Even as the curtain rung down on the silver jubilee celebrations of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, it was announced in Parliament on Friday that a laboratory for conservation of endangered species is being established at the Centre for undertaking research in biotechnological interventions for conservation of wildlife. Answering questions from Dr Karan Singh and others, Union Environment and Forest Minister T R Balu said the proposed research programme included "cryo preservation of sperm and ova of endangered species."
The six-day silver jubilee celebrations concluded on Friday night with concluding remarks by Dr Lalji Singh, Director of CCMB that the Centre would associate with the industry in genomic, biotech and pharmaceutical research. He said while the new era had brought challenges consequent on the mapping of the human genome, it had also opened up immense possibilities to explore the new frontiers in biology and thus benefit the humankind in health and medicine. " We would like to take this opportunity to drive the momentum of research towards new initiatives," Dr Lalji Singh said.
He was happy that a larger number of scientists, including two Nobel laureates, from across the world, from the US to Japan, attended the silver jubilee celebrations. That showed the importance they were giving to CCMB as an international research centre, he said.
The highlight of the celebrations was the address by President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on the Founder's Day on November 26. The President's focus was on drug development and he asked the scientists to develop vaccines for common diseases like TB, malaria and infectious diseases in order to create a diseaseless society.
More than 40 scientists participated in the scientific talks, technical sessions, exchange of ideas and exhibition of latest advances in basic sciences. The talks on "Current Excitement in Biotechnology" covered all the frontier areas of science like genetics, proteomics, biochemistry, molecular biology, ethical and political issues on modern biology, post-genomic science, immunity, neurology and so on. More than 1,000 delegates and students attended the deliberations spreading over six days.
During the session, CCMB also signed a MoU with the Cardiff School of Biosciences, UK, for cooperation in the areas of embryonic stem biology and transgenic and gene knock-out mice technology. Prof Martin Evans, Director of Cardiff School of Biosciences, who signed the MoU, also participated in the discussions and presented a paper on embryonic stem cells.
Dr Robert Huber, Max Planck Insitute of Biochemistry, Munich, Germany, who was the recipient of Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1988, inaugurated the X-Ray Crystallography unit at the Centre. This unit will play a crucial role in the understanding of the functioning of cells in the human body and the protein structure.
The other Nobel laureate, who attended the conference and presented a paper on "Anti-viral immunity and vaccines" was Rolf M Zinkernagal, University of Zurich, Switzerland, the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1996. He said there was no possibility of developing a vaccine for AIDS in the near future.
V S Ramachandran, Director, Centre for Brain and Congnition, University of California, who enthralled the audience, including Dr Kalam on November 26, on brain phantasy, gave another excellent talk on the probable neurological basis of Capgras Syndrome and also speculated on the relationship between metaphor and artistic universals. He presented a very persuasive explanation on why Chola statues and Picasso paintings are beautiful even though they are not representational as is say Greek sculpture or a fine photograph.
Dr Pushpa Bhargava, the founder and the first Director of CCMB, talked on the social, ethical, moral, legal, political and economic implications of modern biology and biotechnology. Today's biotechnology comprises nearly 30 distinct areas, of which the following areas have major socio-economic, moral, ethical and legal implications. They are genetic engineering, gene therapy, tissue culture, stem cells, the new DNA technologies, commercialisation of traditional plant-based drug formulations, cloning technologies, genome transplantation, bioinformatics and biological weapons.
He advised the scientists to bridge the ever-widening gap between the fast paced development in biotechnology and scientific awareness of a common man.
The concluding session was chaired by Dr G N Rao, Director of LV Prasad Eye Institute, who said his Institute's tie-up with CCMB had helped in path-breaking stem cell research in eye diseases.