The department will seek an outlay of Rs 139 crore for the purpose while making full use of the Rs 750 crore marked in the Ninth Plan period.Unlike in the preceding two annual plan periods and the Seventh Plan, the activities of the biotech department was accelerated as its actual expenditure accounted for Rs 415 crore, exceeding its outlay of Rs 265 crore.The biotech department was established during the Seventh Plan period in February 1986 with a Plan outlay of Rs 170 crore. Out of this outlay its total expenditure amounted to only Rs 142.84 crore.

The department has already identified some important areas of relevance for future years. These areas are basic research, genetics, agriculture andallied areas, plant biotechnology, livestock, aquaculture, environment, healthcare, human resources and bioinformatics. The department has already noted the impact of the recent biotechnology-related developments in agriculture, healthcare, environment and industry has become visible and many products are available in the market.

It has decided that for future years, application of biotechnological tools for sustainable utilisation of the biological resources for socio-economic benefits would be its endeavour with the involvement and support of the scientific and academic community, industrial and financial organisations, social scientists and other experts.

The programmes of the department will aim at bioindustrial development of the country and creation of a strong base for fundamental research in biology.

In a document paper of the department, it is stated that the coming decade would undoubtedly witness major advances in genetic engineering of plants.Several bacterial factories would be establishedutilising plant genes as source of biochemicals, including biopesticides, pharmaceuticals and a host of of medicinal and aromatic compounds.

The artificial culture of plant tissues has paved the way for rapid propagation. Enrichment of genetic diversity and introduction of foreign genes in the system, fusion of plant cells of widely different parentage in the laboratory and their regeneration into plants, have widened the scope of securing novel hybrids, unimaginable through conventional hybridisation.It further stated that with the present rate of progress one can look forward to the production of transgenic crops- resistant against virus, insects, fungi and a variety of biotic factors.

Such transgenic crops, as a source of special enzymes, toxins or antitoxins and other biochemicals would become an important commercial venture. Simultaneously, efforts are under way in the department to take up research on abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought and water-logging. However, alternative methods are tobe perfected for assembly of two chains or a single chain antibody binding construct. Oral vaccines would be an inexpensive and simple method of vaccination on which the work is already initiated.

The document stated that in the area of documentation of resources, including the endangered species, DNA fingerprinting will play a significant role. It is of special importance for our cereals, and for commercially important crops like jute, coffee, mulberry, tea and others where documentation of elite clones is imperative.

With gradual refinements in methods, fingerprinting would ultimately be extended to a larger number of coding sequences as well, while reaching a vary high level of perfection.

Basic research and product and process development would be major thrusts through identification of leads from ongoing R&D projects. A special effort would be made to evaluate these leads so that further work on validation, field evaluation and demonstration on largescale are feasible.

Multi-institutional andmulti-disciplinary projects having national impact would be prioritised and implemented in the areas of agriculture, phyto-pharmaceuticals, microbial products, animal biotechnology, infectious diseases and neurosciences.

Based on the needs and priorities identified by the Standing Advisory Committee (Overseas) and Scientific Advisory Committee, BRPC and reports of the task forces matching with global trends, competitive research areas would be pursued.

Genome mapping of plants, animals and human beings, transgenic reasearch, prospecting for new molecules and genes and basic biomedical research relating to both infectious and genetic disorders would continue to be areas for innovative research alongwith developing data-base of species. Basic researches will be carried out in developmental biology including seed and floral biology and also phylogenetic research and linking it up with evolutionary biology will be encouraged. There will also be scope for use of molecular approaches, fingerprinting,mathematical modelling and creation of computerised data-bases and information systems.

The main objectives of research in this area would be to establish linkages that would lead towards predictable classification, development of DNA marker based techniques, assessment of genetic diversity and genetic potential and refinement of taxonomy groups in the country. Bioprospecting is one of the areas for future research, since it enables us to make use of the rich biological heritage that we have, not just in ways that we are familiar with from past, but with wholly novel ways that bioscience empowers us, the document paper stated.

Regarding genetics, the document paper stated that understanding the gene function, the genome structure, genetic testing, gene chip technology, differentiation in gene expression will promise new drugs, treatments and a clearer understanding of human health and behaviour. The human genome programme launched in 1990 would be completed by 2025. A strategy will be chalked out toutilise the enormous data which would be generated when the genome project is completed.

Indian genome initiative and human genome diversity projects have already provided a strong base and research leads. Plant genome area is equally relevant and the new plant genome centre would address these issues.Most of the present day effort in plant biotechnology can be classified into research on genomics and transgenics. The National Plant Genome Reaseach Centre has been established at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. There would be endeavour to carry out DNA fingerprinting of the unique flora. Also a very strong database would be developed and the country would aim to create its own niche by working on functional genomics and genome mapping for quality traits in its important crops. This will help to define the components of expressed regions of genome and their function as well as the mechanism involved in express of traits of utility. Many useful genes which are available can be exchanged and used.Transgenics will result in minimising the consumption of herbicides and pesticides.Biotechnology departmentÎContinued from Page IBased on the needs and priorities identified by the Standing Advisory Committee (Overseas) and Scientific Advisory Committee, BRPC and reports of the task forces matching with global trends, competitive research areas would be pursued.Genome mapping of plants, animals and human beings, transgenic reasearch, prospecting for new molecules and genes and basic biomedical research relating to both infectious and genetic disorders would continue to be areas for innovative research alongwith developing data-base of species. Basic researches will be carried out in developmental biology including seed and floral biology and also phylogenetic research and linking it up with evolutionary biology will be encouraged. There will also be scope for use of molecular approaches, fingerprinting, mathematical modelling and creation of computerised data-bases and information systems.The main objectivesof research in this area would be to establish linkages that would lead towards predictable classification, development of DNA marker based techniques, assessment of genetic diversity and genetic potential and refinement of taxonomy groups in the country. Bioprospecting is one of the areas for future research, since it enables us to make use of the rich biological heritage that we have, not just in ways that we are familiar with from past, but with wholly novel ways that bioscience empowers us, the document paper stated. Regarding genetics, the document paper stated that understanding the gene function, the genome structure, genetic testing, gene chip technology, differentiation in gene expression will promise new drugs, treatments and a clearer understanding of human health and behaviour. he human genome programme was launched in 1990 . uwould be completed by 2025. A strategy will be chalked out to utilise the enormous data which would be generated when the genome project is completed.Indian genomeinitiative and human genome diversity projects have already provided a strong base and research leads. Plant genome area is equally relevant and the new plant genome centre would address these issues.Most of the present day effort in plant biotechnology can be classified into research on genomics and transgenics. The National Plant Genome Reaseach Centre has been established at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. There would be endeavour to carry out DNA fingerprinting of the unique flora. Also a very strong database would be developed and the country would aim to create its own niche by working on functional genomics and genome mapping for quality traits in its important crops. This will help to define the components of expressed regions of genome and their func