| |
Fighting
Dengue with GM Insects
Dhaka
25th May, '08. In an
article captioned, "Malaysia
prepares to fight dengue with GM insects,"
published online May 18, David
Cyranoski
reports about the effort
that has been launched in Malaysia to eradicate Dengue fever by means
of genetically modified sterile male mosquitoes. The
technique of releasing sterile male insects is not new. However, sterile
insects such as the medfly from
California and the parasitic screw worm from the United States and much of
central America were not genetically modified but made sterile through use
of irradiation.
Irradiation technique doesn't
work in mosquitoes as irradiated sterile males are unable to mate
with females as they cannot
compete with their wild counterparts. In spite of the public
concern, the Malaysian Academy of Sciences is likely to give clearance
shortly for the trial of GM insects in a bid to fight against the Dengue
fever. As a result of this decision, millions of GM sterile Aedes
aegypti mosquitoes will soon be released to produce offspring
that would die in the larval stage.
In view of the frequent recurrence of Dengue fever in Bangladesh, it will be
worthwhile to try this technique. Malaysia being a friendly country,
technology transfer through s bilateral agreement would not pose any
problem,
___________________________________________
Misleading
Report that GM Crops Cause Severe Damage to Human Health Austin,
May 11, 08. An article on May 8 in
the Star Business Section of the Daily Star describes GM crops,
without being backed by relevant data that they are dangerous to human
health and that they cause stunted growth, bleeding stomach, impaired
immune system and misshapen cell structures in different organs such as
liver and kidneys. So that such an article does not create a wrong
impression and misconception about GM crops among the public, Prof.
Zeba Seraj at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology writes
a letter to the Editor expressing her strong disapproval of this
misleading article published in one of prestigious English Dailies
like,
'The
Daily Star.' Here
is the letter of Prof. Seraj submitted to DS. Response
comments: Moosa
BioAsia
2007 – The Global Bio-Business Forum Austin Feb. 11, '07. The
Federation of Biotech Association (FABA) launched
only a couple of years back is doing a great job to promote
biotech research and biotech-based industries in multitude of
fields. Sponsored by BioAsia 2007, it is having an INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE in Hyderabad, India from 13 through 15th of
February. Dr. Anwar Nasim, Adviser Science COMSTECH,
Islamabad and the current President of the FABA has already
extended invitation to Bangladesh to join FABA to reap the
benefit of this dynamic organization particularly in the
industrial sector.
The following comprise most of the topics that
were covered in the three-day conference:
Biotech Business and Research
partnership opportunities in
Pittsburgh, Outsourcing – A new business model for
pharmaceutical and biotech companies, Patent Protection and
Challenges in the Biotech Industry, The search for
Innovation:
Early-stage Technology Acquisition and Commercialization. Drugs
& Pharmaceutical Research: Funding opportunities from DST, A
novel business and investment model to
acquire
world wide rights to new chemical entities (NCE) and formulation
by Indian pharmaceutical companies, Investment opportunities in
Australia.
Assessing the manpower needs of Biotech industry, Structure
function correlation of Lipoxygenases Computer Aided Drug Design
(CADD) approaches for rational drug design: Diabetes as a case
study Bioinformatics-Accelerating Research, Predictive
Physiology Convergence Techniques for Differentiated Drug
Discovery. Translational
Research: Bridging basic science with clinical practice.
Advantages and challenges in the production of plant-based
Biopharmaceuticals, Stem Cells: Expanding options for
Treatment in
Asia
, Development of innate Immune factors and their recombinant
proteins-New perspectives for
acquaculture diseases control
New Technologies for Therapeutic Antibody Production, Vaccine
Technologies: Challenges and Solutions Vaccine Discovery to
Marketable Product: Technology Transfer Hepatitis B Vaccine and
its combinations: A continuing
saga
of bridging the gap between the need and supply of quality
childhood vaccines. Discovery of Novel HIV-1 Vaccines,
Development of L2 as a broadly protective Human Papillomavirus
Vaccine
Harnessing the benefits of
biotechnology for a more sustainable food production, Safety
assessment of foods /
feed crops nutritionally enhanced
through Biotechnology,
First and second-generation biofuels research at
Newcastle
University
; Public-Private partnerships
& Agri-business opportunities: ICRISAT Case Study
. Regulatory processes for
genetically modified crops and other products; Food safety
assessment of Transgenic crops-Present Indian Regulations.
In addition, participants will have an opportunity to
visit Bioparks
conclave to explore opportunities for entrepreneurship. More>>
_______________________________________
Virus Resistant GM Cassava to be on Field Trial soon by Danforth
Austin Sept 10, 06.
A non-profit
organization called Danforth Center (DC) engaged itself for the past 7 years to
work on cassava – one of the alternative main food sources in Africa. In times
of near famine, this crop saves farmers from starvation. Severe virus attacks in
recent years have repeatedly destroyed this crop. In order to avert this crisis
molecular plant breeders at Danforth center have bio-engineered a variety of
cassava that is resistant to virus. In order to do the field testing Danforth
scientists have received sufficient grants from Monsanto to carry out field
testing of the GM cassava. With this money, DC would be able to rent enough
specially constructed greenhouses and hire a sufficient number of technicians to
test hundreds of GM cassava before they would finally release the variety after
meeting the strict biosafety standards. Subject to successful field trials, the
GM cassava is likely to be planted in Kenya, Uganda and Malawi. It may be
mentioned here that for lack of funds scientists working in universities and
not-profit organizations can hardly test the lab results in the field but this
time, thanks to the generous grant by Monsanto, DC would "turn research into
humanitarian products for poor people."
_____________________
Brazilian
Scientist Speaks Out on GMO Crops and Foods
Austin Sept. 06, '06.
Genetically modified (GM) crops are among the
most studied and reviewed food crops in the world. Using well established,
internationally accepted standards of risk assessment, regulatory authorities
worldwide have reviewed the safety of all GMO crops and foods now on the market
and determined that they pose no more risk than those produced through
traditional breeding methods. Watch the video by clicking here.
|
|
|
|
|
