Biosnippets February 2020_Neat

Priyadharshini R, III Year, BT-B


































Gayathri B, III Year, BT-A






44

Metaphor



The Metaphor of Cancer Inspired by a Dead Leaf

The tree doesn’t rely on one single leaf which reaches senescence and is about to fall,
rather it continues to nourish other leaves to shimmer green all along….

Nourish what’s left and overcome the dead fall.




















Rakshana G, IV Year, BT-B




Compiled by
Rakshana R
Senior Editor











Click on the hyperlinks to jump into our knowledge fountains.

45



46

The Editorial Team brings you the answers to the questions we solicited from you in our Omics
Edition.


How does iPOP (Integrative Personal community. In some cases, data is manually
Omics Project) help in profiling databases? curated using traditional methods while in
recent times, machine learning approaches
Shri Varshini, II year, BT-C involving pattern recognition and text mining

In a broad sense, data profiling involves have been employed to dig through
gathering data from multiple sources for voluminous data and correlate relevant
analysis. Data is typically pre-processed to datasets.
assess quality before evaluating its actual What is the fundamental role of
content and structure to explore any Mathematics in bioinformatics?
relationships that exist within these data sets.
In this context, the integrative Personal Omics Shri Varshini, II year, BT-C
Profiling (iPOP) project helps improve the
accuracy of disease risk assessment and Mathematics is used in describing the
diagnosis by obtaining longitudinal data complexities of biological data to extract
across multiple samples at each omic level useful information from “noisy” data. It aids
using high throughput techniques. Combining in elucidating trends, patterns, connections,
and sharing such multi-omic data across and relationships in a quantitative manner that
overlapping, yet diverse fields, facilitates can lead to important discoveries in biology.
better data interpretation and highlights the Will multi-omics approach to diseases
importance of data integration in carrying out revolutionize treatment and diagnostics? If
predictive analytics and decision making. yes, what is the current stage of

What are the important bioinformatics development and how long will it take for
tools used towards data integration? these approaches to reach every nook and
corner of the world?
Shri Varshini, II year, BT-C
Suhail Madhar Hanif, III year, BT-C
Heterogeneity in data obtained from multiple
sources is one of the biggest challenges in data The availability of multi-omic data has already
integration. Software engineers and been proven to a powerful strategy to decipher
computational scientists work diligently as the mechanistic details of the information flow
database and tool developers to fetch data within a cell. There are a few publicly
from different sources, combine, manipulate available databases such as International
and re-analyse them to create new datasets Cancer Genomic Consortium (ICGC). The
before sharing these with the scientific Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) that were

47

created with the aim of merging and mechanisms that affect how a genome is read
interpreting the profiles of DNA, RNA, thus influencing the transcriptions and
protein, and epigenetic changes that occur in function of genes without affecting the
tumour samples. This information is presented nucleotide sequence itself.
along with the corresponding clinical and
histological data. Both these databases have Has epigenetic therapy shown potential in
been used in deriving landmark observations cancer treatment?
in cancer biology. For instance, using TCGA Roshini P, III year, BT-B
data, studies have identified distinct molecular
subtypes of breast cancer and produced a There has been growing emphasis on using
comprehensive catalogue of genetic and epigenetic therapies to reprogram cells toward
epigenetic drivers of breast cancer subtypes. a normal state. Many agents targeting
Such information is already being leveraged in epigenetic regulation are under development
the field of precision medicines. and entering clinical trials. For example, DNA

demethylating drugs are modified forms of
How do all cells have the same genome but cytidine and work by incorporating into
different functions?
replicating DNA and covalently binding to the
Roshini P, III year, BT-B catalytic sites of all three biologically active
DNMTs. This class of drugs are called DNA
Although every cell in an organism typically methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors and
has the exact same genome, DNA is altered they irreversibly inhibit the enzymatic
and modified in different ways in different activities of DNMTs. Research has shown the
cells. These modifications cause genes in potential of low dose DNMTs in reducing
those cells to be regulated differently. DNA tumourigenic properties of solid tumour cells.
methylation, for instance, can cause a gene to For detailed information about these studies, I
be transcriptionally silenced and these recommend reading this cool review on
methylation patterns vary from cell to cell. epigenetic therapies – Ahuja, Nita, Anup R.
Cells will not express methylated genes Sharma, and Stephen B. Baylin. “Epigenetic
despite its presence, thereby altering its therapeutics: a new weapon in the war against
functions. There are many such epigenetic cancer.” Annual review of medicine 67 (2016):
73-89.

The questions were answered by
Ms. Preethi Thunga
PhD Student in Bioinformatics
Department of Biological Sciences
North Carolina State University.

48

QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE FOR THE CANCER BIOLOGY EDITION



1. With varying conditions or microenvironment, cancer cells seem to undergo clonal
evolution and produce a heterogeneous population, what attributes to this survival
capability?
Yogesh M, IV year, BT-B

2. Can cancer be caused by anything other than physical, chemical, environmental and
lifestyle related factors? To be specific, Can cancer be caused by psychological factors?
Shantanu M, IV year, BT-B

3. Cancer victims are usually diagnosed during the 3rd or the 4th stage. Are the symptoms
not prominent during the early stages?
Venkatahari Govindhan A, I year, BT-C

4. Cancer is caused by gene mutations. But in most of the cancer cases only specific types of
genes that code for proteins that are involved in significant signaling pathways get mutated
often than other genes. How can that be explained?
Vishnu M, I year, BT-C


Compiled by
Versha R
Senior Editor
&
Shampavi B
Associate Editor
















49



And there boomed 21st century with an increasing number of cancer

survivors among humanity. Only now did we have enough detail to design
drugs that actually worked! The century witnessed several milestones in
cancer treatment – tamoxifen to treat breast cancer and Imatinib Mesylate

for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal

tumors (GIST) to name a few.

Besides, we have high-throughput tools to generate data that give us a real

peak into the intricate processes that lure the cell towards malignancy. The
Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project has been a forerunner in tapping
the full potential of technology. This has been helping us understand the

bigger picture and effectively encounter the new bad guy – drug-
resistance. But a lot of pieces are still missing in this jig-saw puzzle and

putting them together may help us win the war in the years to come!!

50

Students Participation in Workshops

Year&
Name of the participant(s) Event Institution Date(s)
Section

th
Pavithra J II-B BACC 20 SRM Institute 20 Feb
Nandhini Ishwarya S workshop of Science &
Animal cell Technology
Priyadharshini R III-B culture

nd
Abhinav S III-B Workshop on SRM Institute 22 Feb
Raghu R Design of of Science &
Preethi M Experiments Technology
Sanjay R
Shriram Sharma V
Sindhuja M
Sivasankari S
Subhangi G
Suhail Madhar Hanif S
Swetha R
Thanushri P
Thilak PG




Students Participation in Conferences

Name of the Year& Institution Presentation Date(s) Prize won
participant(s) Section

th
Sugitha M II-C National Review on 15 Feb Participation
Suvetha V Conference on recent
Vidhyaa G Trends in green advancements
biotechnology, in Green
SASTRA synthesis of
University, copper
Thanjavur nanoparticles

Harikumar P III-A Uranium Participation
sequestration
using

51

Radiotolerant
bacteria

Removal of
Kiruthika A R III-A toxic pollutants First prize
Jeyasri S from two-
Gayathri B wheeler
vehicles using
surface
modified
agricultural
waste biomass:
Packed bed
adsorption
study
th
PriyaVadhana P IV-B International The study on 17 Feb Second prize
Purnima N conference on toxic effects of
Rashminiza A Emerging pharmaceutic-
Sneha S trends in al drugs –
Microbiology clofibrate and

and phenol using
Biotechnology, Pangasius sp.
Apollo Arts Fish model and
and Science its
college, bioremediation
Chennai
th
Harikumar P III-A International Potential of 20 Feb Participation
Akshaya R S Conference soil microbe
Kanagavarshini B ICTAMDMES' derived
20, Biopesticide
St. Joseph with orange
college of peel extract for
Engineering, crop
Chennai improvement








52

Department level Innovative Project Cell (IPC) – iQUEST 2020

Name of the Year& Position
participant(s) Section Title of the Project Name of the Guide secured

Krishnapriya K II year Preparation & Dr.T.Anitha First
M.Tech characterisation of
Biodegradable food
package material
using Artocarpus
heterophyllus rags
and chitosan
Bhuvaneswari V III-A Organic kit for the Dr.A.Saravanan Second
Ilakkiya D urban rooftop farm-
Agalya A sustainable solution
Krithika D

Abhinav S III - B Production of Dr.S.Thiruvengadam Third
Smirithi S Polyhydroxy
Vishvaganesh S butyrate(PHB) by
Alcaligenes species
using Watermelon
rind for food
packaging
Harshini V R III-A Almendra Dr.JohannaRajkumar Consolation



Department level Core Skill Development contest 2020

Name of the Year& Title of the Name of the Position
participant(s) Section Project Guide secured

Anantha Narayanan V III-A Pharmacokinetics Mr.S.Arunkumar First
Arunkumar N of anti-cancer
drug

Jeevanantham S IV-A Removal of toxic Dr.A.Saravanan Second
pollutants from
two wheeler
Kiruthika A R III-A vehicles using
Jeyasri S surface modified
Gayathri B agricultural waste
biomass

53

ANNA UNIVERSITY EVEN SEMESTER RESULTS

(Consolidated results of the top 3 positions in each class)

Batch 2016-20 Semester 7, Final year Section A

NAME POSITION GPA

Anitha R I 9.28
Deivayanai V C II 9.20
Deepak Kumar S III 9.15



Batch 2016-20 Semester 7, Final year Section B

NAME POSITION GPA

Vihaasriee M G I 9.72
Shobana S II 9.5
Varshiny G III 9.43
Suganya P R III 9.43


EVEN SEMESTER RESULTS (AUTONOMOUS)
(Consolidated results of the top 3 positions in each class)


Batch 2019-21 Semester 1, M.Tech
NAME POSITION GPA


Monica M I 9.67
Nishka Bhalla II 9.50
Nethra V III 9.46


Batch 2017-21 Semester 5, Third year Section A

NAME POSITION GPA

Bhuvaneswari V I 9.88

Shreshta J II 9.75
Kavinila T III 9.46
Lakshmi Priya V III 9.46



54

Batch 2017-21 Semester 5, Third year Section B

NAME POSITION GPA

Smirithi S I 9.63
Swetha R I 9.63
Poojitha N II 9.46
Roshini P II 9.46
Neeraja Rajaraman III 9.33




Batch 2018-22 Semester 3, Second year Section A

NAME POSITION GPA

Jeevikaa V I 9.72
Harshini V II 9.64
Keerthana E III 9.48



Batch 2018-22 Semester 3, Second year Section B


NAME POSITION GPA

Rajalakshmi S I 9.78
Neena Bharathi V II 9.64
Saikrishna III 9.24



Batch 2018-22 Semester 3, Second year Section C

NAME POSITION GPA

Sushanth Ragavendra P S I 9.6
Sowmia Narayan Sridhar II 9.56
Trisha G III 9.48






55

Paper Publication by Faculty

➢ Dr.A.Saravanan published a paper titled ‘Rhizoremediation of Cu(II) ions from
contaminated soil using plant growth promoting bacteria: an outlook on pyrolysis
conditions on plant residues for methylene orange dye biosorption’ in Scopus &
SCI indexed journal "Bioengineered" [Vol: 11 (2020) pp. 175-187] (Impact factor:
1.544) Publisher: Taylor & Francis.
➢ Dr.A.Saravanan published a paper titled ‘Synthesis and characterization of
ultrasonic-assisted Delonixregia seeds: modelling and application in dye
adsorption’ inJournal of Desalination and Water Treatment [Vol: 173 (2020) pp.
427-441] (Impact factor: 1.234) Publisher: Desalination.



innoWAH 2019 (IIT PALS)


Krishna Priya K, Mohan Kumar B S of M.Tech and Suhail Madhar Hanif S of B.Tech
mentored by Dr.T.Anitha won special prize in the final round of innoWAH 2019 organised
by IIT-PALS for their project titled ‘Preparation, Optimisation, and Characterisation of
Biodegradable Food Packaging Material using Artocarpus heterophyllus rags and
Chitosan.’



BT Society Core Team 2020
th
The induction ceremony BT society core team for the year 2020 was held on the 18 of
February 2020. The team is as follows:

Chief Coordinator : Sabari Sanghami P
Secretary : Keerthana M S
Human Resource : Pooja S
Public Relations Officer : Karthik T
Design Director : Dhipesh V
Creative Heads : Dhivya Bharathi V
Smirithi S
Suhail Madhar Hanif S
System Analyst : Festus Sachin Kumar C J

Guest Lectures Arranged

❖ The BT society of the Department of Biotechnology organised a guest lecture on
th
18 February on the topic ‘Recent trends in Biotechnology’ delivered by
Mr.Gopalakrishnan Chakrapani, Business research and consultant, GIRACT –
Switzerland. He shared his remarkable experience in Market Research, Analysis
56

and Business Consulting in the field of Food &Pharma among the students.
It was an interesting and engaging session in which various entrepreneurial ideas
were discussed.
th
❖ A guest lecture in the field of Cancer Biology on 28 February by Dr.Saravanan
Palani, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology,
University of Warwick, UK. He lectured on the topic ‘Cell division to Cancer:
Understanding How Cells Divide and Proliferate.’He explained the mechanism
briefly to the curious young minds with an example of the proliferation of yeast
cell model. It was an interactive session and students had their queries about the
mechanism of cell division answered.



Introducing our Academic Heads

Academic heads were allotted for the students of second, third and final year by the
Department of Biotechnology to render the students maximum support to make the
department the best of all in achieving academic excellence, placements, clearing
competitive exams, getting admissions to reputed universities abroad and graduating with
a quality education. Our HOD, Dr.R.Jayasree congratulated the faculty and stated they will
join hands with her to make our department 'The Best'.

❖ Dr.K.Sathya for II year
❖ Dr.T.A.Selvakumar for III year
❖ Dr.Millicent Mabel for IV year



World Cancer Day

th
4 February, the World Cancer Day witnessed the Department of Biotechnology reaching
out to the future engineers and faculty at REC on a warm sunny afternoon to create social
consciousness about cancer, its impact and economic burden on the society. The students
prepared creative placards to convey facts in the easiest sense and made sure that the threats
and ill effects of cancer were explained to the point.



Food Fest 2020

th
On the 8 of February, the Department of Biotechnology organised FOOD FEST 2020 to
create awareness about the medicinal and nutritional aspects of food. They conducted an
innovative food challenge event for the third year students for the same.


57

Team Position
Team #1:
Lakshmi Narayanan V
Arun Kumar N First
Harikumar P
Anantha Narayanan V
Karthick M V
Karthik T
Team #2:
Swetha R
Suhail Madhar Hanif S
Vishvaganesh S
Smirithi S
Sneha S Second
Team #3:
Dhipesh V
Ilakkiya D
Bhuvaneswari V
Madhumidha S
Darshini S
Team #4:
Subhashini
Nethra
Irine Hepzibah Briny
Saravanan Third

Team #5:
Mohan Kumar B S
Nivedha K
Monica M
Nivya Devi
Taj Sabreen
Yogeswari


Compiled by
Soundira Raja K
Associate Editor
&
Priyadharshini R
Senior Editor
58

59

REC winning special prize at the innoWAH competition organized by
IIT-PALS



























rd
3 year students and faculty at the ‘World Cancer Day’ awareness program

60

At the BT society induction ceremony







61

Food fest, the festival of blossoming nutritionists























Innovate and inspire!!























Celebrating the best of the best
62

Three cheers to healthy living!!!



Compiled by
Soundira Raja K
Associate Editor
&
Priyadharshini R

Senior Editor













63

The Biosnippets Team







Faculty Coordinators
Dr R. Jayasree, Professor & Head
Mr S. Arunkumar, Assistant Professor

Editors in Chief
Ms M. Harita, Final year-A
Ms L. Sagaya Kriti, Final year-B

Senior Editors
Ms R. Anbarasi, Final year-A
Ms R. Priyadarshini, Final year-B
Ms R. Rakshana, Final year-B
Ms J. K. Vaishnavi, Final year-B
Ms R. Versha, Final year-B

Associate Editors
Ms Rithika Suresh, Third year-B
Ms B. Shampavi, Third year-B
Mr K. Soundira Raja, Third year-B

Design Director
Ms S. Sneha, Final year-B

Design Editors
Ms B. Durga Devi, Third year-A
Mr J. Mano, Third year-B

You loved this edition? Great, write to us about what intrigued you the most... You
think we could have done better? Pen your email right away telling us what you like
and what we can improve on... Send in your bouquets and brickbats at
[email protected]

Rajalakshmi Engineering College Administrative Office:
Rajalakshmi Nagar, # 69 New Avadi Road,
Thandalam Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.
Chennai – 602 105. Phone : +91-44-26442472 / 26461316
Phone: +91 44-3718 1111, 3718 1112 /26460124
E-mail: [email protected] Fax : +91-44-26445151
Website : www.rajalakshmi.org e-mail : [email protected]