The genepool war
The recently concluded FAO meeting on the control over plant genetic resources, their conservation and sustainable use has left the North and …
Famines force revival of forgotten crop varieties
The drawbacks of modern, high-yield crops are prompting farmers and researchers to go back to traditional, well-adapted varieties.
Cotton conundrum
The powers that be are hanging fire on Bt cotton despite long and intensive research. Indira Khurana delves into the baffling issue
Healthy rivers: How DNA tool can help keep tabs on freshwater quality
DNA technologies have revolutionised the amount of data generated from a single river sample
Gene that helps tomato fight viral infection, heat stress identified
Scientists at New Delhi-based National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) have deciphered critical role of a single gene—SlDEAD35&…
A fight to the finish
In the battle for securing a larger share of the world's genetic diversity, the ubiquitous farmer seems to have emerged as the unlikely winner, …
Thriving on bad air
The growth of plants could be seriously changed if they are exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide
Ensuring human survival
"The future of human civilisation could depend on our ability to defend and make sustainable use of biological diversity," he adds. FAO recently …
Vanishing breeds
While debating the ways to attain global food security, national governments ignore the most pertinent issue: rapidly disappearing agro-biodiversity
Fear no starch
By the turn of the century, you can dig your teeth into anything starchy and yet maintain good dental health -courtesy, genetically engineered plants
Gene study shows how to get more out of sorghum without affecting natural resources
The sorghum variety jowar is one of India’s most important food and fodder crops
Fruits of science
An Indian research institute is in the process of developing a banana variety with a longer shelf-life
Fair farming
The European Union buckles under the pressure of the developing countries to reduce agricultural subsidies
Trade truce
It was neither a victory for the North nor a defeat for the South. Environment took centrestage as the main bargaining chip, but the discussions …
Putting out new shoots
Whether it's increasing yields, cutting growth time of plants, increasing their resistance to disease or preserving genetic resources, scientists …
IISc is not working on terminator genes
Goverdhan Mehta , director, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, talks to N Raghavan on the need to sharpen the institute's focus and …
In Search of the Forgotten Rice Varieties
If the current trend towards genetic uniformity in rice varities continues, our food security will be severely imperilled
Researchers identify climate change-resilient chickpea genes
The first-ever successful genome sequencing of chickpea means the development of new varieties with high yields, and no pests and diseases, …
Good evil
Pollen from transgenic crops is now known to have a much wider reach. This could spell disaster as the control of these resistant varieties-turned-…
MIAMI GROUP VS rest of the world
Are genetically modified organisms a miracle that will solve the world's hunger problems or a menace that will threaten human health, environment …
Solving poverty
Gurdev S Khush is the principal plant breeder in the Plant breeding, genetics and biochemistry division of the International Rice Research …