Author: Biotech Express

The shoe’s upper is made by bacteria that naturally produce nanocellulose—Komagataei bacterrhaeticus—and can be further genetically engineered to also self-dye by producing melanin for color. Keane, a designer at Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London, and synthetic biologist Reeve, then at Imperial College London, set up Modern Synthetics in 2020 to pursue ‘microbial weaving’.Their goal is to produce a new class of material, a hybrid/composite that will replace animal- and petrochemical-made sneakers with a biodegradable, yet durable, alternative. The process begins with a two-dimensional yarn scaffold shaped by robotics, which the scientists submerge in fermentation medium…

Biocon Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia, a subsidiary of Biocon Biologics Ltd (BBL), announced that it has entered the prestigious Malaysia Book of Records.The 562,000 sq. ft. facility has been recognized as the first and largest integrated insulin manufacturer in Malaysia by MBR, which officially recognizes record-creating and record-breaking achievements in the fields of human endeavour, building & structures, transportation, arts & entertainment, business, sports & games, science & technology, nature etc. in Malaysia. Kiran Kumar Gandhirajan, Site Head, Malaysia, said: “We are extremely proud and honoured to be named in the Malaysia Book of Records, which is a recognition of the…

Corruption and scams are not new in any business but is it ethically right to have corruption in industry like pharma where a drug which if approved incorrectly can impact thousands of lives. A new bribery case against CDSCO officials including Joint DCGI, intermediary agencies and a Biocon official has unsurfaced the wrongdoings in government regulatory offices and pharma industry and because it is related to biotech drug we are covering this story in this cover article. The intensity of wrongdoing by regulators and intermediaries can be felt by the fact that they were not caught red handed by any…

In the last issue Biotech Express has covered biotech startup expo which was held in June 2022 and inaugurated by PM Modi in Pragati Maidan, wherein hundreds of biotech startup showcased their products and services. Continuing the series, in this issue we are covering a startup that has gained special attention after pandemic due to their hygiene-based products. Here we discuss the journey of a founder and company with Dr. Rachna Dave who left her permanent job for starting an entrepreneur journey and now successfully fulfilling her endeavor. “The pandemic has changed the way people and industry prioritise hygiene and…

A “National Workshop-cum-Webinar on Genome Editing” was organized from June 27 to July 3, 2022 online with an objective of communicating the advances in science and technology to young students and researchers. India on march for climate resilient, nutrition rich and sustainable agriculture with the use of Genome Editing”: Prof KC Bansal This workshop was organized under the Chairmanship of Prof KC Bansal, Secretary of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi, who is a former Director of the premier institution of ICAR, the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR). The workshop was Co-Chaired by a world-renowned…

with the United States military, has testified in court that she was ordered by a superior to suppress Covid-19 vaccine injuries following the Biden regime’s mandate. Dr. Long also testified that the data is showing that deaths of military members from the vaccines exceed deaths from COVID-19 itself. Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel Mat Staver said in an interview with the Blaze’s Daniel Horowitz that there have been three hearings in this case, and the DoD has not yet offered a single witness. Instead of witnesses, the government “sends these declarations,” Staver explained. He said the judge has urged…

by Seema Pavgi Upadhye On the occasion of world biodiversity day May 22, 2021 and #SwachhSagarSurakshitSagar, World’s longest coastal cleanup campaign which not only aims to clean 7500 km long coastline but will also give a major boost to the “Blue Economy” envisaged by PM Sh Narendra Modi. Despite the fact that our planet is mostly ocean and human activity is more intense than it has ever been, we know remarkably little about the state of the ocean’s biodiversity — the variety and balance of species that support healthy and productive ecosystems. And it’s no surprise — marine biodiversity is…

As a student during early 2000s many were heard of saying “Who Said Biotechnology Lelo Bhut Scope Hai”. This implied that the biotech sector had limited opportunities in 90s and early 2000. The students were not getting enough jobs and research opportunities were very limited. It is estimated that out of 1000 students who were passing out only 5 students were going abroad for PhD and around 20-25 were getting admission in PhD in India. Most of the students were opting for foreign degree because the fellowship was very less in India and jobs after PhD were preferentially reserved for…

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a stretchable and waterproof ‘fabric’ that turns energy generated from body movements into electrical energy. A crucial component in the fabric is a polymer that, when pressed or squeezed, converts mechanical stress into electrical energy. It is also made with stretchable spandex as a base layer and integrated with a rubber-like material to keep it strong, flexible, and waterproof. In a proof-of-concept experiment reported in the scientific journal Advanced Materials in April, the NTU Singapore team showed that tapping on a 3cm by 4cm piece of the new fabric generated enough electrical…

In recent months, as vaccines and treatments helped reduce the pandemic’s severity, members of the lab have turned away from working on COVID-19. With so many researchers piling into the field, Schoggins says, “there was a sense of saturation.” As a result, his Ph.D. candidates began looking elsewhere for promising dissertation topics. Overall, the number of pandemic-related papers appears set to decline this year, after explosive and unprecedented growth in 2020 and 2021 (see graph). In key disciplines such as infectious diseases and public health, the proportion of new papers devoted to COVID-19 appears to be flattening out (see table).…