ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

Science or Food Science & Technology.
Large Cardamom Product Plan
Field evaluation of the performance of tissue cultureraised
large cardamom vis-à-vis open pollinated
seedlings continued on farmers' field in Uttarakhand
state. About 34.45 ha area has been field planted
during 2006 season using open-pollinated seedlings
and tissue culture plantlets. Four training
programmes for project personnel and farmers on
cultivation and management of large cardamom
have been organized.
Microbial and Industrial Biotechnology
The technologies for production and application of
various enzymes having industrial importance such
as keratinase, pullulanases, cellulase, laccase,
protease etc. have been developed. Emphasis has
also been given on production of enzymes like
hydrolase, L-asparaginase, phytase, chitinase etc.
and medicinally important fungal products such as
fumagillin, lovosatin and ezetimibe. The new
projects relevant to health sector are focused on
development of a novel vesicular drug delivery
system for psoriasis and biochip based diagnostics
for detection of genetic diseases. Projects on hyper
production of dyes/pigments from selected lower
fungi for application in textile dyeing industry,
development of membrane bioreactor for the
synthesis of structured lipids, preparation of an
amperometric biosensor for determination of
triglycerides, development of immunodiagnostic kit
for the detection of Karnal bunt in wheat lots,
production of wine from mango, and design and
optimization of a circulating fluidized bed biomass
gasifier have been implemented. Besides the
identified thrust areas, proposals with
novel/innovative ideas for product related discovery
science and product development have been invited
from prospective investigators through a Call for
Proposals.
Biotechnology Patent Facilitating Cell
Patents are powerful tools, which can be used to
assert supremacy in the present worldwide
knowledge driven scenario. A patent is also one of the
few assets that can increase in value over time. They
motivate researchers who enjoy challenges; and
they also help record and develop new ideas. The
Department recognises this and facilitates patenting
of research results from publicly funded
programmes. The public also benefits as they receive
new, useful ideas when the invention develops into a
marketable product.
Small Business Innovation Research Initiative
(SBIRI) for Public Private Partnership
The department has launched a scheme 'Small
Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) in
September, 2005 to bring biotech industry at the
forefront of technological revolution. Under the
scheme, innovative, risky R&D projects for
establishing proof of concept as well as development
and commercialization of research leads having
market demands are focused. The department has
received tremendous response from the private
sector. So far 34 projects are recommended in
principle for support under the scheme.
Biosafety issues
Under Biosafety programme main emphasis is given
to facilitate and implementation of biosafety
procedures and guidelines for ensuring safety from
the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
and products thereof in research and application to
the users as well as to the environment in the
institutions and industries where recombinant DNA
work is being undertaken through Institutional
Biosafety Committees (IBSCs), Monitoring-cum-
Evaluation Committee (MEC) and Review
Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) and
other institutional structures. Apart from considering
the applications submitted by various organizations
involved in the recombinant DNA technology, RCGM
has taken several policy decisions such as
standardization of protocol for conduct of multilocation
field trials, data collection parameters,
nomenclature of transgenic crop/ gene/ event and
new monitoring mechanism for Bt. cotton.
Applications made by several applicants in pharma/
agriculture sector for import of transgenic materials
including transgenic seeds, conduct of pre-clinical
11 An Overview