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NEW PIKA SPECIES IDENTIFIED BY NCBS PLAYS PEEK- A-BOO IN SIKKIM HIMALAYA
A new study based on genetic data and skull measurements by the National Centre for Biological Sciences ( NCBS ), has identified a new species of mammal high up in the Sikkim Himalaya .
Reported in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution , the new pika species , O . sikimaria is an important part of the ecosystem , and sensitive to the impacts of climate change . Nishma Dahal , the first author of the paper and a Sikkim native has been studying pikas since 2010 . Little did she know on her first trip to East Sikkim that she was handling a new species of pika .
Most pika species look quite similar to each other . Since they are difficult to identify , Nishma started her work on Pikas by collecting pika pellets to access their DNA and identify species . Pika pellets are tiny but Nishma was successful in amplifying pika DNA from these pellets . When Nishma compared these DNA sequences to those of other known pika species across the world , she saw that they were quite different . Subsequent fieldwork where animals were captured to sample a small bit of tissue allowed her to collect data that are more extensive and investigate their evolutionary origins and species identity in detail .
75 YEARS OF CSIR : IMPORTANT TO WORK ON AFFORDABLE DIAGNOSTICS , SAYS PM MODI
The Prime Minister of India and the President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR ), Mr Narendra Modi , on September 26th inaugurated CSIR ’ s Platinum Jubilee Function on the occasion of its 75th Foundation Day .
Speaking on the occasion , he said that starting with the indelible ink which is the hallmark of our democratic fabric , CSIR has left an indelible mark on every sphere of life . He urged CSIR to create an ' Ease of doing Technology Business ' platform to bring in right stakeholders so technologies reach beneficiaries . Mr Narendra Modi was addressing a distinguished gathering on the occasion of Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of CSIR .
The Prime Minister said that he looks forward to CSIR making an important contribution to the current Government ’ s mandate of doubling the income of the farmers ’ income by 2022 , the year the country celebrates 75 years of its Independence . In his message to the science fraternity across the country , Mr Modi stressed upon the urgent need to find technological solutions to address major problems being faced by the farmers , not only in terms of increasing the yield of the produce but also in growing crops in the wasteland areas through initiatives like ‘ Per Drop
More Crop ’. He said we should have another objective which should be “ an inch of land , and a bunch of crops .”
SUN PHARMA ACHIEVES BREAKING RESULTS FOR ITS PSORIASIS DRUG
Psoriasis is a chronic immune disease that appears on the skin . It affects an estimated 7.5 million people in the U . S . and approximately 125 million people worldwide . It is a noncontagious disorder that speeds the growth cycle of skin cells and results in thick scaly areas of skin . Despite existing treatment options , many people with plaque psoriasis continue to struggle with the ongoing , persistent nature of this chronic disease impacting their everyday lives .
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has announced late-breaking data from two pivotal Phase-3 clinical trials ( reSURFACE 1 and 2 ) achieving the primary endpoint with tildrakizumab , an investigational IL-23p19 inhibitor , in patients with moderate-tosevere plaque psoriasis at the 25thEuropean Academy of Dermatology and Venereology ( EADV ) Congress in Vienna , Austria . As indicated in a previous press release , top line results from these studies were announced on May 4 , 2016 .
The company has achieved primary end point in both Phase-3 studies in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque Psoriasis . Pivotal data of the Investigational IL-23p19 inhibitor , Tildrakizumab will be presented for the first time at the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology ( EADV ) Congress .
AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE ROLE OF BIOTECH IN SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT
The Department of Biotechnology has sought interest from individuals and organizations for its annual biotechnology societal development award that recognizes their immense contribution to promote biotechnology in India .
In an attempt to recognize these organizations or individuals and thereby popularizing the role of biotechnology in social development , the Department of Biotechnology has invited applications for ‘ Biotechnology Social Development Awards ’ from government as well as non-government organizations and individuals for the year 2016 . The applicants can be an individual , extension scientist , teacher , NGO or even an organization . However , those who have already received the award are not eligible to apply again . There are three awards annually ; two for individuals and one for organization . All the three Awards would be of Rs 5 Lakh each in cash and citation .
Application forms and other detail information including eligibility criteria are available on the DBT website . Complete application in the prescribed format ( 5 Sets ) with required documents should reach to DBT within two months .
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BioVoiceNews | October 2016