The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2012 to Robert J. Lefkowitz and Brian K. Kobilka for their studies on G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). The molecules (GPCRs) are embedded in the membrane of cells and cause significant chemical cascades when a target molecule attaches to them. That target could be anything from a hormone such as ad

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has awarded The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 jointly to John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka for demonstrating the potential of a mature cell to be reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem cells. It may be mentioned here that it’s a different story with plants. Through manipulation of the proportion of kinetin and auxin, m

In an article entitled, “Vitamin D accelerates resolution of inflammatory responses during tuberculosis treatment”, published in September 18, 2012, issue of PNAS 109:39; 15449–15454, the lead author Anna K. Coussens with twenty one other associates from thirteen research groups investigated the effects of vitamin D on the immune responses of patients receiving tre

Prof. Haseena Khan at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dhaka University has been offered a visiting Professorship for one year extendable by another year at the Department of life Science and Biotechnology  at South Asian University located in New Delhi.  Prof. Haseena Khan During this time she will be on sabbatical leave from Dhak

GNOBB feel it a privilege to announce the launching of a new  half-yearly journal entitled, “Microbes and Health”.  The journal is the official organ of the Bangladesh Society for Veterinary Microbiology and Public Health (BSVMPH). The No# 1 of vol. 1 was published in June in the current year and the second issue is due at the end of the year. It has

Thirty-four rice geneticists under the guidance Bin Han at the Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and other Research Institutes  including one in Japan published a research article entitled, “A map of rice genomic variation reveals the origin of cultivated rice,” in the 3rd October online issue of Nature. This publication

In an article entitled, “Epidermal growth factor receptor” (EGFR)  is a preferred target for treating amyloid-β–induced memory loss”, published online in September 27, 2012, issue of PNAS 1-6, the lead author Lei Wang with eight other associates from seven research groups suggested that a class of presently used anti-cancer drugs as well

On the occasion of the 43rd birth day of BRRI (formerly EPRRI ), Dr Mohammad Abdul Mannan, the DG of disclosed the Institute granted an interview to a correspondent of Prothom Alo  In that interview the DG disclosed that BRRI released recently five varieties, the latest being BRRI 58 which was marketed in 2012. The details of the five recent varieties are as follows: BRRI dhan5

DNA sequencing has had a profound impact on life science research and medicine. The reductions in cost and time for generating DNA sequencing are expected to lead to a new era of personalized medicine opening new approaches for treating cancers and other serious diseases. Molecular biologists believe that the cost of sequencing will further drop at an exponential rate consisten

In an article entitled, “Molecular mapping of vernalization requirement and fertility   restoration genes in carrot,” published in Sept. 26, 2012 issue of TAG Theoretical  and Applied Genetics (vol 125, 2012) MS Alessandro and three of her associates reported the genes responsible for vernalization. Carrot (Daucus carota 2n = 18) is characterized