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Report on three days training
program on “Introduction and Scope of Computational Biology”
Three days training
program on “Introduction and scope of Computational Biology” was
organized by and held at Bioinformatics Centre, Sikkim State Council
of Science and Technology from 3/12/2007 to 5/12/2007.The main
objective of the training program was to inculcate a scientific
temperament, introduce and create awareness on Computational Biology
amongst the scientific fraternity. Twenty five trainees were trained
in the training program. Target group included science graduates,
post graduates, research scholars, lecturers and unemployed (science
graduate and post graduate) youths. Dr. Saubashya Sur,
Bioinformatician, Siliguri college ; Dr. D. Purohit, Reader and Head
(Mathematics), Sikkim Government College, Tadong ; Dr. A. A. Ansari,
Director and Scientist In charge , Botanical Survey of India,
Gangtok and Shri Biren Chettri, State Informatics Officer, National
Informatics Centre, Tashiling were invited as guest lecturers for
the training program. After every lecture session, half an hour time
was dedicated for discussion so as to make the training more
interactive.
On 3/12/2007 the
program was inaugurated by Shri. M. L.Arrawatia, IFS, Member
Secretary, Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology. In his
introductory speech he spoke about the Bioinformatics Centre and the
facilities being provided by the centre.
Shri Arrawatia also
encouraged the students and research scholars to take up projects in
Bioinformatics and Biotechnology and assured that the centre would
provide possible help to the students. Shri D.G.Shrestha, Sr.
Scientific officer cum- Officer In charge (Bioinformatics Centre)
highlighted on the importance and scope of computational
biology.
On the first day i.e., on 3/12/2007,
Dr Saubashya Sur delivered lecture on “Bioinformatics Databases” In
his lecture Dr. Sur gave introductory lecture
Trainees attending the lecture sessions.
on what exactly is Bioinformatics and
its scope .He spoke about different types of biological databases,
their characteristics and also discussed important databases like
EMBL, NCBI, PDB, CATH ,etc Dr. Sur also said that Bioinformatics
databases would facilitate mankind to enter the dominion of
biological diversity, customized medicines, cure diseases, produce
high yielding as well as low cost crops and garner environmental
benefits. Hands on training on data search, pair wise alignment and
phylogenetic analysis using tree view was also provided to the
trainees.
On the second day i.e.,
on 4/12/2007 lecture was delivered by Dr. D. Purohit on
“Computational Biology-Models of population dynamics using recursion
relation (Ni+1=f (Ni)) ”. Dr. Purohit highlighted on computational
biology and spoke on different types of graphs with specific
reference to population dynamics using recursion model. In his
lecture he explained the concept of asymptote and also gave the
concept of statistical analysis.
In the second half,
Shri Biren Chettri spoke on the ever increasing advancement/
modernization of world today right from the invention of abacus to
the different generations of those massive computers to the latest
modern computer available today. He also spoke on the scope of
Information technology in the field of education and explained how
internet has become a time saving factor in helping the students for
their reference study work and for searching the national and
international job opportunities available in the various field
within the fleck of time.
On 5/12/2007 Dr A. A. Ansari of Botanical
Survey of India, reflected the richness in biodiversity of our
country and Sikkim in particular. He also highlighted the
significance of Bioinformatics in storing, analysis and managing the
vast amount of biological databases generated. Through the various
statistical reports of the fauna and flora found in the country and
Sikkim, Dr. Ansari highlighted the biodiversity distribution. Sikkim
though contributes only 0.2% of the total geographical area of the
country it is one of the richest biological hot spot found in the
Asian continent. He also spoke on magnificent floral diversity of
Sikkim, the different categories of plant kingdom, their
contribution in the food chain maintaining the ecological balance,
symbiosis between orchids and mycorrhiza and conservation of
endangered and threatened species through tissue culture, biosphere
reserves, national park etc. His lecture was illustrated with
photographs and statistical datas.
Dr. Bhoj Acharya,
Lecturer from Sikkim Government college, who was present as one of
the trainees was also requested to deliver a lecture in the training
program and out his many interests he spoke on conservation of
reptiles (snakes in particular) as there number has been dwindling
rapidly due to killing of snakes for skin and most of all due to the
fright of getting bitten. Dr. Bhoj said that all snakes are not
poisonous and the poisonous snakes in Sikkim include only cobra,
vipers and kraits. He also taught how to identify the poisonous
snakes and the first aid to be given to the victim bitten by
snake.
Shri M. L. Arrawatia, IFS, Member Secretary giving away the
certificates to the trainees
The certificates were
distributed to the trainees by Shri. M. L. Arrawatia, IFS, Member
Secretary, Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology and the
program formally concluded with the vote of thanks to the august
gathering by Senior Scientific officer cum- Coordinator, Shri
B.C.Basistha.
As per the feedback
obtained from the trainees, the trainees were having requested for
more number of such training programs in Bioinformatics and the
latest technologies of Biotechnology as well.
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