Toronto: Using gene-editing tools to create virus-resistant plants may have an unintended consequence of propagating of mutated viruses, according to scientists including one of Indian origin. Researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada and University of Liege in Belgium attempted to genetically engineer cassava plants to fight off viruses. “Because this technology creates a selection pressure on the viruses to evolve more quickly, and also provides the viruses a means to evolve, it resulted in a virus mutant that is resistant to our interventions,” said Devang Mehta, from University of Alberta. For the study, published in the journal Genome…
Author: PTI
Hyderabad: The three-member committee of technical experts, appointed by the Telangana government following the furore over Intermediate examination results, pointed out certain lapses and suggested various measures for improvement, officials said. In its report, submitted to the government on Saturday, the committee pointed out mistakes (in publication of results) like not displaying practical exam marks in the memos of certain geography students, education secretary B Janardhan Reddy told reporters. “Because of bubbling error in some OMR sheets, correct marks were not awarded to very few students,” he said. The errors did not significantly impact the results, he said, citing the…
New Delhi: A former IAF wing commander’s wife was found dead at her house in Dwarka’s Sector-7 area, police said. The deceased was identified as Meenu Jain (52), a resident of Air Force Naval Officers’ Enclave in Dwarka Sector-7, they added. According to a senior police officer, Meenu’s father HP Garg (76), a retired IIT Delhi professor and currently working on a research project at the institute, said his son Darpan called him on Thursday evening to inform that Meenu was not keeping well. He left his office for Meenu’s residence at around 7.45 pm. On the way, as he…
BSP chief Mayawati today accused the Centre of misusing the CBI during elections, saying the case pertaining to the sale of 21State-owned sugar mills during her tenure as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was being given a political colour. Her remarks came after the CBI registered an FIR and six preliminary enquiries to probe alleged irregularities in the sale of the 21 sugar mills. “In this election, the BJP is misusing government institutions including the CBI, which has never happened earlier. The case pertaining to the sugar mills is being given a political colour, and this is an example of gross…
The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) plans to take a variety of steps including enhanced localisation, increase in productivity and reducing overall costs in order to improve margins in the current fiscal, a senior company official has said. The auto major reported EBITDA margin of 14 per cent for 2018-19, down 1.9 per cent from 15.9 per cent in 2017-18. “We are working very hard on cost cutting, there is lot of effort on cost side…as a company we are all committed to work towards it and ensure that it (margins) improve from here,” MSI CFO Ajay Seth…
Two top Saudi royal advisors have been linked to journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. One has been labeled the “ringleader” but questions are swirling over the absence of the other in the closed-door trial of 11 suspects, multiple sources told media. Saudi prosecutors have said deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri oversaw the Washington Post columnist’s killing in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate last October and that he was advised by the royal court’s media czar Saud al-Qahtani. Both aides were part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s tight-knit inner circle and have formally been sacked over the killing but only Assiri has…
Rajasthan Royals skipper Steve Smith wants to end his IPL 2019 campaign on a winning note against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 30 before leaving for home ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup. Rajasthan Saturday defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets to end their home campaign on a winning note and theoretically keep alive their play-off chances in the ongoing IPL. To stay in contention for a play-off berth, Rajasthan first must win their remaining two away games against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals on May 4 and then hope for favourable results from other matches. “For us…
The Tamilnadu Congress unit today lauded state-based athlete Gomathi Marimuthu for clinching gold in the Asian Athletics Championship held in Qatar and announced a cash incentive of Rs five lakh for her.
England’s World Cup contender Alex Hales has been suspended for 21 days for failing a drug test.Â