State Biotech Hub Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology

Vigyan Bhawan, Deorali, Gangtok, 737102

About State Biotech Hub

The project “Establishment of State Bio Tech Hub (SBT Hub) in

Sikkim” is supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT),

Govt. of India under special programme for North Eastern States

of India. The project is being coordinated by Biotech Consortium

India Limited (BCIL), a Government of India enterprise promoted

by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The pro-

ject has the component of establishment of state of art biotech-

nology infrastructure facilities in the state, a nucleus research

center for biotechnological research.

Objectives:

1. Establishment of major biotechnology infrastructure facility in

the state

2. To train the coordinators of the institutional hubs

3. To provide support for research and training and

4. Linkage with other institutional hubs in the respective state.

Focused Research Area To fulfill the objectives of State Biotech Hub, the following research

areas are selected:

Molecular Biology- Molecular studies are being carried out

on Frankia (Seabuckthorn, Elaeagnus) large Cardamom, Gin-

ger, Citrus Tristeza Virus, Ginger specific Pythium spp.

Cell Culture: Crop improvement trials are also initiated

through Protoplast Fusion and single cell culture – For the de-

velopment of disease resistant variety of Large cardamom and

Ginger.

Biochemical : Antioxidant Activity, Phytochemicals, cytotoxic

activity of Medicinal plants are carried out.

Microbiology– Microbial diversity in agriculture land (soil)

and Cow dung.

Plant Tissue Culture– Micro propagation of various econom-

ically important and medicinal plants of Sikkim (Orchids, Ku-

rilo, Ginger, large cardamom, Rattan etc.)

Inside this

issue

Volume No. I, Sl. No. I., November 2016

Vigyan Darshan Quarterly E-Newsletter

Hands on Training 2

Workshops / Seminars 2

Outreach Programme 3

Measurable achievement of

State Biotech Hub

3

Sikkim State Biotechnology

Research & Application Cen-

tre, Rumtek, Sajong.

4

Ongoing Research work 4

Future plan of action 4

State Biotech Hub (SBH), Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology

(SSCS&T), conducted series of workshop in Biotechnology with the following

topics.

1. Biotechnology and Bioinformatics 2. Biotechnology and its application

3. Biotechnology Tools and Techniques 4. Bio-safety and Bioethics

5. Biotechnological applications on Biodiversity

6. Basic Biotechnology and Lab Techniques

The workshop was designed to provide participants with an insight into the

different aspects of Biotechnology. Resource persons were from different

institution inside and outside Sikkim namely Bangalore University, NBU,

RCIBSD, G.B. Pant etc. They addressed the participants about the role of

biotechnology in environment and agriculture , biosafety incidents or misuse

of infectious disease outbreaks with devastating health and socio-economic

impacts, professional biosafety and bio-security practices, how biotechnolo-

gy helps in conservation, evaluation and utilization of biodiversity and basic

laboratory techniques with the blend of theoretical concepts and hands on

experiments They have also talked about the fast pace of research in Life

Sciences and the need to the development of skills and awareness among

researchers. The total number 330 graduates and post graduates students/

Research scholars from SMU, SU, SGC along with the scholars of the host

department participated in the workshop.

HANDS ON TRANING PROGRAMME

WORKSHOP / SEMINAR

Several hands on training on bio-

technology was organised by State

Biotech Hub targeting different sets

of trainee. Each training programme

was conducted for five days. 75

numbers of students were trained in

total. The participants were from

different institutes like Sikkim Uni-

versity (Botany Department, Zoology

Department, Microbiology Depart-

ment, Horticulture Department), Sik-

kim Manipal University (Medical Bio-

technology), Sikkim Government

College, ,Research Scholar (Sikkim

University) and Graduate and Post

graduate Teachers (Bioscience) from

different Schools. Training module

were prepared very systematically,

keeping view point of the partici-

pants (students) syllabus back

ground which will benefits in their

future academic journey. To make

each training successful Laboratory

Training Manual (LTM) was prepared

and given individually for their future

references. The following training

topics were selected as per the sylla-

bus and subject background of the

participants:-

1. Molecular Techniques and Statisti-

cal Analysis of Molecular Data.

2. Isolation of Plant Genomic DNA,

PCR and Statistical Analysis of

Genetic Data.

3. Hands on Training on Biotechno-

logical Techniques.

4. Hands on Training on Molecular

Techniques on Horticulture Crops

5. Hands on Training on Molecular

Technique and Statistical Analy-

sis of Data

6. Hand on Training on Plant Ge-

nomics.

2

Hands on Training with participants

Volume No. I, Sl. No. I., November 2016

RECENT ACTIVITIES

Participants with Resource persons

OUTREACH PROGRAMME

State Biotech Hub (SBH), Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology

(SSCS&T), conducted an outreach programme on Biotechnology and its appli-

cation at 21 different schools in all four districts of Sikkim. List of Schools .The

topic for the presentation was selected from the syllabus and highlighted the

application of Biotechnology. The topics included were Introduction to Biotech-

nology, Application of Biotechnology in Human Health and Agriculture. Stu-

dents along with Principal and teachers attended the programme. Students

actively participated in the programme and were interactive in each event.

Positive feedbacks were given by the Principals and the Teachers of the re-

spective schools. All the schools extended their sincere thanks to the State

Biotech Hub and were hoping to get more of such programme in the future

which they found very beneficial for the students. List of the schools are given

below.

Measurable Achievement of the State Bio-

tech Hub (since its inception)

The fully functional

molecular, biochemi-cal, plant tissue and cell culture laborato-ry established with 100% fund utiliza-tion provided for the purpose.

One PhD awarded using Biotech Hub facility and five more enrolled in different university mainly due to the estab-lished biotech hub laboratory.

Six (6) numbers of hands-on training on molecular biology conducted for re-search scholars, M.Sc. students.

Biotechnology out-reach programme conducted in 21 schools.

Five workshop/seminar organized.

State Biotech hub assisted and facili-tate in carrying out MSc/BSc dissertation work.

Eight studentship from different insti-tute initiated their work.

3rd Review Meeting

of the DBT’S Over-

seas Associateship

Programme on 29th-

30th November

2016.

Five hands on Tran-

ing programme for

class XII students

(PCB) for 2-3 days.

3

Sl. No Name of School District

1 Rumtek Sr. Secondary School East

2 Bojoghari Sr. Secondary School East

3 Singtam Sr. Secondary School East

4 Mamring Sr. Secondary School East

5 Machong Sr. Secondary School East

6 Tadong Sr. Secondary School East

7 Biraspati Parsai Sr. Secondary School East

8 Assam Lingzey Sr. Secondary School East

9 Temi Sr. Secondary School South

10 Namchi Girls Sr. Secondary School, South

11 Govt. Sr. Secondary School Jorethang, South

12 Damthang Secondary School South

13 Govt. Sr. Sec. School Namchi South

14 Hee-Gyathang Sr. Secondary School South

15 Mangan Sr. Secondary School, North North

16 Phodong Sr. Secondary School North

17 Lachung Secondary School North

18 Mangshila Sr. Secondary School North

19 ChunthangSecondary School North

20 Phensong Sr. Secondary School North

21 Hee-Yangthang Sr. Secondary School West

Volume No. I, Sl. No. I., November 2016

Outreach programme at different schools

Sikkim State Biotech-nology Research and Application centre,

Sajong

ONGOING RESEARCH WORK

State Biotech Hub Team

Dr. Anil Mainra, IFS, Member

Secretary (Chief Editor)

Dr. B.C. Basistha, Additional

Director and Coordinator (Editor)

Shri. K.B. Subba, Assistant Scientific

Officer and Co-coordinator

Dr. Sushen Pradhan,

Research Associate

Miss Neelam Gurung

JRF

Miss Prerna Pradhan

JRF

Miss Pratima Ghimiray

JRF

Mr. Inchung Lepcha

Laboratory Attendant

Mr. Tika Pd. Sharma

Laboratory Attendant

Sl. No.

Title of the Project Person Involved

1. Biology of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae salicifolia).

Dr. B.C. Basistha, Additional Director, SSCS&T.

2. Studies on genetic diversity, somatic hybridization and fungal disease of large car-damom

K.B Subba, under the super-vision of Dr. Mitra (SMU) and Dr. B.C. Basistha (SSCS&T)

3. Study of microbial diversity from cow dung of different cow breeds found in Sikkim Himalaya.

Dr. Sushen Pradhan, Dr. B.C. Basistha and Neelam Gurung.

4. Antagonistic effect of the rhizosphere bacteria isolat-ed from Zingiber officinale Roscoe against Pythium soft rot from different parts of Sikkim.

Neelam Gurung, under the supervision of Dr. B.C. Ba-sistha (SSCS&T) and Dr. Veena Pande (Kumaun University)

5. Genetic diversity of Frankia associated with Elaeagnus of north Sikkim.

Prerna Pradhan, under the supervision of Dr. B.C. Ba-sistha (SSCS&T) and Dr. Veena Pande (Kumaun University)

6. Molecular studies and ge-netic diversity of CTV in-fecting Citrus reticulate Blanco in Sikkim.

Pratima Ghimiray, under the supervision of Dr. B.C. Ba-sistha (SSCS&T) and Dr. Veena Pande (Kumaun University)

7 Algal Diversity from high altitude lakes of Sikkim.

Swastika Gurung, under the supervision of Dr. B.C. Ba-sistha (SSCS&T) and Dr. Veena Pande (Kumaun University)

Future Plan of ActionFuture Plan of Action

To conduct hands-on training on molecular techniques and statistical analysis of molecular data for the researchers of NER and coordinators/researcher of institutional hubs within state.

To train aspiring researcher/MSc. students on various techniques of molecular, plant tissue and cell culture and biochemical studies.

To organize quarterly brainstorming session of the researcher of within state to have a common platform to present their on-going research, new areas of research, discuss on the various problems and possible measures through biotechnological intervention.

To undertake research on crop improvement through cell line culture, plant tissue culture, protoplast fusion and other biotechnological means.

To collaborate with other research institutes like ICAR, ICRI, GB Pant institute for carrying out on collaborative research works.

Development of Bio-fertilizer and Bio-pesticide using local microbial strain.

Volume No. I, Sl. No. I., November 2016

Laboratory Building at Sajong

Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory

CONTACT US: 03592-270026, 03592– 252200 (O)

Email: stcstsikkim.btisnrt@nic.in

Website: www.bioinformaticssikkim.gov.in