NIBGE to undertake 11 new research projects from March
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) will undertake eleven new research projects from next month. NIBGE sources mentioned that among these projects include, Cloning of cellulase genes for ethanol production from plant biomass, Chloroplast-based over expression of pharmaceuticals to develop cost-effective therapeutics, cloning, expression and characterisation of INGAP encoded gene: A prospective means of Amelioration of diabetes, Engineering and production of re-combination proteins for the diagnosis and control of hepatitis B virus infection, Bio-control of Pathogenic infection through competition using plant growth promoting Rhizo bacteria, Identification and Characterisation of ACC deaminase gene in specific PGPR (Plant Growth) promoting Rhizo-bacteria, Gene mining slides on extermorphilic micro-organisms using integron specific probes, Finding single Nucleotide polymorphism in cotton genome, Gene pyramiding through genetic engineering for increased salt tolerance in wheat, control of mealy bug in Pakistan and improving crop salt tolerance through genetic engineering. Out of these 11 projects, Higher Education Commission (HEC) has funded 5 while Ministry of Food and Agriculture will provide funding for 2 projects. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Pak-US and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) will fund the remaining projects. Copyright Business Recorder, 2008