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Biotech could transform Indian economy: Nobel laureate

Nobel laureate and president of the US National Science Academy Prof Harold Varmus lamented that India had failed to take advantage of the advancements in the field of biotechnology.

Delivering a lecture in Bangalore on Tuesday, the internationally-acclaimed scientist said India could have started more firms based on biotechnology. "That could be a valuable addition to Indian economy,'' he said.

Although Indian scientists enjoyed relatively less access to world journals on the topic, the country had ample potential to tap the fast developing field of biotechnology, he said.

Recalling his recent meeting with Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, he said the prime minister told him that he wanted to ensure drinking water supply to all more than investing in biotech field.

"But the future is more important. And the advantages of the very branch of science could give pure water to the population,'' he said, holding that molecular science was going to make revolution in the coming years.

Moreover, there existed tremendous opportunities for collaborations in the field as some countries had certain more prevalent diseases to study and the laboratories were better equipped, he said.

UNI

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