J.C.Bose & Dr.Rakesh Tuli deliver Panjab University Colloquium lecture

Chandigarh, January 20, 2016: J.C.Bose Fellow & senior Scientist Dr.Rakesh Tuli today delivered the Panjab University (PU) Colloquium lecture at PU Campus, Chandigarh. 

Former Executive Director of National Agri-Food Biotech Institute (NABI), Mohali and  Research Advisor at UIET, PU, Dr. Rakesh Tuli spoke on the contemporary topic of  "Genomics for Designing Future Life Forms" at SS Bhatnagar Auditorium, PU. PU Vice 

Chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover presided over the 29th PU Colloquium lecture. 

Large number of students, teachers, and researchers also attended the lecture.

Referring to the Punjab and Haryana cotton farmers, Dr. Tuli said that the White fly affected about two-thirds of standing cotton crop in the Punjab and caused an estimated loss of Rs 4,200 crore in the year 2015. This was despite Rs 150 crore pesticide spray against white fly, he added.  

Dr Tuli referred to the significance of Genome and the path breaking changes that it is likely to bring about in near future. He said that Genome is an amazing self-duplicating, self-programming and self-correcting molecule that hold the secrets of life forms. He elaborated upon "Genetically Modified crops" (GM Crops).

Dr Tuli referred to the Engineering functional organ modules by Additive Bioprinting and reconstruction of body parts, tissues, organs and organisms by natural or natural- like constituents. He also spoke on the issue of Substitutional Bioengineering and the possibility of using substitute body parts, tissues, organs and organisms by engineering biodevices.  

Referring to the question on How far are we from creating new life forms, Dr. Tuli said, “Perhaps just beginning to learn how to design improved life forms, fabricate complex prosthesis and real tissues and modulate body functions with high precision 

through genomics”. / (SK Vyas, Jalandhar)