International webinar on contemporary issues in biological sciences

Contemporary issues on Biological sciences

Organised By

The Department of Botany and Zoology

in collaboration with

IQAC, SUNDARBAN HAZI DESARAT COLLEGE

Sunday, 27 th September, 2020
10:30am- 03:30 pm IST

Webex meeting link: https://rbt.webex.com/rbt/j.php?MTID=m86e0a89333aa715720b9bc93f871077e
Meeting number (access code): 170 650 5844
Concept note: Biology is confronted with the need to answer fundamental questions about how life
and natural systems evolve, are governed, and respond to changing environments. The empirical
observations of a multitude of life forms, the historical facts of evolution, and the ordering of
biological knowledge into an overarching taxonomy of life—served to define the central practices of
biology until the 1950s and still in many ways affect the attitudes, training, philosophy, and values of
the biological sciences. But the modern biological sciences, rather the Integrative biology is an
essential and effective approach to resolve the complex issues facing the 21st century. Though, the
traditional biology has a tendency to break down observable life phenomenon into a list of parts and
for determining their interactions i.e. reductionism whereas modern system biology attempts to
describe complex and dynamic wiring of all elements in system and detect the emergent properties of
it i.e. holisms. This cross-disciplinary and multitaxon practice is a way of perceiving and practicing
science and of transforming science— its processes and its results—to deal with societal issues.
Engaging more deeply with these issues in present time would sharpen our ideas concerning the
philosophy of biology and its future possibilities. With great pleasure the Department of Botany and
Zoology in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell of Sundarban Hazi Desarat College
announces that this webinar is a common platform to provide opportunity to get insights from the
eminent academicians and scientists of varied interests in diverse fields of biological sciences on the
contemporary issues to understand the interdependence and complementary ways of understanding
the Biological sciences as a complex phenomenon.
Chief Guest
Dr.Debabrata Singha
President, GB
Sundarban Hazi Desarat College
Patron
Dr.Tarun Mandal
Principal,
Sundarban Hazi Desarat College
Organizing Committee
Convenors: Secretaries:
Dr.Sudipa Das Dr. Manasi Mandal
Department of Botany Department of Botany

Mr. Subhajit Saha Dr. Anisa Mitra
Department of Zoology Department of Zoology

Jt. Convener Jt. Secretary
Mr. Suvajit Mandal Mr. Motiyur Rahaman
Department of Zoology Department of Botany

The webinar was initiated by the speech of our Governing Body President Dr. Debabrata Sinha
followed by our Principal Dr. Tarun Mondal. In our first session we had three speakers.
The speakers and their lecture in brief:
Resource person: Dr. Sujay Ghosh Assistant Professor Department of Zoology University of Calcutta
discussed on the challenges and progress towards improving health for each individual with down
syndrome. Down syndrome (DS) is a birth defect with huge medical and social costs, caused by
trisomy of whole or part of chromosome 21. It is the most prevalent genetic disease worldwide and
the common genetic cause of intellectual disabilities appearing in about 1 in 400-1500 newborns.
Although the syndrome had been described thousands of years before, it was named after John
Langdon Down who described its clinical description in 1866. Scientists have identified candidate
genes that are involved in the formation of specific DS features. These advances in turn may help to
develop targeted therapy for persons with trisomy 21. Screening for DS is an important part of routine
prenatal care. Until recently, noninvasive screening for aneuploidy depends on the measurement of
maternal serum analytes and ultrasonography. More recent progress has resulted in the development
of noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) test using cell-free fetal DNA sequences isolated from a
maternal blood sample.He also discussed the situation of the children in this pandemic and how they
are coping.
Resource person: Agni Mitra Regional deputy director (Eastern region) wildlife crime
control bureau Ministry of environment Forest and climate change Govt of India discussed on
recent trends in wildlife crime. He discussed how Wildlife crime has far-reaching and
devastating consequences for society, public health and global economics. Often overlooked and
under-prosecuted, it is a sophisticated serious crime with high demand driving high prices and
violence.The profile of the wildlife criminal has changed.Now they are organized, innovative,
well connected, and run global syndicates that commission the mass slaughter and capture of
protected species in all parts of the world.  These criminals import and export endangered species
for international trade via the same routes they use to smuggle weapon, drugs and other illicit
goods.   The international characteristics of these crimes and their links with organized crime
make the role of police cooperation across borders fundamental to tackling wildlife crime.He also
discussed the mitigation policies to protect the wildlife.
Resource person: Dr. Tarun Keswani Senior Post Doctoral scientist of albert Einstein College of
Medicine New York,USA on recent advances in COVID -19 infection: immunity and vaccines. He

pointed out that the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is a rapidly transmitting and highly
pathogenic disease. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the surface of angiotensin-converting
enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptors along the upper respiratory tract and intestinal epithelial cells. SARS-
CoV-2 patients develop acute respiratory distress, lymphocytic myocarditis, disseminated
intravascular coagulation, lymphocytic infiltration, and other serious complications. A SARS-CoV-2
diagnosis is conducted using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and computed tomography (CT)
imaging. He also conversed the way to recognize and eliminate any barriers that affect rapid patient
care and public health management against the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic based on the natural history of
the disease, its transmission, pathogenesis, immune response, epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical
presentation, possible treatment, drug and vaccine development, prevention, and future perspective.

In our post lunch session, we had two speakers.
Resource person: Prof. Rajesh Tandon, Professor, Department of Botany, University of Delhi
discussed on how do flowering plants respond to pollination crisis?
Sexual reproduction is the predominant mode of perpetuation for flowering plant species. Successful
reproduction is not only the basis of stability of the species in their natural habitat but also for the
productivity of the crop plant species. Nearly 90% flowering plants use a wide range of animals and
insects for pollination. Flower visitors like bees, butterflies, etc. act as the main pollinators and both
the plants and pollinators share a mutualistic relationship. The pollinators benefits by feeding on
nectar and pollens from the flower and the plant benefits by dispersal of pollens for successful
pollination. But, in recent days, global pollination crisis has become a major concern due to decline
in pollinating insects. Habitat degradation, modern agricultural practices, introduced pests and
diseases are the major threats for such decline. Hence, to conserve biodiversity, to stop loss of
ecosystem services, and to protect crops, pollinator protection is necessary. In his talk, Prof. Tandon
vividly discussed about various flowering plant species, their pollinator and pollination modes and
their responses to pollination crisis along with beautiful photographs taken in the field. He
concluded his talk highlighting the urgent need of protecting pollinator species to conserve wild
plants in their natural habitat and to stop further loss of biodiversity.

Resource person: Prof. Abhik Gupta, Pro Vice Chancellor, Assam University Silchar, Professor and
former Dean, School of Environmental Sciences. He discussed on COVID-19 and other Zoonotic
diseases: some ecological and ethical issues.
Zoonotic diseases are those which are transmitted from animals to humans. The pandemic of
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has also been classified as a zoonotic disease.
An early animal to human transmission history of SARS-CoV-2 was found in China where bats were
identified as the probable factor. Detailed investigation also found that SARS-CoV was transmitted
from civet cats to humans. Similarly MERS-CoV transmission was found from dromedary camels to
humans. Presence of SARS-CoV-2 related viruses was also reported in Malayan pangolins. These
recent outbreak of COVID pandemic and outbreak of various other zoonotic diseases are cause of
increasing human population and various anthropogenic activities which have impacted the
environment. The talk highlighted that zoonotic pandemics are related to human activities causing
habitat destruction, deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, excessive urbanization and global
trade of wild animals. Consumption of wild meat, poaching, smuggling, capture and collection of
wild animals like pangolins, etc. are also increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases. On the other hand,
populations of these threatened animals like pangolins are also getting impacted. Protection of

habitat, sustainable use of natural resources and more effective wildlife trade legislation are
required to reduce zoonosis-based pandemics.
After each lecture the questions and interaction session were held in which participants also shared
thought. The Webinar was ended by Vote of Thanks given by Dr. Uttam Kumar Guru,IQAC
coordinator. In the webinar from all over the India and from abroad around 150 Scientists, Teachers,
Students, Academicians and Researchers participated.