Abhinandan Sah

  India Strengthens Livestock Biotechnology: Indigenous Production of Veterinary Hormones by Biovet Pvt. Ltd. Introduction India’s livestock sector plays a crucial role in the country’s agricultural economy, supporting millions of farmers and contributing significantly to food security and rural livelihoods. Recognizing the importance of strengthening animal healthcare infrastructure, the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has extended financial assistance to Biovet Private Limited, Malur. The project titled “Development and Commercialization of Veterinary Hormones” aims to establish an indigenous manufacturing facility for critical veterinary reproductive hormones. These include Gonadorelin, Buserelin acetate (GnRH analogues), and Cloprostenol (a prostaglandin analogue) —essential hormones used in livestock reproduction management and treatment of reproductive disorders. This initiative represents an imp...

  I ndian Scientists Rewrite a 50-Year-Old Biological Rule: A Breakthrough in Understanding Bacterial Gene Regulation Background For nearly half a century, biology textbooks across the world have explained bacterial gene regulation using a widely accepted concept known as the “σ (sigma) cycle.” According to this model, sigma factors bind with RNA polymerase to initiate gene transcription in bacteria. Once transcription begins, the sigma factor was believed to detach from the RNA polymerase, allowing the enzyme to proceed with elongating the RNA strand. This model was largely derived from studies conducted on the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) , particularly focusing on its sigma factor σ70 . Over time, this concept became a fundamental principle in microbiology and molecular biology. However, recent research conducted by scientists from Bose Institute (India) and Rutgers University (USA) has challenged this long-standing assumption. Their findings, published in the presti...