Gene therapy for head and neck cancer Ö New drug for vitiligo

AGRI BIOTECH
New biopesticide to tackle locust menace Ö Research into multiple herbicide-resistant canola Ö High-protein corn Ö Biofertilizer from algae Ö New protein biopesticide Ö High-yielding mint varieties Ö Caffeine synthase gene from tea leaves Ö Mutant variety of Sesbania field tested Ö Genetically engineered herbicide-resistant mustard

BIOREMEDIATION
Superbug for toxic clean-up Ö From toxin to table salt

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

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