GUWAHATI: A day-long national Seminar was held here at the University of Science and Technology , Meghalaya (USTM) where scientists from different parts of the country took part and deliberated on new trends in biotechnology with focus on the north-eastern region of India.
The Seminar was jointly organized by the School of Biological Sciences of the University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya and Zaheer Science Foundation, New Delhi.
Delivering his lecture on genomic varieties of rice, Prof Dr Tapash Dasgupta, School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Kolkata said that there is high probability of water in the north-eastern states being contaminated with the poison called arsenic. He said that though arsenic contaminated drinking water is believed to be the common reason for health hazard, even some varieties of rice can be contaminated with arsenic as they are irrigated with arsenic contaminated water.
Titled “New Trends in Biotechnology”, the Seminar was also addressed by Dr R Puvanakrishnan, Former Director Grade Scientist and Head, Department of Biotechnology, CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai and Dr Hemant J Purohit, CSIR National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur.
A panel discussion on “Fostering Biotechnology Education and Research in the North Eastern States of India” was also held in the Seminar. The participants of the panel discussion include: Dr R Puvanakrishnan, CLRI, Chennai, Dr Hemant J Purohit, Dr Tapash Dasgupta, Dr SC Das, Dean, School of Biological Scioences, USTM, Dr PK Baruah and Dr TC Sarma from Department of Botany, USTM.