Indian Journal of Biology

  The interactions of DNA with synthetic molecules is being widely studied to empower scientists with better tools for human survival and for the betterment of the quality of life. Cyclobisintercaland molecule or macrocycles are cyclic compound which are designed to non­covalently interact with the single stranded DNA. These kind of interactions open up a wide arena of therapeutics which could involve drugs and treatments based on non­covalent binding. This paper intends to outline the study conducted so far on cyclobisintercaland molecules engineered and their biological applications. 

Keywords: Cyclobisintercalands; Macrocycles; Noncovalent Interactions; Single Stranded DNA; Supramolecular Chemistry.

  The unpredictable nature of monsoon affects directly the Indian economy. Earlier El Nino phenomena was thought to be affecting only the west coast of South America but now it is linked to Indian monsoon. El Nino refers to all the conditions associated with warmer than normal water in the Tropical Pacific region. The La­Nina is just opposite to El Nino. La Nina favors monsoon in India but El Nino does not. The accurate prediction of the El­Nino effect will certainly help the planners for making correct food policies in future.

Keywords: El­Nino; La­Nina.

  Ornithology is a Greek word: ornitha means chicken and logos mean a science. It is a branch of Zoology or Biology concerned with the scientific study of birds, creatures belonging to class Aves. (1) Aristotle was perhaps the first person who wrote on ornithology and mentions more than 170 birds. (2) Carolus Linnaeus (1758) was the pioneer in developing a classification system for birds and animals. His scientific classification system, with some modification is still being used. Dr Salim Ali (1896 ­ 1987) was India’s most well­known Ornithologist and bird watcher. He is known as the “Birdman of India”. (3) India is one of the best places in the world to see the birds. The extant and recently extinct species recorded within the political limits of the Republic of India as defined by the Indian government are known to have around 1266 species as of 2016.(4) I have taken the pictures of native Birds around Mula River Right Bank Canal in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra (India). While doing these photographs I tried to study the 
scientific knowledge regarding them. One alarming signal came in my mind that these birds are not cared by anybody, they are totally ignored, there population and species may be in downhill. There are so many species of bird in same area, few of them I have mentioned in the study.

Keywords: Birds; Data; Mula River Right Bank; Population.

  Aim of the present piece of work was to have a comparative analysis of the food composition and feeding habits among three Indian fresh water teleosts. The gut content of three fishes has been analyzed and are broadly classified into 8 categories i.e. crustacea, rotifer, insects, Chlorophyceae, baccillariophyceae, Myxophyceae, plant matters and decaying organic matters. It was also seen that there were considerable variations in the percentage of different food items in the gut of above fishes during different months of the year. The different food items are variable increases during the different seasons of a year among the three fresh water teleosts.

Keywords: Preponderance Index (I); Clarias Batrachus; Channa Punctatus; Anabas Testudineus.

  The present investigations attempted to study the effects of different colour of light on seed germination, hypocotyl growth, mobilization efficiency (ME), vigor index (VI), biomass production and content of photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, Chl b and Carotenoids) in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. Sugandha 5, an important staple food crop of the world. Germination rate was found maximum in red light (98%), followed by blue (94%) and natural light (93%) at 84 hours while, almost no germination was shown in green light even after 96 hours. Yellow light caused significant reduction in % germination (85). The seedlings obtained under different lights revealed variation in biomass production (fresh weight of root and shoot). Root and shoot growth were observed highest in red light and the order of biomass production was red > natural > yellow > blue > green. ME and VI of rice seedlings recorded maximum (128.22 and 43.26 respectively) in red and minimum in yellow light (116.09 and 1.20 respectively). Both, ME and VI could not be estimated under green light due to absence of well­marked hypocotyl. The contents of photosynthetic pigments in seedlings indicate synthesis of photosynthetic pigments highly dependent on light quality. Chlorophyll b and carotenoids were recorded highest in natural light whereas total chlorophyll and chlorophyll a were highest in red light in comparison to other light treatments. These findings indicate possibility for exploring light quality for manipulation of germination and seedling health of crop plants in general and O. sativa in particular.

Keywords: Germination; Light Wavelengths; Oryza Sativa; Photosynthetic Pigments; Rice; Seedling
Vigour.

  Haematology is useful in understanding the physiological features of lizards. The study was held to investigate the haemo profile of leschenault’s leaf toad gecko in Odisha. The haematological parameters like Haemoglobin Concentration (HB), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Total Leucocyte Count (TLC), Total Platelet Count (TPC) and Differential Leucocyte Count (DLC) were calculated using standard procedures. Statistical analysis like correlation and t­test were done. The study revealed that the TEC and percentage of lymphocytes show significant difference (p<0.05) between both sexes of lizard. The mean values of all other parameters are also showing difference between male and female of Hemidactylus leschenaultii Dumeril and Bibron 1836. The correlation coefficient varies in male and female with respect to the parameters analysed. Some parameters were positively correlated with each other and others were found to be negatively correlated. The data obtained could be a useful indicator for monitoring and managing the general health status of the species.

Keywords: Haematological Parameters; Hemidactylus Leschenaultii; Correlation; Significant Difference.

The present study concerned with three Mystus species, Mystusvittatus, Mystusgulio, Mystuscavasius. Mystus species are small indigenous fresh water fishes with high nutritional value. Morphology of fishes has been the primary source of information for taxonomic and evolutionary studies. In the present study total 16 morphometric external characters were analysed and the correlation of body parts with total length and head length were analysed. The differences in morphometric characters is due to geographical and environmental variations are also observed. The mean value of the meristic counts are also studied in three species.

Keywords: Mystusvittatus; Mystusgulio; Mystuscavasius; Morphometric Characters; Meristic Counts.

  Thyroxine is important for both collagen synthesis and matrix metabolism (Yen, 2001, Oliva et al.,2013). The thyroid hormones T4 and T3 are formed in a large prohormone molecule, thyroglobulin, the major component of the thyroid and more precisely of the colloid. Thyroid dysfunction may perturb the liver function and vice versa (N. Kumar, 2013). T3 stimulates synthesis and post­translational modification of type I collagen (Varga, et al., 2010), induces expression of alkaline phosphatase (Gouveia, et al., 2006) and regulates synthesis and secretion of the bone matrix proteins i. e. osteopoetin and osteocalcin (Gouveia et al., 2001, Varga et al., 2010). Recent study demonstrated the changes in liver collagen in Duttaphrynus melanostictus by daily administration of thyroid hormones (both T4& T3) at the dose of 0.5 µg/gm, for 7 days by the method of Newman & Logan (1950) as modified by Leach (1960). The salt soluble, acid soluble, insoluble, total collagen, % of salt solubility, % of acid solubility, salt soluble/ insoluble ratio, acid soluble/insoluble ratio of collagen were statistically found out at 0.05 P confidence level 

Keywords: Thyroid Hormone (T4& T3); Collagen; Duttaphrynus Melanostictus.

 The world is full of cultural heritage of all kinds. A large number of monuments, artefacts and manuscripts spread all over the world are finest example of rich cultural heritage and a symbol of men’s cultural identity and continuity. Cultural heritage is unique and irreplaceable, which places the responsibility of preservation on the present generation. The different types of deterioration of heritage collection are reflected in wear and tear, shrinkage, cracks, brittleness, warping, bio­infestation, discoloration, abrasion, holes, dust, and dirt accumulation etc. The ravages of time, and extreme climatic conditions such as changes in temperature, humidity, intensity of light or even ignorance and most important biological agents, often destroyed priceless cultural property and records. It is therefore imperative that measures be taken at the earliest and in time to save and preserve these culture and heritage for posterity. The research work undertaken for an understanding of morphological and physiological characteristics of biological agents, required to identify accurately the biological species that have established themselves on the surface or within the material. With the exact characterization of the organisms, it is also necessary to assess the cause­effect of biodeterioration action of a specific identified biological agent. The identification of the microorganisms on the materials and further understanding of their involvement and causes in biodeterioration of art objects and manuscripts have to be evaluated to find possible measure to prevent and successfully solve the associated problems and restore our Cultural Heritage. Traditional Indigenous methods for conserving cultural method is seem beneficial as it did not have any side effect on the materials and also the cheap and best way in this fields. During the experiments it is observed that traditional way gives wonderful results in increase resistance development and prevent the growth of microorganisms on the surface.

Keywords: Traditional; Indigenous; Cultural Heritage.

igna radiata (mogumah) and Vigna mungo (matimah) seeds loose vigour due to high temperature, if the moisture content of the seed is high as it is in state of Assam. Therefore, vigor loss due to heat and moisture is a common phenomenon in the region. Germination and vigour index of seed treated with NaBH4 and APS were found to be higher (38­60%) than that of the seeds without chemical treatment. APS (1mM) was optimum for the germination of black gram as well as green gram. In case of NaBH4, 8mM was optimum for the germination of black gram and 1mM was optimum for the germination of green gram. We believe that the above two chemicals might be useful for stimulating germination of other seeds as well.

Keywords: Heat Stress; Vigour Index; Germination; Sodium Borohydride; Ammonium Persulfate; Synchronized Germination.

Consanguineous marriage is an intra­familial relationship between two people who share a common ancestor. This type of practice is occurring in most populations, with varying percentages among all marriages in South India. The present study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of consanguinity, degree of consanguinity and patterns of abnormalities among the population.We interviewed 2673 families to determine the effect of consanguinity on common hereditary disorders such as diabetics, hearing impairment and epilepsy in Sivagangai population, Tamil Nadu between November 2015 and March 2016. The degree of consanguinity between each female and her spouse and the degree of consanguinity between their parents were recorded. Of the selected families approached, the rate of consanguinity was 29.62% and coefficient of inbreeding in the current generation was significantly coinciding with the global rate of 29.2%. The degrees of consanguinity among the population were 2nd degree in 279 families, 3rd in 306 and 4th in 207. All marriages were occurred in first cousins and double first cousins. All reported diseases were more frequent in consanguineous marriages. In order to avoid such hereditary related health problems in India, it is imperative to create awareness regarding the adverse effects of endogamous marriages in regions with high prevalence.

Keywords: Endogamy; Degree of Consanguinity; Diabetes; Hearing Impairment and Epilepsy.

Effects of changed hydrothermal regimes was studied on summer green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) cv SML – 134 at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana in summer season of 1999 and 2000. The treatments included 3 dates of sowing viz. 12th April (D1), 19th April (D2) and 26th April (D­3) (in main plots); 3 irrigation levels viz. 0.5 IW: CPE ratio (I1), 0.75 IW: CPE ratio (I2) and 1.0 IW: CPE ratio (I3) (in sub plots); and mulched (M1) (@ 5t/ha wheat straw mulch) and unmulched crop (in sub­sub plots), in a splitsplit plot design. The first sowing date D1 showed better results than by D2 and D3, respectively in terms of growth and yield. I3 had more vigorous growth than I2 and I1, respectively. Mulched crop performed better than unmulched crop. The crop yielded was less during 2000 than 1999. This may be due to more vegetative growth during 2000 and infestation of whitefly, in which crop experienced more frequent rainfall than 1999.

Keywords: Vigna Radiata L. Wilczek; Plant Height; Sowing Dates; Irrigation; Straw Mulching; Grain Yield; Straw Yield; Harvest Index.

Alterations in protein content was studied in freshwater bivalve,Pila globosa exposed to three different concentrations (viz., 0.002%, 0.005% and 0.01%) of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in mantle, foot, and liver at three different fixation intervals (viz., 7d, 14d and 21d). There was a significant decrease in protein content in all the three vital organs of P. globosa under experimentation as the concentration of CdCl2 increases. The depletion of protein content was due to the toxicity of CdCl2 and this toxicological stress might have increased the proteolysis activities in the cells.

Keywords: Protein Content; Pila globosa; Toxicity; Cadmium Chloride.