Indian scientists at the 69th session of Indian Science Congress, 1982, held at Mysore, emphasized on the importance of gene technology.

Later, in the same year, the Government of India set up an official agency, the ‘National Biotechnology Board’ under the Depart me Science and Technology. The aim was to coordinate and collaborate research in the file genetic engineering and its application.

In 1986, the National Biotechnology Board was reply’ by a fully fledged department, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), in the ministry of Science and Technology for planning, promotion and coordination of various biotechnology program

In 1987, an International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) for developing countries started functioning at the Jawaharlal Nehru University.! Delhi.

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Another such centre was established at Trieste, Italy. The other national institutes can researched on biotechnology in India are Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Indian Veterinary/Research Institute (IVRI), Izzatnagar (UP); Central Food Technology Rese Institute (CFTRI), Mysore (Karnataka); National Diary Research Institute (NDRI), Ka (Haryana); Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow (UP) and National Institu Immunology (Nil), New Delhi.

A pioneer institute, Centre for Cell and Molecular Biol (CCMB), Hyderabad carries out research on different aspects of cell and molecular biol Indidan Institute of Technology (IIT), at its different centers, also carries out researsh and in teaching at the B.Tech and M.Tech levels in biotechnology and bioprocess engineering. Besi twentynine centers of biotechnology, spread overdid, impart teaching in biotechnology at M.Sc level (Appendix I).

In Orissa, some institutes like the Central Rice Research Insti (CRRI), Cuttack; Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA); Central Tuber Rese’ Institue (CTRI); Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC) and Institute of Life Science (ILS) at Bhubaneswar are carrying out research and development in various frontiers of biotechnology

In leafy than three decades of its origin in India, biotechnological products, probe and services have become very much important.

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The development of the technique; DNA fingerprinting, the diagnostic kit for filaria, a number of recombinant vaccines, particul for Polio and Hepatitis B, micropropagation of some important trees like eucalyptus’ bamboo, biopesticides. Aquaculture technologies are a few notable areas in which In biotechnology has left its impressions.

It is proposed to have a second green revoluti; through research in the field of biotechnology. The successes of white revolution, bro revolution and blue revolution in India describe the success stories in this field. These ha brought about quantum jumps in milk production, leathei” manufacture and fish harvestin

The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in its latest report on the potential of biotechnology in India says “the market has increased five fold since 1997 and presently it is estimated to be Rs 11, 500 crores”. The report projected that the market would touch Rs. 20, 700 crores by 2010 the industry, presently employing nearly 10. 000 people, is estimated to increase manifold by the end of 2010. Biotechnology industry has a global annual sale of $6 billion. It will attract more investment in future than the present estimate.

In India, most of the universities have started teaching biotechnology at the post­graduate levels the Department of Biotechnology. Govt of India is actively supporting the teaching and research programmes or generate trained man power in selected areas of biotechnology.

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It will create adequate man power and expertise to contribute to the prosperity of the nation. Many international companies like Smithkline Beecham. Hoechst. Marion Roussel, Glaxo Wellcome, Monsanto and Pasteur Merieux have entered into the manufacturing sector in biotechnology to tap the human resource and biotechnological potential of the country.

In the international level, the science of biotechnology made a formal beginning with the discovery of restriction enzymes and the construction of the first recombinant DNA in the 1970s and culminated in the sequencing of the human genome and the reported cloning of human.

Its application has been extended to almost all aspects of human life. It has a tremendous future potential in sustainable growth countries. Whether developed or developing, have started embarking upon this area of science for a sustainable growth for their people. Its benefits have started flowing to the receiving end the people at large.

The main thrust areas of application are: food and agriculture, medicine and health care, forensic science, pollution control and environmental protection and industry. All these applications have benefits and risks in equal token. Risks are not being looked into in the same proportion as those of the benefits.

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Several international organisations are engaged in enumerating potential risks in these applications. Others are busy in framing regulations for conduct of research and application of the finding to the society. Many organisations and institutions monitor the implementation of these regulations.

It is therefore, imperative to evolve a multilateral cooperation among all countries. There should be an exctiange of information on research and development among the countries so that the regulations could be properly implemented.

Another global issue is funding of such research activities. Since, research development in biotechnology requires a huge input of money, the government’s task not only be restricted to providing financial support but also closely monitor all one projects. There should be an increasing participation of the Private Sector in research development.

Secrecy, trademarks, intellectual property rights and patents are a few burning issues in biotechnology. These need to be redressed in multilateral forums a by monopoly. The regulations governing the patents should be uniformly applicable to Countries. Otherwise, there will be a huge gap between the developed and develop countries, which may end up in a severe conflict in the future.

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The countries like United States of America (USA), Japan, and Germany and of E are front runners in this field. In USA, the progress made by the companies like Gene Monsanto, DuPont, Celera Genomics, Calgene and Elly Lily and the Human Genome Pr on the physical and sequence map of the human genome has proved the credibility biotechnology.

On the whole, biotechnology marches forward to achieving the dream come to creating a world, which in a sense, is “more living than ever before”.