CSIR-NIO (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Institute of Oceanography) is set to launch a 90-day Scientific Cruise Mission to conduct genome & proteome mapping (nutrients) present inside single-cell organisms in the Indian ocean. It will be the 1st project to map genomes in Indian Ocean.
Objective
- To strengthen India’s research into commercial biotechnology applications including anticancer treatments.
- To understand the response of ocean to Climate Change & nutrient stress.
Expedition
- Around 30 scientists will be part of the expedition which will take place from Second week of March to mid-may.
- The expedition will start from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and will go up to 30°S, touch the waters between Australia & Maldives, then circle back to Goa, covering upto 9, 000 nautical miles by mid-May.
- The Scientists will go up to 6 Kilometres into the Indian ocean to collect samples.
Mission under the Expedition
- Identification & characterization of genes & proteins to understand the cellular level operations of organisms in the Indian Ocean.
- To take samples of water, sediments, planktons & various organisms in search of genomes & micro-nutrients to strengthen India’s research into commercial biotechnology applications.
- To map genetic diversity of organisms, micronutrients & trace metals in them.
- To check presence of micronutrients such as Iron, Zing, Magnesium & trace-metals such as Cadmium, Cobalt, Copper and others.
Indian Ocean’s importance to Climate Change
- Being the Third Largest Ocean (after Pacific & Atlantic Oceans) Indian Ocean plays a great role in functioning of climate & regulation of atmospheric oxygen.
- Exploration of Indian Ocean at a genetic level will result in new insights into taxonomy for optimising conservation efforts.
Recent Related News:
i.CSIR-NIO of Goa & CSIR-NGRI of Hyderabad virtually signed a MoU with V.I. Il’Ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (POI FEB RAS) in the field of Marine Sciences and Technology.
About CSIR-NIO (National Institute of Oceanography)
Director – Professor Sunil Kumar Singh
Headquarters – Dona Paula, Goa
Regional Centres – Kochi (Kerala), Mumbai (Maharashtra) & Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
