Department of Biotechnology, Sri Pratap College, Srinagar

James Watson, who co-discovered DNA double helix, dies at 97

Noble Prize 2024

Chicken 🐔 came before Egg

Scientists have employed human skin cells to create fertilizable eggs with the capacity to produce early embryos, a breakthrough that could expand options for fertility treatment, as indicated by recent studies.

Rosalind Franklin's meticulous work led to the capture of Photo 51 in 1952, the X-ray image that exposed DNA's double helix structure. This discovery was essential to Watson and Crick's development of their Nobel Prize-winning model. Franklin's precision and brilliance played a pivotal role in shaping modern genetics and medicine. Nevertheless, her contribution was taken without permission, and she was overlooked as others received recognition. Franklin's life was tragically cut short at 37, before she could comprehend the far-reaching impact of her discovery. Today, Franklin is rightfully recognized as the unsung hero of DNA, a scientist whose groundbreaking work revolutionized biology, and her legacy is finally gaining the recognition it deserves. Her story emphasizes the need to acknowledge the achievements of women in science who paved the way.

Genetic research reveals that all humans descend from a single man and woman, often referred to as Mitochondrial Eve and Y-chromosomal Adam. Low genetic diversity suggests a population bottleneck in ancient history, highlighting humanity’s shared origin and connection to the Earth itself.

Brazil just made history in medicine! 🇧🇷💉 After 25 years of research, scientists have developed the first drug that can regenerate damaged spinal cords. This groundbreaking treatment targets nerve cells, repairing damage once thought permanent.

Led by the University of São Paulo with hospitals and biotech companies, animal trials showed nerve regrowth and restored movement, and early human tests are very promising. If approved, this could change life for millions living with paralysis from accidents or neurological disorders.

Do you know anyone who has been helped by human in vitro fertilisation (IVF) therapy?

Robert Edwards was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize for the development of human in vitro fertilisation (IVF) therapy. His achievements made it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition afflicting a large proportion of humanity.

As early as the 1950s, Edwards had the vision that IVF could be useful as a treatment for infertility. He worked systematically to realise his goal, discovered important principles for human fertilisation, and succeeded in accomplishing fertilisation of human egg cells in test tubes (or more precisely, cell culture dishes).

His efforts were finally crowned by success on 25 July, 1978, when the world’s first “test tube baby” was born. During the following years, Edwards and his co-workers refined IVF technology and shared it with colleagues around the world.

Japan's Healing Gel