Absract Archive   September - 06 Antifreeze Proteins and their Biotechnological applications Introduction Seventy one percent of the globe is occupied by water, which is of varying nature (salty seawater, fresh water and ice caps). Extreme ends of the North and South poles are capped with Ice packed mountains. Seawater in Antarctica contains ice crystals floating in it. Normal temperature of seawater in Antarctica ranges from 1oC to 2oC. Normal limit for animal activity is from 32oF (0oC) to 113-122oF (45-50oC). When surrounding temperature dips below, the body fluid accumulates ice crystals and the metabolic activity is halted due to freezing. The freezing is a process of ice crystallization from super cooled water. Ice should first experience ice nucleation followed by growth. The freezing point of standard seawater is approximately 1.86oC. The freezing point of fish body fluid is 1oC higher than the seawater because the fish body fluid is hypo-osmotic to seawater. The organisms living in this condition must have some special adaptations, otherwise they will die. The effect of low temperature on living organisms is explained by two different hypotheses. Authors:N. Saraswathy, Ramalingam, S. Sadasivam Micropropagation of Paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa) Abstract Nodal explants were used for clonal propagation of Paulownia tomentosa by manipulating the cytokinin and auxin. Bud proliferation and multiple shoots were achieved from nodal explants derived from greenhouse grown plants of Paulownia tomentosa on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with BA P (2 mg/L) and Kinetin (0.5mg/L). Inclusion of NAA (0.5mg/L) in the culture medium influenced the bud break earlier. The rate of multiplication (6-6 multiple shoots) was maintained in subsequent subculture. The shoot elongation was attained on MS medium supplemented with BAP (0.2 mg/ L) within 4 weeks of culture. Excised shoots were rooted on half strength MS medium supplemented with IBA (1.0mg/L) and NAA (0.2mg/L) with activated charcoal. (100 mg/ L) Rooted propagules were acclimatized and successfully transferred to greenhouse. The micro propagated plantlets appeared morphologically similar with the mother plants. Authors:R.Gnanam, K.Ramakrishnanan, S.Rajesh, P.Sivakumar. Gellan gum Properties, Fermentative Production and downstream processing Abstract Microbial polysaccharides used in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries have increased steadily during the past decades. Gellan gum is bacterial exopolysaccharide produced by aerobic fermentation of Sphingomonas paucimobilis. This article presents a critical review of the available published information on structure, physico-chemical properties and rheology of gellan solutions. Emphasis has been paid to characterization of gellan, as well as factors that influence gellan production including process, temperature, and pH, stirring rate, oxygen transfer and composition of production media. The efficient down stream process used for obtaining purified gellan is also highlighted. In addition, the importance and potential utility of gellan is critically evaluated. Keywords: Bacterial exopolysaccharide, Gellan gum, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, downstream processing Author:Indrakant V. Borkar. 47th Chromosome - A Genetic Miracle? "It's time to stop worshipping gods, and start aiming at becoming gods.” - Markoff Chaney Introduction Biotechnology is a broader term than genetic engineering and includes non-genetic techniques to modify organisms. Since after Mendel's experiences and the discovery of the DNA as the genetic material, we started to know how and why we are like we; started to understand more about how our bodies work. Our genes are like the computer program running in us; we are what our genes code us to be. Genetic engineering is the most powerful and least understood tool for biotechnology. Many of the same principles used in genetic engineering are involved in biotechnology. Genetic Engineering (GE) is the heritable, directed alteration of an organism. A heritable alteration is a change that can be carried from one generation to the next. GE is performed by modifying an organism's own DNA or introducing new DNA to perform desired functions. The first big success for GE was the production of insulin by genetically modified bacteria. It showed the medical, economical, and industrial possibilities of this technology. Like a pyramid buried in the sands of the desert, the possibilities and uses of GE were being uncovered. Thanks to refined techniques in molecular genetics and recombinant DNA techniques, its uses soon started to be employed in a vast array of areas like medicine, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food industry, environmental applications, etc. At least until nanotechnology arrives, GE will be the ultimate biotool. GE will be at the base of the pyramid, the base that holds everything and is the largest of the blocks and its applications are just starting to unfold. Authors:J. Poongothai, C.Swaminathan. Mending Mercury as A Medicine for Psoriasis Mercury Mercury sometimes called, as quicksilver is a heavy, silvery-white naturally occurring liquid metal element that is found in air, water and soil. It exists in any of the three valence states: Hg0 (elemental mercury), Hg22+ (mercurous mercury), or Hg2+(mercuric mercury). The general population may be exposed to mercury through inhalation if ambient air: consumption of contaminated food, water or soil; and/or dermal exposure to substances containing mercury. In addition, some quantity of mercury is released from dental amalgam. The health effects literature contains much investigation of populations with potentially high exposure to mercury, including industrial workers, people living near the point of sources of mercury emissions, people who consume large amounts of fish, and dental professionals. Mercury at admissible levels i.e., more than slightly normal but less than toxic level, in the body acts as a medicine for various diseases. In the present study mending of mercury as a medicine is attempted for cure of Psoriasis. Authors: N. Shakthi Meyyappan, A. Muralitharan.