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The department of Biotechnology organized a guest lecture ‘An Overview of Plant Biotechnology’ focusing the recent advances in rice research. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Neeraja, a senior scientist at the Directorate of Rice Research, Hyd. From an experienced scientist's point of view, Biotechnology is an application involving Plant, Medical and Microbial Biotechnology. The main emphasis was on Plant Biotechnology wherein the discussion was on the advantages, disadvantages and the reasons for Plant Biotechnology lagging behind as compared to other branches.
There are around 300 research laboratories around the world working on rice, which has its advantages as it’s our principle food crop and the need of production of better varieties, due to the malnutrition problems affecting our nation.
Rice is chosen for genetic engineering as it has a genome consisting of only 12n haploid chromosomes. Various methods for propagation of rice include anther culture, embryo rescue and transgenics.
During the lecture, she also discussed the negativity and opposition to GM crops, with regards to the crisis faced by farmers in the case of BT cotton. The seminar provided ample information on Plasmid based vectors, the importance of markers and the PCR.
Dr.Neeraja concluded the lecture by emphasizing the role of the Biotechnology students in taking forward Biotechnology and propagating research and to take up entrepreneurship in Biotechnology.
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