Biotech & nanotech, Indian scientist

Visvesvaraya

‘block irrigation system’ 

• Chandrashekhar 

• CV raman 

• S N Bose

•  Jagdish chandra basu

• Hargovind Khurana - order of nucleotides in nucleic acids, which carry the genetic code of the cell, control the cell’s synthesis of proteins

• Ramachandran plot 

• Apj abdul kalam 

• Vikram Sarabhai

• Satish Dhawan 

Ramanujam

Meghanand Sha

Biotech

Blue (marine and aquatic ), green 

(agriculture processes), red (medical) and white (industrial)

• IPR issue - compulsory licensing, 

• National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-2020 (NBDS)- US$100bn by 2025

• Four Major Missions – Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, Clean Energy and Education 

• implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

Biopharma

• 55% of total revenues of pharma

• National Biopharma Mission

• vaccines, bio-therapeutics, diagnostics and

• medical devices

•  strengthen clinical trial networks,

• promote partial de-risking for novel products

• World Bank assisted INNOVATE IN INDIA (i3) 

• Pharma vision document

AMR

N Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) 2017 (Red Line Campaign)

WHO’s Global Action Plan on AMR 

✓ Improve awareness

✓ Strengthen knowledge and evidence through surveillance

✓ Optimize the use of anti-microbial agents

✓ Promote investments, research, and innovations

✓ Reduce the incidence,

✓ Strengthen leadership on AMR through international collaborations

GM crop

• Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) --> MH govt to stop cultivation of illegal Herbicide Tolerant variety of Bt Cotton (Ht-bt cotton)

• Pest Resistance - Bt cotton with the Cry 1 Ac gene Bacillus Thurengeniesis  

• Enhanced nutrition-  Golden Rice with additional vitamin A - IRRI 

• Monopoly, Outcrossing,  Decline in yield, human health - AMR

• Allergenicity- protein changed

• Resistance -pink bollworm  

• Biodiversity - non-target organisms

• toxin may reach the soil/water table

• Transparency: The GEAC reports

• National policy on GM crops: 

• Proactive Patent regime: - prevent monopolies

• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety  Biological Diversity act, 2002 must be effectively implemented

Gene editing

• He Jiankui -using CRISPR/Cas9

• human diseases & genetic disorders

• healthier food (fortification)

• cost effective next generation antibiotic

• Mosaicism

• off-target effects - edits at wrong place 

• Ecological impacts

• Difficulty in regulation- identify a GMO 

• ‘Designer Babies’, Justice and Equity: Informed consent

• Promoting Wellbeing, 

• Transparency,

•  Responsible Science, 

• Transnational Cooperation,

•  Respect for Persons

3-PARENT BABY

• In Vitro Fertilization (Assisted Reproductive Technology)

• Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy

• Spindle transfer technique 

• Pronuclear Transfer

• replace mother’s faulty Mitochondrial DNA with healthy Mitochondria from a donor woman

Genome Sequencing

• Saving Biodiversity

• Discovery of Unknown Species:

• new drugs, new biofuels, and boost agricultural technologies,

• Generate Revenues:

• Understanding diseases:

• Genome India Project Centre for Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

Food Fortification

• "complementary strategy” and not a replacement of a balanced & diversified diet

• deficiency of micronutrients is also

• known as “hidden hunger” and leads to various diseases like Night blindness, 

• nanoscale range (1-100 nanometres
• alteration of its physicochemical, biological, mechanical, optical, electronic properties


• adverse effects on environment and humans
• infrastructure and human resources:
• costs of technology
• undetectable weapon in warfare.
• Ethical and social issues
• nano-devices as performance enhancers in human beings

• Nation Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission)
• INSPIRE scheme, Visveswaraya PhD fellowships

Medical Pharmaceuticals

• Disease diagnosis - nanosensor
• cancer treatment
• 3D printing of organ
• Genetic engineering
• repair damaged tissue
• drug delivery systems, efficacy and cost
• precision targeting reduces toxic systemic side effects
• nano-based antigen detecting biosensors for pathogens contamination

Defence

• intelligence gathering nanosensors/cameras/recording devices.
• supplement to traditional weaponry for close combat situations
• Precision guiding tools for snipers, fire motor shells.
• Replacement of sniffing dog

Agriculture

• Productivity - bio-conjugated nanoparticles - slow release of nutrients ,water
• Pheromones nanogels  -controlling pests
• Soil health - neutralizing harmful chemical or biological agents.
• Bio indicators to detect the bio magnification of pesticides fertilizers
• Anti-bacterial products such as nano silver used as preserver
• antimicrobial nano-emulsions decontamination of food equipment, packaging or food,

Water treatment and remediation

• Nanomembranes - water purification, desalination and detoxification.
• Magnetic nanoparticles for water treatment and remediation
•  Nanosensors for the detection of contaminants and pathogens.

Construction

• Nanomolecular structures to make asphalt and concrete more robust towater seepage.
• Heat-resistant nanomaterials to block UV and IR.
• Self-cleaning surfaces (e.g., windows, mirrors, toilets) with bioactive coatings

Energy

• Photovoltaic cells and organic light-emitting devices based on quantum dots
• Novel hydrogen storage systems based on carbon nanotubesand other lightweight nanomaterials
• Batteries based on nanomaterial