In an article entitled, “Genetic mapping of two QTL from the wild tomato Solanum pimpinellifolium L. controlling resistance against two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) published online on the 17th August in the journal of “Theoretical and Applied Genetics,” Maria Salinas and her seven associates have reported that resistance agai

Rice geneticists have isolated a gene that facilitates rice plants to generate around 20% more grain by enhancing uptake of a vital essential element, namely, phosphorus. The gene designated PSTOL (Phosphorus Starvation Tolerance), can significantly increase rice yield grown in phosphorus-deficient soil and also helps regulate the early crown root development and root grow

In a report entitled ,“How the cucumber tendril coils over-winds, ” published in August 31( pp.1087-1091) issue of Science, SI Gerbode, JR Puzey, and L Mahadevan at Harvard University and McCormick AG at Harvey Mudd College have demonstrated that tendril coiling occurs via asymmetric contraction of an internal fiber ribbon of specialized cells. Using physical models of p

Scientists have identified 56 genes that are vital to cancer cell survival and may represent accessible targets for therapeutic development. In each case only one copy of the target gene is present in the cancer cell due to copy number loss resulting from genomic instability. This study represents a bringing-together of two approaches to understanding the basic mechanics of cancer.

Scientists have identified a gene that enables rice plants to produce around 20% more grain by increasing uptake of phosphorus, an important, but limited, plant nutrient. The discovery unlocks the potential to improve the food security of rice farmers with the lowest value phosphorus-deficient land allowing them to grow more rice grains to add to global rice production, a

In the 17th August issue of Nature published news entitled, “Photosynthesis-like process found in insects”, Kathryn Lougheed reports the finding of Alain Robichon and his associates at the Sophia Agrobiotech Institute in Sophia Antipolis, France. They discovered that aphids may have a simple sunlight-harvesting system. According to them aphids, have carotenoids

In the news and comment section of Nature published on the 19 Aug 2012, Daniel Cressey describes virus-like-nano-particle built target tumors. The team headed by Yuhong Chen designed a self-assembling nanoparticle to target tumor cells like a virus. The team observed that mimicking a virus is a useful way to deliver drugs to cancerous cells. The sensational finding wa

In the news and comment section of Nature published on the 19 Aug 2012, Daniel Cressey describes virus-like-nano-particle built target tumors . The team headed by Chen designed a self-assembling nanoparticle to target tumor cells like a virus. The team observed that mimicking a virus is a useful way to deliver drugs to cancerous cells. The sensational finding was reported recently b

The forthcoming nineteenth Conference under the aegis of Islamic World of Academy of Sciences will be held in Dhaka, sometime in May, next year. GNOBB members feel grateful to the Government of Bangladesh for the nice gesture it has shown in hosting the next Conference of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences. The invitation has been extended by Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of

A group of researchers at the University of California, Davis and the University of Colorado have reported that Triclosan [5-chloro-2-(2, 4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol; an antibacterial chemical widely used in hand soaps] hinders muscle contractions at cellular level, slows swimming in fish and reduces muscular strength in mice. This important finding has been published on August 13, 20