The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : DNA lab for endangered species

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Friday, Jul 11, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

DNA lab for endangered species

HYDERABAD: A DNA analysis laboratory for endangered and endemic species such as the Great Indian Bustard will be set up shortly near Srisailam.

The Environment Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI) is establishing the laboratory for the State Forest Department at its Biodiversity Resource Centre. It would also serve in analysing and preserving the DNA of the other critically endangered species, including Jerdon Courser, EPTRI Director-General, Gayathri Ramachandran told The Hindu here on Thursday.

According to Siva Kumar Swaminathan, senior scientist, Biotechnology division, the proposed lab would help in studying genetic diversity and population dynamics of any species. DNA analysis would give exact numbers, he added. Ms. Ramachandran said the institute proposed to set up a botanical garden for endangered plant species of Eastern Ghats on its sprawling campus at Gachibowli in the city, besides a bio-tech lab.

Research project

Plans were afoot to set up a regional centre, which would work as the arm of the government of India for monitoring environmental aspects of its projects. She said that in a first-of-its-kind initiative, the institute has taken up a research project for Andhra Pradesh on natural resources and environmental accounting. The project is being funded by the German agency GTZ. While a number of developed countries conducted similar studies, there was no similar data for developing countries, except for Philippines.

The Institute’s expertise was sought by The Energy Resource Institute (TERI) and the British Petroleum for an environmental and social assessment study on the bio-diesel plantations taken up in Krishna, East Godavari, West Godavari and Khamman districts.

The Director-General said that a proposal for setting a Centre for Urban Infrastructure and Sustainable Development was submitted to the Government of India to impart holistic training to officials from local bodies and urban agencies.

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