We believe that behind every invention and discovery there is always a curious mind working. This section of BioNE, is dedicated to all those young curious minds who have been thinking and working on unexplored possibilities in the horizon of biological sciences. Today’s learning process is no longer confined in books, rather it is based on questioning beyond the existing knowledge and searching for relevant answers. Here, we are inviting all those curious minds to put up questions and bring up a joint platform to share their ideas. Please mail your questions to bione@vetbifguwahati.ernet.in
Q1. Why evolution increases the survival of organism? – Madhusmita Deka
Answer: Darwin in his famous quote has mentioned “survival of the fittest”. We all organisms undergo a constant process of evolution with a constant selection pressure. The core of evolution is based on mutation which results into changes in the phenotype. Whenever a change is supportive to the process of survival of the organism, it gets carried onto the offspring leading to a lineage. This is how evolution helps in survival of an organism.
Q2. What are the problems we could face by using genetic engineering techniques? – Eshan Laskar
Answer: Genetic engineering tools empower a researcher to manipulate the gene or genome of an organism and to re-insert the modified gene or genome into the same host or a different host. These tools are very efficient and often come with well-calibrated protocols. What we should be concerned about is regarding the release of these organisms into the environment. Very stringent and specific biosafety guidelines are necessary to be followed while undertaking such works to ensure safety to the end-users and the environment. The products of such research essentially undergo a series of very stringent trials before being released for general use. As such, it is always ensured that the end-users need not have to face any problem while using such products.
Q3. Why stem cell preservation is so costly? – Akshit Goswami
Answer: Presently, the process available for stem cell isolation and preservation is a costly one. Often the stem cell preservation process necessitates essential additional expensive processes such as their isolation and characterization. Moreover, stem cells are cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen which requires precise protocols, followed by constant monitoring. Unfortunately, the technique requires sophisticated and expensive equipment and personal expertise.
