Ahmedabad: Gujarat government has established
Gujarat Bio-diversity Gene Bank (GBGB) for conservation of microbial resources which are significant for preserving diversified eco-systems.
GBGB, is a repository with close to 200 microbial
genomes, related to forest, mining and sub-sea habitats, that
are considered significant for conservation of various
eco-systems which are under threat of genetic wipe out due to
rapid development pressures on land and sea resources.
"Gujarat has widest area in terms of bio-diversity and
its eco-systems are subject of study globally, so there is an
utmost need to preserve them," Principal Secretary Department
of Science and Technology (DoST) Ravi Saxena told.
"Under GBGB we have started 'Bank a Bug' project where
the stakeholders can deposit their microbial resources at the
facility, and can be stored safely," he added.
The bank operating under Gujarat State Bio-technology
Mission (GSBTM), has received over 100 microbial genomes from
stakeholders comprising academicians, researches and industry,
out of which 55 are significant to mining sector where they
facilitate natural ore development from earth, Saxena said.
"There is a lot of demand for this kind of public
facility, which entails creation of microbial pool essential
for conservation of eco-systems," he said.
"GBGB facility is operational at the bio-technology
divison of Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS), that largely
stores microbial genomes at sub zero degree celcius, besides
using in-vitro and natural field conditions for storage,"
Saxena said.
"This facility is like a ready library reference of the
microbial resources in Gujarat to stakeholders," he said.
The stakeholders can deposit microbial resources at this
bank at a nominal one time fee of Rs 500, without putting them
in public domain, Saxena said.
According to DoST, Gujarat has around 1,315 species of
medicinal plants belonging to 149 families and 696 genera out
of which 299 are cultivated species and 1,016 species are
occurring in wild.
"Forest department is offering facility for genetic
conservation of forest wealth through it Van Chetna wing,"
Saxena said.
Amongst long term objectives of GBGB is to undertake and
promote long-term conservation of plant genetic resources,
facilitate regeneration programmes, developing database and
information network on forest genetic resources.
An investment of Rs seven crore has been proposed by DoST
for purchase of equipment under this project, which is being
developed on the lines of bio-diversity gene bank opened in
New Delhi, a few years ago.
PTI
First Published: Monday, March 08, 2010, 16:39