WALK- IN –INTERVIEWS

Eligible candidates may appear in Walk-in-Interview on May 23, 2014 at 10 AM for the posts of Research Associates & Senior Research Fellows (SRF) in the following DST/DBT/ICAR funded projects.

1 NPTC Project on Bioinformatics and Comparative Genomics

Research Associate (One)

Rs. 24000/- + 30% HRA for masters degree holder with more than 4 years experience

Essential: Ph D in Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology/Genetics 0r Candidates who have already submitted their Ph D thesis in above subjects

Desirable: Research experience in Genomics, Molecular biology, Microarrays analysis, Gene cloning, transgenic Techniques , and computational analysis.

Senior Research Fellow ( UGCCSIR/ DBT/ ICAR Net qualified only): (One)

Rs. 16000/- + 30% HRA and Rs. 18000+30 HRA from 3rd year onwards

Essential:

1. ICAR/ UGCCSIR/DBT Net qualified only

2. M. Sc. (with thesis) in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Biosciences/ Bioinformatics, Genetics/ Plant Pathology with experience in molecular biology.

Or M.Sc with more than 3 years research experiences

3. B.Sc. Agriculture or Biology

Desirable:
1. M. Sc. with thesis
2. Experience in molecular biology, plant tissue culture
3. Bioinformatics knowledge is important

2 DST JC Bose National Fellowship

Research Associate (Bioinformatics) : One

Rs.22000/- + 30% HRA for 1 & 2nd Yr., Rs. 23000+ 30% HRA for 3rd year and Rs. 24000+30% HRA for 4th &5th yr

Essential: M Ph D in Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology/Genetics

Desirable: Research experience in Genomics, Molecular biology, Microarrays analysis, Gene cloning, transgenic Techniques , and computational analysis.

Age limit: Max.35 years (Age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST & women and 3 years for OBC)

The posts are purely temporary in nature and are co-terminus with the project. Initially the offer will be made for one year only and may be further extendable based on performance of the candidate. The interview will be held on May 23 , 2014 at 10:00 AM at NRCPB, LBS Building, Pusa Campus, IARI, New Delhi- 110012. The candidates must bring four copies of biodata (in the prescribed proforma), original certificates, attested photocopies of each of the certificates and an attested copy of recent passport size photograph. No. TA/DA would be given for the appearance in interview. Only the candidates having essential qualification would be entertained for the interviews. Short-listing of candidates based on academic merit and experience will be done in case of large number of applicants.

Advertisement: http://www.nrcpb.org/sites/default/files/Advertisement%20for%20RA%20and%20SRF%20Position.pdf

USAGE:

• -query: sequence A in fasta format
• -db: sequence B in fasta format
• -out: output matrix
• -kmer Integer: k>1 (default 32) Use 32 for chromosomes and genomes and 16 for small bacteria
• -diffuse Integer: z>0 (default 4) Use 4 for everything - if using large plant genomes you can try using 1
• -dimension Size of the output matrix and plot. Integer: d>0 (default 1000) Use 1000 for everything that is not full genome size, where 2000 is recommended

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/estebanpw/chromeister

C. Titus Brown http://video.open-bio.org/video/1/a-history-of-bioinformatics-in-the-year-2039

Address of the bookmark: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj6987

The Indian scientists working in Bangalore, along with their American counterparts, have mapped more than 17,000 proteins in 30 organs of the human body. Just like the human genome was sequenced around the turn of the millennium, this is an equivalent mapping of the human proteome.

The researcher estimated there are around 20,500 proteins in the human body. These scientists have profiled around 17,294, which account for around 84% of the total proteins. Apart from this, the team also traced around 2,500 of 3,000 proteins that had been categorised as "missing proteins".

The work, done by group of Indian scientists, and Johns Hopkins University, published in the renowned journal Nature ( http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7502/full/nature13302.html ). Of the 72 people who worked on the project, 46 are Indians.

Reference:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v509/n7502/full/nature13302.html

http://www.proteinatlas.org/ -The antibody-based Human Protein Atlas programme

http://www.humanproteomemap.org/ -Proteogenomic analysis by identifying translated proteins from annotated pseudogenes, non-coding RNAs and untranslated regions.

https://www.proteomicsdb.org/ -Assembled protein evidence for 18,097 genes in ProteomicsDB

Address of the bookmark: https://github.com/GMOD/jb2profile

What Are Chromosome Rearrangements?

Chromosome rearrangements are structural changes that alter the normal configuration of chromosomes. These changes can involve large segments of DNA — from thousands to millions of base pairs — and can occur spontaneously, be inherited, or result from exposure to mutagens (like radiation or chemicals).

Common Types of Rearrangements:

1. Deletions – Loss of a chromosome segment

2. Duplications – Repetition of a segment

3. Inversions – A segment breaks off, flips, and reattaches

4. Translocations – Segments exchange places between non-homologous chromosomes

5. Insertions – A segment is inserted into another part of the genome

These changes can disrupt genes directly or affect gene regulation, leading to disease.

How Do Chromosome Rearrangements Cause Disease?

The impact of a rearrangement depends on which genes are involved, how much DNA is affected, and when the rearrangement occurs (in development vs. adulthood). Here are some key mechanisms:

• Gene disruption: Breaking a gene can lead to loss of function or the creation of a non-functional protein.

• Gene fusion: Joining parts of two genes may form a novel hybrid gene with new functions (common in cancer).

• Dosage effects: Extra or missing gene copies can disturb the balance of gene expression.

• Position effects: Moving a gene to a new regulatory environment may silence or over-activate it.

Chromosome Rearrangements in Human Disease

1. Developmental Disorders

• Cri-du-chat syndrome: Caused by a deletion on chromosome 5p. Affected infants often have a high-pitched cry and intellectual disability.

• Williams syndrome: Results from a microdeletion on chromosome 7q, affecting genes related to cardiovascular and cognitive function.

2. Cancer

Cancer is perhaps the most striking example of disease caused by chromosome rearrangements.

• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML): Caused by a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22, forming the Philadelphia chromosome. This creates the BCR-ABL fusion gene, which drives uncontrolled cell growth.

• Burkitt lymphoma: Involves translocation of the MYC gene, leading to excessive cell division.

• Ewing sarcoma: A fusion of EWSR1 and FLI1 genes through translocation promotes tumor development.

3. Infertility and Miscarriages

Balanced rearrangements (like inversions or translocations) in carriers may not cause disease directly but can result in:

• Recurrent miscarriages

• Infertility

• Birth defects in offspring

Detecting Rearrangements

Thanks to modern genomics, chromosome rearrangements can now be detected with high precision using:

• Karyotyping – Classic method for detecting large rearrangements

• FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) – Uses fluorescent probes to target specific DNA sequences

• Array CGH (Comparative Genomic Hybridization) – Detects copy number changes across the genome

• Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) – Identifies even small or complex rearrangements at base-pair resolution

Looking Forward: The Future of Chromosome Medicine

Understanding chromosome rearrangements is now central to:

• Personalized medicine

• Genetic counseling

• Targeted therapies, especially in cancer (e.g., tyrosine kinase inhibitors for BCR-ABL fusion)

With the rise of long-read sequencing and single-cell genomics, even previously “invisible” rearrangements are being uncovered, offering new insights into both rare diseases and common conditions.

Final Thoughts

Chromosome rearrangements remind us that genetics isn't just about which genes we have — but where they are, how they're arranged, and when they're active. As our tools grow sharper, so does our ability to diagnose, understand, and treat diseases rooted in genomic architecture.

In a way, the genome is like a book not just defined by its words, but also by how the chapters are ordered. Rearranging them can create a new story — sometimes harmful, sometimes insightful — and understanding these changes is key to writing a healthier future.

To address the challenges of describing and estimating virodiversity, a team of investigators from Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) and EcoHealth Alliance began in jungles of Bangladesh - home to the flying fox.

Reference:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/mammals-harbour-at-least-320000-new-viruses/articleshow/22253268.cms

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23932400

No.NITW/BT/2014/adhoc

APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ADHOC FACULTY ON CONTRACT BASIS IN THE DEAPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

Period of Contract: Initially the appointment is for one semester i.e., from July 2014 up to December 2014 only.

Essential Qualifications:

i) B. Tech or equivalent in Biotechnology/ Industrial Biotechnology/ Biochemical Engineering / Chemical Engg. Or M. Sc in Microbiology/ Botany/ Zoology/ Biochemistry/Biotechnology and ii) M. Tech or equivalent in Biotechnology/Industrial Biotechnology/Bioinformatics

Or

Integrated M. Tech in Biotechnology/Industrial Biotechnology/ Bioinformatics

Candidates must possess First class (60% aggregate marks or 6.5 CGPA) at B. Tech/ M. Sc and M. Tech.

Desirable: Ph. D Pay Package: All selected candidates shall be eligible for a consolidated pay of Rs.30, 000/- per month. Candidates with Ph. D shall be eligible for an additional amount of Rs.5, 000/- per month.

How to apply : Applications on plain paper with attested photocopies of certificate and bio data along with justification for eligibility should reach to the Head, Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Warangal AP 506004 in the form of soft or hard copy on or before 21st June 2014 email : biotech_hod@nitw.ac.in

Intimation: No separate call letters will be sent to the candidates. All the eligible candidates will be notified in the institute web site on 23rd June 2014. All the eligible candidates are requested to report for the interview to the Head, Department of Biotechnology at 9:00 AM on 27th June 2014

Joining: Selected candidates will be informed and they are expected to join immediately.

Advertisement:

http://www.nitw.ac.in/nitw/announcements/2014/Bio-Adhoc%20Advt.%20May-2014.pdf