School of Biotechnology, Jammu University organises special invited talks by eminent scientists

JAMMU, May 27: The School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu organized  special invited talks by Prof. B.S Balaji, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Dr. Shri Ram Yadav, Associate Professor IIT Roorkee. At the outset Professor Sanjana Kaul, Director, School of Biotechnology formally welcomed and introduced the  speakers and briefed the audience about their  academic accomplishments and notable scientific contribution.

The title of the talk by Prof. B.S Balaji was, “Think Beyond Labs.” He encouraged the students and research scholars to consider and explore the concepts and ideas beyond the traditional laboratory setting. He underscored the importance of expanding our perspectives, fostering creative thinking, and actively observing our surroundings to seek alternative solutions to the problems that exist. He stressed the significance of acquiring new skills like 3D printing, statistical analysis, not merely for the sake of learning, but for practical application.

He accentuated the importance of reading and enlightened the students about recent technologies and softwares such as ChatGPT, Stack Exchange, and Reddit. Further, he highlighted the significance of collaborating and cautioned against overwhelming oneself with an excessive workload. Instead, he advocated for diversifying tasks to optimize the learning outcomes and overall productivity. The students actively participated in the interaction. Later in day a second session was organized where the invited speaker, Dr. Shri Ram Yadav from Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering IIT Roorkee spoke on,  “Studying evolution of genetic regulation in Plants.”

He  discussed various root systems in plants and their developmental origin, along with the involvement of specific genes and signaling molecules. He delved into the genetic and evolutionary aspects of gene duplication and emphasized its functionality. Particularly, he focused on the significance of mutated genes and their overexpression in the conversion of a tap root system to a fibrous root system.

Furthermore, he shed light on the genes responsible for the transition from the vegetative phase to the reproductive phase of rice. Dr. Yadav employed the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique to investigate the functionality of these genes. He explained the knockout experiments, targeting single, double, and triple gene knockouts, to assess their impact on the phenotype of rice.

The sessions was incredibly interactive, with enthusiastic participation from the students. They posed numerous questions to the speakers, who promptly and thoroughly addressed each query. The speakers fostered a dynamic environment, encouraging an open dialogue between themselves and the students. Needless to mention Dr. Shri Ram being  an alumnus of the School  displayed a deep sense of connection and pride towards his alma mater, the i.e School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu.

Both the speakers took the opportunity to encourage the students, emphasizing the excellence and potential that the university embodies. In addition, the speakers also gave valuable suggestions  regarding paper publication, emphasizing the significance of conducting research with integrity, transparency, and adherence to ethical standards. Prof B.K Bajaj, former Director School of Biotechnology, shared his valuable remarks on the talk and commended the speaker for their expertise and the quality of the presentation. Dr. Ritu Mahajan, Senior Assistant professor, extended the gratitude and formal vote of thanks to the invited speakers for delivering a thought-provoking and inspiring lectures.

The talk was attended by faculty members, students and research scholars of the School of Biotechnology and other departments of the University. The sessions were coordinated by Dr. Ritu Mahajan, Dr. Nisha Kapoor, Dr Sakshi Sharma, Dr. Suruchi Gupta, Mr. Shajat Hussain and Mr. Akhil Sharma. 

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