Protectionism and natural history research in India

This paper provides an overview of the status of natural history research in India, and describes how some policies on wildlife protection hamper the conduct of research on insect taxonomy, knowledge of which is mentioned to be vital to wildlife conservation in the region. The opening up of natural history research in India to reputed international scientists is recommended to facilitate the characterization and conservation of biodiversity in the countr

Biodiversity access and benefit-sharing: weaving a rope of sand

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)1 is one of the most important treaties in the history of humanity as it deals with the infinitely complex but fragile diversity of life on earth. Regulating access to genetic resources and equitable sharing of commercial benefits of biodiversity has been the most contentious issue in the negotiations under CBD. As the impasse continues, the prime objective of CBD – conservation of biodiversity – is relegated to the backyard. The Nagoya Protocol (2010)2 adopted by the Tenth Conference of Parties (CoP), concluded on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, provides the framework to facilitate access and benefit-sharing (ABS). However, the idea of ABS itself remains a pipe dream

On Farm Validation of Organic Farming Technology in Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson)

Currently alternative agricultural systems, like organic farming, that are less chemical intensive, less exploitative and that can conserve the environment are gaining popularity. Tuber crops, especially aroids, like elephant foot yam, respond well to organic manures and offer scope for organic production. However, lack of package of practices recommendations hinders the promotion of this viable alternative farming practice. Hence, the organic farming technology for elephant foot yam developed at CTCRI was validated through on farm trials under State Horticulture Mission funded programme. Demonstration trials were conducted during 2008-2009 in 10 farmers’ sites to cover an area of 5 ha in Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala to compare the yield, quality, economics and soil fertility under the organic management practices with the existing farmers’ practice and conventional practice (present package of practices recommendations) in elephant foot yam. Organic farming resulted in higher corm yield (34.60 t ha-1) and additional income (Rs. 43,651 ha-1) over conventional farming. Organically produced corms had significantly higher dry matter and Mg contents and significantly lower oxalate content. The chemical properties of the soil, especially K, were also seen favoured under organic farming. The organic farming technology standardized for elephant foot yam includes the application of farmyard manure (FYM) @ 36 t ha-1, green manuring with cowpea to generate 20-25 t ha-1 of green matter in 45-60 days, neem cake @ 1 t ha-1 and ash @ 3 t ha-1.FYM and neem cake are to be applied in pits at the time of planting. Ash may be applied at the time of incorporation of green manure at 45-60 days after planting

Risk and Recurrence of Serious Adverse Outcomes in the First and Second Pregnancies of Women With Preexisting Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Women with preexisting (type 1 or type 2) diabetes experience an increased risk of serious adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is not known, however, how these risks change between the first and second pregnancy andwhether there is an increased risk of recurrence. This study describes the absolute risks and recurrence of serious adverse pregnancy outcomes in 220 women with preexisting diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 440 pregnancies occurring in 220 women with preexisting diabetes who delivered successive singleton pregnancies in the North of England during 1996-2008 were identified fromtheNorthern Diabetes in Pregnancy Survey (NorDIP). Predictors of serious adverse outcome were estimated by competing-risks regression. RESULTS: Sixty-seven first pregnancies (30.5%) ended in serious adverse outcome, including 14 (6.4%) with congenital anomalies and 53 (24.1%) additional fetal or infant deaths. Thirty-seven second pregnancies (16.8%) ended in serious adverse outcomedhalf the rate among first pregnancies (P = 0.0004)dincluding 21 (9.5%) with congenital anomalies and 16 (7.3%) additional fetal or infant deaths. Serious adverse outcomes in the second pregnancy occurred twice as frequently in women who experienced a previous adverse outcome than in those who did not (26.9% vs. 12.4%, P = 0.004), but previous adverse outcome was not associated with preparation for the following pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Serious adverse outcomes are less common in the second pregnancies of women with preexisting diabetes, although the risk is comparable in those whose first pregnancy ends in adverse outcome. Reducing the risk of recurrence may require more support in the immediate period after an adverse pregnancy outcome

Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Shadow of permit-raj over research

It is too late in history of the world to think that there is time to produce ordered classifications of all plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms, and then to employ these classifications to seek new kinds of generalities while these organisms are still extant. –Peter Rave

MERAV: a tool for comparing gene expression across human tissues and cell types

The oncogenic transformation of normal cells into malignant, rapidly proliferating cells requires major alterations in cell physiology. For example, the transformed cells remodel their metabolic processes to supply the additional demand for cellular building blocks. We have recently demonstrated essential metabolic processes in tumor progression through the development of a methodological analysis of gene expression. Here, we present the Metabolic gEne RApid Visualizer (MERAV, http://merav.wi.mit.edu), a web-based tool that can query a database comprising ∼4300 microarrays, representing human gene expression in normal tissues, cancer cell lines and primary tumors. MERAV has been designed as a powerful tool for whole genome analysis which offers multiple advantages: one can search many genes in parallel; compare gene expression among different tissue types as well as between normal and cancer cells; download raw data; and generate heatmaps; and finally, use its internal statistical tool. Most importantly, MERAV has been designed as a unique tool for analyzing metabolic processes as it includes matrixes specifically focused on metabolic genes and is linked to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway search.United States. National Institutes of Health (CA103866)United States. National Institutes of Health (AI47389)Life Sciences Research FoundationMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Ludwig Center for Molecular OncologyHoward Hughes Medical Institut

Death sentence on taxonomy in India

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 seriously curtails the scientific freedom of individual taxonomists by putting draconian regulations on the free exchange of specimens for taxonomic research and threatens to strangulate biodiversity research in India with legal as well as bureaucratic control 1. Rules and guidelines framed to implement the Biological Diversity Act, which itself is flawed and based on wrong premises, reveal the appalling ignorance on the part of the implementing agencies. Guidelines accepted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and the National Biodiversity Authority for international collaboration in biodiversity research are testimony to this. Draft guidelines accepted by the National Biodiversity Authority stipulate that ‘Exchange and transfer of dead specimens and/or herbariums (of no commercial value) on loan for taxonomic studies and return by bona fide scientists/professors of recognized universities and Government Institutions of India who are engaged in pure classical taxonomic studies shall be done through the concerned departments/Ministries of the Government of India 2.’ Similarly, a recent notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,based on the above guidelines,states that ‘In case the collaborative research projects involve exchange and transfer of dead or preserved specimen(s) and/or herbarium(s) of India on loan or on any other terms for taxonomic studies as required by bona fide scientists/ professors of recognized universities and Government Institutions of India who are engaged in pure classical taxonomic studies, this shall be done with the approval of concerned Departments/Ministries of the Government of India3.’ These guidelines on implementation would achieve the ultimate bureaucratic control in the history of science in India! Proponents of these guidelines have already revealed their mettle through some ludicrous suggestions to entomologists to send pictures, not (dead) specimens, for identification 4. Being paranoid about biopiracy(!), they may even suggest that microbiologists send digital images of microbes abroad for identification, as live cultures are required for identification and they can be easily multiplied and patented

Zfp36l2 is required for self-renewal of early erythroid BFU-E progenitors

Stem cells and progenitors in many lineages undergo self- renewing divisions, but the extracellular and intracellular proteins that regulate this process are largely unknown. Glucocorticoids stimulate red cell formation by promoting self-renewal of early erythroid burst forming unit-erythrocyte (BFU-E) progenitors1-4. Here we show that the RNA binding protein Zfp36l2 is a transcriptional target of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in BFU-Es and is required for BFU-E self-renewal. Zfp36l2 is normally downregulated during erythroid differentiation from the BFU-E stage but its expression is maintained by all tested GR agonists that stimulate BFU-E self-renewal, and the GR binds to several potential enhancer regions of Zfp36l2. Knockdown of Zfp36l2 in cultured BFU-E cells did not affect the rate of cell division but disrupted glucocorticoid-induced BFU-E self-renewal, and knockdown of Zfp36l2 in transplanted erythroid progenitors prevented expansion of erythroid lineage progenitors normally seen following induction of anemia by phenylhydrazine treatment. Zfp36l2 preferentially binds to mRNAs that are induced or maintained at high expression levels during terminal erythroid differentiation and negatively regulates their expression levels. Thus Zfp36l2 functions as part of molecular switch promoting BFU-E self-renewal and thus a subsequent increase in the total numbers of CFU-E progenitors and erythroid cells that are generated