New Delhi: Amid an uptick in coronavirus cases, Delhi has ramped up genome sequencing of samples to detect any new variant, officials said on Saturday.On Friday, Delhi logged 1,797 COVID-19 infections in a single day, highest in nearly four months, along with one fatality while the positivity rate rose to 8.18 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department here.The state-run ILBS, which has a genome sequencing lab, has the capacity to analyze 350 samples in four to five days, said a doctor at the facility.Sources said that from the end of 2021 till June 5, the ILBS has tested 5000 to 6000 samples and most of them have tested positive for Omicron. Samples with CT value less than 25 can only be tested, they said.“We have detected BA.1 and BA.2 and its sublineages till now while we have not found any new variants. It has been reported that a new variant has been found in Maharashtra. The results of some of the samples will come next week,” said a source.Officials said that the Delhi government is holding day to day meetings to take stock of the situation vis-a-vis the coronavirus situation.The samples being sent to NCDC, LNJP and ILBS for genome sequencing have also been increased but those with CT value less than 25 can only be sequenced.On Monday, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena had directed officials to ensure genome sequencing of COVID-19 samples in Delhi to “proactively” detect the prevalence of any new variant amid an uptick in coronavirus cases in the city. Amid a spike in daily cases, the positivity rate too climbed from 1.92 per cent registered on June 7 to 7.01 per cent on June 15, which further increased to 8.18 per cent on June 17, according to official figures.The number of COVID-19 cases has registered a steady rise in the last 10 days, as the daily tally mounted to over 1,300 on June 15 from 247 on June 6, totalling 7,175 cases in this period, according to the official data.&nbsp;&nbsp;—PTI&nbsp;

 Amid an uptick in coronavirus cases, Delhi has ramped up genome sequencing of samples to detect any new variant, officials said on Saturday.

Genome Sequencing Of Corona Samples Ramps Up In Delhi

Toronto: An international team has reconstructed the first ancient genome of E. coli, using fragments extracted from the gallstone of a 16th century Italian mummy.Modern E. coli is commonly found in the intestines of healthy people and animals. While most forms are harmless, some strains are responsible for serious, sometimes fatal food poisoning outbreaks and bloodstream infections. The hardy and adaptable bacterium is recognised as especially resistant to treatment. However, its full evolutionary history remained a mystery, including when it acquired novel genes and antibiotic resistance.Now researchers from the universities of McMaster in Canada and Paris Cite in France have reconstructed the genome of a 400-year-old ancestor to the modern bacterium.The mummified remains used for the new study, published online in the journal Communications Biology, come from a Neapolitan noble from the Renaissance period in Italy. Giovani d'Avalos was 48 when he died in 1586, and thought to have suffered from chronic inflammation of the gallbladder due to gallstones. His well-preserved body was recovered from the Abbey of Saint Domenico Maggiore in Naples in 1983."It was so stirring to be able to type this ancient E. coli,a said Erick Denamur, the leader of the French team. While the genome was unique, Denamur said it was evolutionarily similar to the pathogen that still caused human gallstones even today.Further the team said when examining the remains, "there was no evidence to say this man had E. coli. Unlike an infection like smallpox, there are no physiological indicators. No one knew what it was", explains lead author of the study George Long, a graduate student of bioinformatics at McMaster.Researchers had to meticulously isolate fragments of the target bacterium, which had been degraded by environmental contamination from many sources. They used the recovered material to reconstruct the genome."We were able to identify what was an opportunistic pathogen, dig down to the functions of the genome, and to provide guidelines to aid researchers who may be exploring other, hidden pathogens," Long said. —IANS

An international team has reconstructed the first ancient genome of E. coli, using fragments extracted from the gallstone of a 16th century Italian mummy.

Ancient Genome Of E. Coli Reconstructed Using Gallstone Of A 16th Century Mummy

Chandigarh (The Hawk): Two day National Symposium cum Workshop on Genome Informatics kick started on 19th July, 2022 at Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Around 50 delegates from Universities and various colleges are attending the event. Professor Kashmir Singh, Chairperson of the Department welcomes the distinguish guests, speakers and participants and introduce the theme of workshop. The symposium was inaugurated by Chief Guest, Professor Y.P. Verma, Registrar, Panjab University, Chandigarh and Professor Ashwani Pareek, Executive Director, NABI, Mohali was guest of honour. The event was presided over by Professor Sudhir Kumar, Director, Research and Development Cell, Panjab University, Chandigarh who emphasized that such an event provided a platform to discuss new ideas.&nbsp;Professor Ashwani Pareek exploits the use of omics approaches to tap at the broad genetic base of rice for identifying genes and creating physical, chemical and genetic mutants attributing abiotic stress tolerance and enhancing crop yield. Professor Balvinder Singh, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR IMTECH explained the use of computational tools to study structure and function of potential target proteins such as –GTP-Cyclohydrolase II (CH II) and aldolase reductase.&nbsp;&nbsp;The highlights of the second half of the event were hands on training of various bioinformatics tools with Participants.&nbsp;In all it was knowledge enriching experience for the students, informed Dr. Kashmir Singh, organizing secretary of the symposium.

Two day National Symposium cum Workshop on Genome Informatics kick started on 19th July, 2022 at Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh. 

Two-Day National Symposium Cum Workshop On Genome Informatics Kickstarts 

Washington: A screening method to discover new drug targets for cancer treatment in the so-called 'Dark Matter' of the genome has been developed by researchers.
They applied their method to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the greatest cancer killer for which effective therapies are urgently sought. They could show that inhibiting identified targets could greatly slow down cancer growth, and their method is adaptable to other cancers.
For new targets, they looked at the poorly-understood class of genes called "long non-coding RNAs (Ribonucleic acids)" (lncRNAs). LncRNAs exist in abundance in the so-called "Dark Matter" or non-protein-coding DNA that constitutes the vast majority of our genome. The human genome contains around 20,000 "classical" protein-coding genes, but this number is dwarfed by 100,000 lncRNAs. Of 99% of lncRNAs, the biological functions are unknown. As the name long noncoding RNAs implies, unlike messenger RNAs (mRNAs), they do not encode the construction plans for proteins. As for mRNAs, the building instructions for lncRNAs are contained in the cell's DNA. To study the role of lncRNAs in NSCLC, the researchers started by analyzing publicly available datasets to see which lncRNAs are present in NSCLC. This analysis led to a list of over 800 lnRNAs, whose importance for NSCLC cells the researchers wished to investigate. For this investigation, they developed a screening system which prevents the production of the selected lncRNAs by deleting part of their construction instructions in the DNA.
They applied their screening system to two NSCLC cell lines derived from patients and looked at how the inhibition of the selected lncRNAs affected so-called "hallmarks" of cancer cells. Hallmarks are cellular behaviours that contribute to disease progression: Proliferation, metastasis formation and therapy resistance.
"The advantage of assessing three different cancer hallmarks is that we have a comprehensive view but also have substantial amounts of data from different experiments, from which we needed to derive a single list of long noncoding RNAS that are important for non-small cell lung cancer," says Rory Johnson, Assistant Professor at the University of Bern, who led the NCCR RNA &amp; Disease funded project. The analysis yielded in the end a list of 80 high-confidence candidate lncRNAs important for NSCLC out of the over 800 investigated. From these 80, the researchers picked out several lncRNAs for follow-up experiments.
For these follow up experiments an approach was used, which does not work at the DNA level but targets lncRNAs after their production. For this purpose, the researchers used small chemically-synthesized RNAs called Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASOs), which bind to the lncRNAs they target and lead to their degradation. Of note, several ASOs are approved for treating human diseases, although none yet for cancer.
These follow-up experiments showed that, for the majority of the picked lnRNAs, their destruction by an ASO inhibited cancer cell division in cell culture. Importantly, the same treatment produced little if any effect on non-cancerous lung cells, which should not be harmed by the cancer treatment. In a 3-dimensional model of NSCLC, which more closely resembles the tumour than cell culture, the inhibition of a single lncRNA with an ASO reduced the tumour growth by more than half. "We were positively surprised to see how well the antisense oligonucleotides could restrain tumour growth in different models," states Taisia Polidori, co-first author, who worked on the project as part of her doctoral thesis research at the University of Bern.
The researchers are continuing their research in pre-clinical cancer models and are considering collaborating with existing companies or creating a startup in order to develop a drug to treat patients. Regarding other cancers, Roberta Esposito, co-first author and postdoc at the University of Bern: "Like a telescope that can be quite easily repositioned to study a different part of space, our approach should be easily adaptable to reveal new potential treatment types for other cancer types." Dr Esposito will now apply the "telescope" to identify new targets for colorectal cancer. For this purpose, she has received funding by the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern donated by the Beactrice Ederer-Weber foundation. —ANI

 A screening method to discover new drug targets for cancer treatment in the so-called 'Dark Matter' of the genome has been developed by researchers.

New Cancer Treatments In 'Dark Matter' Of Human Genome Discovered By Researchers

A screening method to discover new drug targets for cancer treatment in the so-called 'Dark Matter' of the genome has been developed by researchers.

New Delhi (The Hawk): Modern biotechnology has been advancing at a rapid pace with the advent of new molecular techniques and their potential applications. Plant genome editing is amongst one of the most promising technologies in terms of applied biological research and innovation with a huge economic potential in a wide range of sectors. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology proactively initiated the development of draft Guidelines for the safety assessment of Genome Edited Plants through extensive deliberations.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued an Office Memorandum on 30th March 2022 for exemption of SDN-1 and SDN-2 categories of Genome Edited Plants which are free of exogenous introduced DNA from the provisions of Rules 7 to 11 (both inclusive) of the Rules 1989 of EPA, 1986. The draft guidelines were accordingly revised, considered and approved by Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) in its 231st meeting held on 28.04.2022. Thereupon, the “Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Genome Edited Plants, 2022 were notified on 17th May 2022. The guidelines determine regulatory requirement for appropriate category of experiments and provide the regulatory framework and scientific guidance on data requirement in context of research &amp; development of Genome Edited Plants.
Towards enabling biosafety regulation by Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSCs) the SOPs and Checklist were drafted to bring clarity to all the stakeholders. Based on RCGM recommendations the “Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for regulatory review of Genome Edited Plants under SDN-1 and SDN-2 categories, 2022”, were notified on 04th Oct 2022. These SOPs shall be applicable for all organizations involved in research, development and handling of the Genome Edited Plants under SDN-1 and SDN-2 categories from the date of notification. The SOPs provide regulatory road map, requirements for research and development and meet the threshold for exemption of Genome Edited Plant(s) under the SDN-1 or SDN-2 categories. Considering huge growth and advancement in genome editing research and applications in the field of agriculture, these Guidelines &amp; SOPs will be very valuable resource documents for the country. These Guidelines &amp; SOPs are expected to speed up development of plant varieties and to reduce the time of approval. New plant varieties with improved traits would contribute towards increasing Farmer's income. Overall, this regulatory streamlining will bring transformational change in product development and commercialization and thereby will contribute to agenda for Atma Nirbhar Bharat of Government of India. This has also paved the way for India as emerging global power in Genome Edited Plants based technology and its applications.

Modern biotechnology has been advancing at a rapid pace with the advent of new molecular techniques and their potential applications. 

Regulatory Streamlining For Development Of Genome Edited Plants: Resilient Crops For Future

New Delhi (The Hawk): “For any society to move forward, research and innovation remain a crucial aspect. India has given push to indigenous research and this is reaping benefits for us now. ICMR-NARFBR has potential to make India a key global player in Biomedical research in 21st-century. Through Provision of quality services in support of biomedical research &amp; training with adherence to highest international standards for human &amp; ethical animal care and use, this resource facility can play a crucial role in improving health and welfare of the nation”, Union Health Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya stated this while inaugurating ICMR-NARFBR (National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research) at Genome Valley, Hyderabad today in presence of Shri C. Malla Reddy, Minister of Labour and Employment, Telangana.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted Government’s push for indigenous research and innovation. He said “during COVID pandemic, our Hon’ble Prime Minister emphasized on making indigenous vaccines. When world was suffering from the shortage of vaccines, India took up this challenge and our scientific community proved their mettle by creating those vaccines. When the import of foreign vaccines would have taken 5-10 years, with the political leadership’s wholehearted support and stakeholders being mobilised, India’s scientific community produced these vaccines in one year’s time.”
Significance of NARFBR can be adjudged from the fact that study of animals in biomedical research becomes crucial in discovering causes, diagnosis and treatment of zoonotic agents and diseases. NARFBR is an apex facility which will provide ethical care and use and welfare of laboratory animals during research. The newly build centre will work as the state-of-the-art facility for not just ethical animal studies but spans from basic, applied to regulatory animal research. It will help in capacity building of new researchers and will create processes for pre-clinical testing of new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics within the country along with quality assurance checks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Celebrating India’s man power and brain power, Dr. Mandaviya said that Indians have remained at the forefront of creative fields, be it research institutions, Technology, or pharma companies etc. Highlighting India’s key role as pharmacy of the world, Dr. Mandaviya said that “for every four pills made in the world, one is made in India. Thus, we now want to make India a hub not just for medicine manufacturing but for pharma research as well. For this to happen, we need to create robust processes for clinical trials which in turn require animal facilities. Hence, NARFBR will play a key role in making this vision real.” He was also hopeful that through inauguration of NARFBR, this step would give boost to India’s Onehealth approach too.
Reiterating Government of India’s dedication towards creating a vibrant ecosystem of research and innovation in the country, Union Health Minister emphasized that government is taking several steps to ease the access to quality education and research training. He said that from giving boost to traditional medicine and modern medicine system to creating new institutions, and nudging private players, we are holistically moving forward for allowing our younger generation to creatively use their talents. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of ICMR and Secretary of the Department of Health Research, termed the facility to be not just best in the country but biggest in the world. “From availability of various animals for ethical research to strengthening various processes under one umbrella, NARFBR would be an asset for the country to deal with zoonotic diseases” he added.

“For any society to move forward, research and innovation remain a crucial aspect. India has given push to indigenous research and this is reaping benefits for us now. 

Mandaviya Inaugurates ICMR-NARFBR At Genome Valley, Hyderabad

Lausanne (Switzerland): Two to three metres of DNA can fit inside a single cell, thus it can only be stored by being wound tightly into coils. The answer is chromatin, a compound of DNA encased in histone-like proteins. This complex gradually folds into the multi-layered arrangement of loops, domains, and compartments that we know as chromosomes in the 3D world. Any issues with chromatin structure can have negative implications, including the emergence of cancer because the architecture of chromatin is directly linked to gene expression and the proper functioning of the cell.
A common event in around 30 per cent of all human cancers is "whole genome doubling" (WGD), whereby the entire set of chromosomes in a cell is duplicated. WGD leads to genomic instability inside the cell, which can result in chromosomal alterations and other mutations that contribute to the development of cancer. Now, a team of researchers led by Elisa Oricchio at EPFL and Giovanni Ciriello at UNIL, has uncovered a new clue as to how WGD drives cancer. In a study published in Nature, the scientists show that WGD can affect the 3D organization of the chromatin inside the cell through a phenomenon called "loss of chromatin segregation".
The researchers looked at cells that lack the tumor suppressor gene p53, making them prone to WGD. They found that WGD leads to a reduction in the segregation of chromatin's structural elements, such as loops, domains, and compartments, upending its careful organization in the cell.
The result is a mixing of genetic material that is normally kept separate, changing the position of genomic regions in the 3D space, known as "sub-compartment repositioning." This sets the stage for the activation of oncogenes, which are genes that contribute to the development of cancer.
The researchers also found that the effects of WGD on chromatin organization are largely independent of chromosomal alterations, meaning that loss of chromatin segregation and chromosomal instability are complementary mechanisms that work together to promote cancer development. —ANI

Two to three metres of DNA can fit inside a single cell, thus it can only be stored by being wound tightly into coils. The answer is chromatin, a compound of DNA encased in histone-like proteins. 

Study Reveals How Whole Genome Doubling Drives Cancer

New York: People infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, may experience genome structure changes that not only may explain immunological symptoms after infection, but also potentially link to long Covid, according to a new study.
The genetic materials in the cells of the human body are stored in a structure called chromatin. Some viruses of other categories have been reported to hijack or change our chromatin so that they can successfully reproduce in our cells.
But SARS-CoV-2's effect on chromatin was not known. "This particular finding is quite unique and has not been seen in other coronaviruses before. "What we found here is a unique mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 that is associated with its severe impacts on human health." said Wenbo Li, Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the McGovern Medical School at University of Texas-Houston.
In this study, researchers used leading-edge methods and comprehensively characterised the chromatin architecture in human cells after a Covid-19 infection.
They found that many well-formed chromatin architectures of a normal cell become de-organised after infection.
For example, there is one type of chromatin architecture termed A/B compartments that can be analogous to the yin and yang portions of our chromatin.
"After SARS-CoV-2 infection, we found that the yin and yang portions of the chromatin lose their normal shapes and start to mix together. Such mixing may be a reason for some key genes to change in infected cells, including a crucial inflammation gene, interleukin-6, that can cause cytokine storm in severe Covid-19 patients," Li said.
In addition, the study published in the journal Nature Microbiology found that chemical modifications on chromatin were also altered by SARS-CoV-2.
"The changes of chemical modifications of chromatin were known to exert long-term effects on gene expression and phenotypes. Therefore, our finding may provide an unrealised new perspective to understand the viral impacts on host chromatin that can be associated with long Covid," added Xiaoyi Yuan, from the McGovern Medical School. —IANS

People infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, may experience genome structure changes that not only may explain immunological symptoms after infection, but also potentially link to long Covid, according to a new study.

Covid Can Alter Genome Structure Of Our Cells: Study

Dubai: The Emirati Genome Programme (EGP), one of the largest population genomic initiatives in the world, announced that it is enhancing its presence nationwide under a new visual identity. Overseen by the Emirates Genome Council, the EGP is a significant project under the National Genome Strategy, and will support the transformation of healthcare services in the UAE by providing high-quality data that allows researchers, physicians and scientists to identify the causes of genetic diseases, understand the type of genetic mutations, anticipate susceptibility to some diseases, and develop effective healthcare plans. The programme is implemented in collaboration with G42 Healthcare, an M42 company, and is coordinated with healthcare regulators including the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), Emirates Health Services Establishment, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Academic Health Corporation, as well as academic, medical and other institutions extending their support to the programme. To date, the EGP has analysed data of more than 440,000 citizens, using the latest whole sequencing and artificial intelligence technologies. The programme targets one million genetic samples from UAE citizens. The EGP continues to invite Emiratis to participate in the programme, by simply visiting one of the over 100 sample collection sites in the UAE with their Emirates ID, and contributing an 8-millilitre blood sample for adults, or two swabs from the inside of the cheek for children. No prior appointments are necessary to participate in the programme. —ANI

The Emirati Genome Programme (EGP), one of the largest population genomic initiatives in the world

Emirati Genome Programme Launches New Visual Identity

Washington: Scientists have developed an AI tool that can instantly decode a brain tumour's DNA to determine its molecular identification during surgery - vital information that can take a few days to a few weeks under the present approach. Knowing a tumor's molecular type enables neurosurgeons to make decisions such as how much brain tissue to remove and whether to place tumour-killing drugs directly into the brain -- while the patient is still on the operating table. A report on the work, led by Harvard Medical School researchers, is published on July 7 in the journal Med. Accurate molecular diagnosis -- which details DNA alterations in a cell -- during surgery can help a neurosurgeon decide how much brain tissue to remove. Removing too much when the tumour is less aggressive can affect a patient's neurologic and cognitive function. Likewise, removing too little when the tumour is highly aggressive may leave behind malignant tissue that can grow and spread quickly. "Right now, even state-of-the-art clinical practice cannot profile tumours molecularly during surgery. Our tool overcomes this challenge by extracting thus-far untapped biomedical signals from frozen pathology slides," said study senior author Kun-Hsing Yu, assistant professor of biomedical informatics at the Blavatnik Institute at HMS. Knowing a tumour's molecular identity during surgery is also valuable because certain tumours benefit from on-the-spot treatment with drug-coated wafers placed directly into the brain at the time of the operation, Yu said. "The ability to determine an intraoperative molecular diagnosis in real-time, during surgery, can propel the development of real-time precision oncology," Yu added. The standard intraoperative diagnostic approach used now involves taking brain tissue, freezing it, and examining it under a microscope. A major drawback is that freezing the tissue tends to alter the appearance of cells under a microscope and can interfere with the accuracy of clinical evaluation. Furthermore, the human eye, even when using potent microscopes, cannot reliably detect subtle genomic variations on a slide. The new AI approach overcomes these challenges. The tool, called CHARM (Cryosection Histopathology Assessment and Review Machine), is freely available to other researchers. It still has to be clinically validated through testing in real-world settings and cleared by the FDA before deployment in hospitals, the research team said. Cracking Cancer's molecular code Recent advances in genomics have allowed pathologists to differentiate the molecular signatures -- and the behaviours that such signatures portend -- across various types of brain cancer as well as within specific types of brain cancer. For example, glioma -- the most aggressive brain tumour and the most common form of brain cancer -- has three main subvariants that carry different molecular markers and have different propensities for growth and spread. The new tool's ability to expedite molecular diagnosis could be particularly valuable in areas with limited access to technology to perform rapid cancer genetic sequencing. Beyond the decisions made during surgery, knowledge of a tumour's molecular type provides clues about its aggressiveness, behaviour, and likely response to various treatments. Such knowledge can inform post-operative decisions. Furthermore, the new tool enables during-surgery diagnoses aligned with the World Health Organization's recently updated classification system for diagnosing and grading the severity of gliomas, which calls for such diagnoses to be made based on a tumour's genomic profile. Training CHARM CHARM was developed using 2,334 brain tumour samples from 1,524 people with glioma from three different patient populations. When tested on a never-before-seen set of brain samples, the tool distinguished tumours with specific molecular mutations at 93 per cent accuracy and successfully classified three major types of gliomas with distinct molecular features that carry different prognoses and respond differently to treatments. Going a step further, the tool successfully captured visual characteristics of the tissue surrounding the malignant cells. It was capable of spotting telltale areas with greater cellular density and more cell death within samples, both of which signal more aggressive glioma types. The tool was also able to pinpoint clinically important molecular alterations in a subset of low-grade gliomas, a subtype of glioma that is less aggressive and therefore less likely to invade surrounding tissue. Each of these changes also signals a different propensity for growth, spread, and treatment response. The tool further connected the appearance of the cells -- the shape of their nuclei, the presence of edema around the cells -- with the molecular profile of the tumour. This means that the algorithm can pinpoint how a cell's appearance relates to the molecular type of a tumour. This ability to assess the broader context around the image renders the model more accurate and closer to how a human pathologist would visually assess a tumour sample, Yu said. The researchers say that while the model was trained and tested on glioma samples, it could be successfully retrained to identify other brain cancer subtypes. Scientists have already designed AI models to profile other types of cancer -- colon, lung, breast -- but gliomas have remained particularly challenging due to their molecular complexity and a huge variation in tumour cells' shape and appearance. The CHARM tool would have to be retrained periodically to reflect new disease classifications as they emerge from new knowledge, Yu said. "Just like human clinicians who must engage in ongoing education and training, AI tools must keep up with the latest knowledge to remain at peak performance." —ANI

 Scientists have developed an AI tool that can instantly decode a brain tumour's DNA to determine its molecular identification

AI Tool Decodes Brain Cancer's Genome During Surgery: Research

&nbsp;Palampur (The Hawk): Kala Zeera Utpadan Sangh from Shong village in district Kinnaur will receive prestigious Plant Genome Saviour Community Award worth Rs.10 lakh.  While sharing this information, Prof H. K. Chaudhary, Vice-Chancellor, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University told that it was the initiative of his University which enabled farmers to form the Kala Zeera Utpadan Sangh (KZUS), scientifically documented traits of the crop and applied for this community award in June, last year. Now, the University has been informed by the Registrar of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPVFRA) about the selection of KZUS for prestigious Plant Genome Saviour Community Award worth Rs. 10 lakh alongwith a citation. It will be presented to KZUS on 12 September by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Prof Chaudhary said that this is India's prestigious award for acknowledging the farmers’ significant contribution in conserving and development of plant varieties. The Vice-Chancellor told that University’s research centre at Sangla (Kinnaur) has been designated as ‘Model Farm on Kala Zeera and Saffron.’ It is working for scientific cultivation, improvement and popularization of Kala Zeera( black cumin seeds) as a medicinal crop. Kala Zeera though widely grown in forests has been domesticated and currently is under cultivation in an area of about 47 hectare in Shong village of Kinnaur district. This crop has culinary, perfumery, carminative as well as medicinal values as stimulant, expectorant, antispasmodic and diuretic properties. Essential oils namely terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, polyenes etc. in seed possess antioxidative, antifungal and antibacterial attributes. Kala Zeera has premium price in the market and stands as an example of the ‘vocal for local’ movement. Collection of immature seeds from the forest area and unsustainable and unscientific exploitation of this spice has resulted in reduction of its natural populations and has made it a plant of special conservation concerned in north-western Himalayas. Prompted by the Vice-Chancellor's guidance, university scientists have compiled all the scientific data and assisted the Kala Zeera growing community to conserve, develop, popularize and formally registering its valuable land races with PPVFRA, Govt. of India.  The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the team of scientists comprising of Drs V.K. Sood, Nimit Kumar and Shailja Sharma who did all the ground work by visiting Shong village in June, 2022 and filed nomination for ‘Plant Genome Saviour Community Award’ to PPV &amp; FRA. He told that Himachali Kala Zeera has been awarded with Geographical Indication (GI) tag during March 2019 by Govt. of India, thus bringing laurels to the State. The Vice-Chancellor also expressed his gratitude to Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson, PPV&amp;FRA for recognizing the KZUS as a conserving community and selection for Plant Genome Saviour Community Award, 2021-22 for this precious herb. It was only last week that with the scientific facilitation of the University, a progressive vegetable grower Garib Das from village Burli Kothi near Paprola was selected for Rs. One lakh ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Recognition’ award by the Govt. of India.

Kala Zeera Utpadan Sangh from Shong village in district Kinnaur will receive prestigious Plant Genome 

Kala Zeera Utpadan Sangh To Get Rs10 Lakh Plant Genome Saviour Community Award

New Delhi [India]: India recorded 774 fresh cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours according to the Union Health Ministry. As per official data, two deaths have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours - one each in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
With this, the total count of coronavirus cases in India since its outbreak in January 2020 has reached 4,50,17,431 with an increase of 774 cases in the last 24 hours. The death toll due to COVID-19 cases in India has risen to, 5,33,387 reflecting an increase of two deaths in the last 24 hours.  The total number of COVID-19 cases that have recovered in India are 4,44,79,804, an increase of 919 since yesterday morning. 34,660 tests were done on 5 January 2024, as per the official report by the Indian Council of Medical Research. A total of 220,67,81,345 vaccinations have been completed in India uptill now since the outbreak of the virus. As per the official data by the Ministry of Health, the maximum number of cases have been reported from Southern India among which 1169 cases have been reported in Karnataka, 1160 in Kerala, 188 in Tamil Nadu and 931 in Maharashtra. Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj earlier said that there is such a pattern that after the increase in Corona cases in South India, the cases also increased in North India.  He urged citizens not to panic but emphasized the importance of taking precautions. "All the positive cases coming in RTPCR test, we are sending those samples for genome sequencing. Currently, there is not a single positive case of the new variant in Delhi," stated Minister Bhardwaj, providing insight into the rigorous testing and monitoring procedures in place.
—ANI

India recorded 774 fresh cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours according to the Union Health Ministry.

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Tag : Genome

Genome Sequencing Of Corona Samples Ramps Up In Delhi

Inam Ansari

Tag : Genome

Genome Sequencing Of Corona Samples Ramps Up In Delhi

Inam Ansari

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