Documentary: Cellular Insights - A Relentless Quest

Summary

This video traces the history and advancements of cell science research in India, particularly through the National Center for Cell Science (NCCS). It highlights biotechnology's role in revolutionizing cellular studies, including stem cell research, immune responses, and cancer therapy. The script covers major scientific milestones, from the first observation of cells by Robert Hooke to modern-day technological innovations like microscopes, DNA sequencing, and protein analysis. It emphasizes NCCS's role in pioneering research, training, and collaboration, aiming to bridge scientific discovery with practical applications in medicine and industry.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Biotechnology was introduced to India in the 1990s, revolutionizing research into cellular life.
• 🧬 Cells are the basic units of life, and studying their molecular interactions is key to understanding how organisms function.
• 👨‍🔬 Robert Hook first observed cells in 1665, leading to groundbreaking discoveries in microbiology.
• 🧪 The National Center for Cell Science (NCCS) was established within the University of Pune in 1986 to advance biotechnology research.
• 🧑‍🎓 Stem cell research at NCCS focuses on regeneration, disease modeling, and developing therapies for medical conditions.
• 🦠 Researchers study how pathogens, like viruses, evade the immune system, helping to develop better treatments for infections.
• 🧠 Cancer research at NCCS focuses on understanding gene regulation, cellular signaling, and cancer stem cells to develop targeted therapies.
• 🧫 Structural biology at NCCS reveals high-resolution details of proteins, which are crucial for drug discovery and therapeutic interventions.
• 🐜 Model organisms like fruit flies are used at NCCS to study memory formation and neurological disorders.
• 🌱 The National Center for Microbial Resource (NCMR) at NCCS aims to study and preserve microbial diversity, with a focus on the human microbiome and its impact on health.

Q & A

What marked the beginning of biotechnology advancements in India?

Biotechnology was ushered into India in the 1990s, stimulating interest in cellular life and leading to significant progress in the field.

Who first observed the cell, and when did this occur?

Robert Hook first observed the cell in 1665, marking the beginning of cellular biology by making the microscopic world visible.

What is the significance of studying cells at a molecular level?

Studying cells at the molecular level provides invaluable insight into how a healthy body functions and helps identify abnormalities that cause various diseases.

What role did the University of Pune play in India's biotechnology journey?

The University of Pune established a modest tissue culture facility within its zoology department in 1986, which later evolved into the National Center for Cell Science (NCCS), a multidisciplinary research hub.

What are embryonic stem cells, and why are they important?

Embryonic stem cells are derived from early embryos and have the ability to differentiate into any cell type in the body, such as muscle cells, neurons, and epithelial cells. They are vital for studying tissue and organ development and for developing regenerative medicine therapies.

What technological advancements contributed to the growth of cell biology research?

Advances in optical design, from simple magnifying lenses to sophisticated microscopes, helped revolutionize cell science, allowing researchers to study cellular structures with high precision.

What areas of stem cell research have NCCS researchers focused on?

NCCS researchers have studied stem cell movement, differentiation, neurodevelopmental disorders, blood stem cell regulation, bone remodeling, and stem cell cryopreservation, among other areas.

How does NCCS contribute to cancer research?

NCCS focuses on understanding gene regulatory networks in various cancers, including lung, brain, ovary, and breast cancers. It has also contributed to the discovery of cancer stem cells and the role of long non-coding RNAs in oncogenesis.

What role does NCCS play in understanding autoimmune diseases?

NCCS investigates how the immune system sometimes turns against itself, leading to autoimmune diseases, and studies the body's immune responses to pathogens like influenza viruses.

How is the fruit fly used in research at NCCS?

At NCCS, the fruit fly is used as a model organism to study how individuals form memories, especially related to sensory experiences, which helps researchers understand memory formation and potentially neurodegenerative disorders.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 The Birth of Biotechnology in India

This paragraph introduces the emergence of biotechnology in India during the 1990s, highlighting its role in advancing our understanding of cellular life. It explains the importance of cells, the building blocks of all living organisms, including humans, and recounts the discovery of cells by Robert Hook in 1665. The paragraph emphasizes how studying cells at the molecular level is key to understanding both healthy bodily functions and diseases.

05:03

🧬 Stem Cells: The Foundation of Life and Regenerative Medicine

This section delves into the development and significance of stem cell research. It describes how the human body is composed of trillions of cells, with over 200 different types discovered. Stem cells, particularly embryonic stem cells, are highlighted for their ability to give rise to various cell types. The paragraph details the extensive research at NCCS into stem cell biology, including their use in studying neurodevelopmental disorders, bone remodeling, and regenerative medicine.

10:04

🏢 The Growth of NCCS and Its Contributions

This paragraph recounts the historical development of NCCS, beginning with its establishment as a tissue culture facility at Pune University in 1986. It discusses the efforts of the founding director to create an institution dedicated to translational research, set high standards for cell culture methodologies, and initiate training programs. It also highlights the role of Dr. GC Mishra in expanding the organization and attracting qualified scientists.

15:06

🦠 Unraveling the Secrets of Disease: Molecular Biology and Cancer Research

This segment focuses on the molecular biology research at NCCS, particularly in understanding diseases like cancer. It explains the discovery of cancer stem cells and their role in tumor heterogeneity, making cancer treatment more challenging. The research also delves into non-coding RNAs and their functions in maintaining cellular balance. The importance of studying cellular signaling and gene regulation in understanding oncogenesis is emphasized.

20:08

🔍 Cutting-Edge Technology and Its Role in Cell Biology Research

This paragraph outlines the advanced technologies available at NCCS, such as DNA sequencing, proteomics, and various high-tech microscopes. These tools enable researchers to study the molecular and cellular biology of cells in extraordinary detail. The focus is on how these technologies facilitate groundbreaking research, particularly in diseases like cancer, by allowing researchers to analyze proteins, DNA sequences, and cellular structures with high precision.

25:09

🏆 The Evolution and Achievements of NCCS

The final paragraph summarizes the journey of NCCS from its inception to becoming a leading life sciences research institution in India. It highlights the center’s collaborations with industry, its role in training the next generation of scientists, and the prestigious awards received by its faculty. The paragraph concludes with an optimistic view of NCCS’s future as it continues to push the boundaries of cell biology research.

Keywords

💡Biotechnology

Biotechnology refers to the use of living systems and organisms to develop products or technologies. In the video, it is highlighted as having revolutionized scientific research in India starting in the 1990s. The script emphasizes biotechnology's contribution to cellular biology, medical research, and tissue culture development.

💡Cells

Cells are the basic building blocks of life in all organisms, from animals to plants. The video discusses how research into cellular biology has advanced significantly since Robert Hook's discovery of cells in 1665, leading to breakthroughs in understanding how cells function in healthy and diseased states, as well as in regenerative medicine.

💡Stem Cells

Stem cells are special cells with the ability to develop into various cell types in the body. The video explains how embryonic stem cells can differentiate into muscle, neuronal, and epithelial cells, making them crucial in studying tissue and organ development and in developing regenerative medicine therapies.

💡Microscope

The microscope is an instrument used to magnify objects too small to be seen by the naked eye. In the video, microscopes, from Robert Hook's basic design to modern laser scanning confocal microscopes, are portrayed as pivotal tools in advancing cell biology by enabling scientists to visualize cells and molecular processes at unprecedented resolution.

💡Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine involves using stem cells or other biological methods to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs. The video illustrates how researchers at the National Center for Cell Science (NCCS) are developing therapies using stem cells for bone remodeling and the treatment of various diseases, highlighting the promise of regenerative medicine.

💡Cancer Research

Cancer research refers to the scientific study of the causes, development, and treatment of cancer. The video highlights how NCCS researchers are studying cancer stem cells and gene regulatory networks to understand tumor formation and heterogeneity, with the goal of improving cancer treatment.

💡DNA and RNA

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule that stores genetic information, while RNA (ribonucleic acid) is involved in translating that information into proteins. The video refers to the 'central dogma' of molecular biology, which explains how DNA replicates and is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into proteins. This process is critical in understanding diseases such as cancer.

💡Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation is the process of preserving cells, tissues, or organs by cooling them to very low temperatures. In the video, researchers at NCCS are developing cryopreservation protocols for stem cells, which are essential for long-term storage and future therapeutic use, particularly in hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells.

💡Immune System

The immune system is the body's defense mechanism against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. The video discusses research at NCCS aimed at understanding how pathogens like the influenza virus evade immune responses, as well as the study of autoimmune diseases where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues.

💡National Center for Cell Science (NCCS)

The National Center for Cell Science (NCCS) is a research institute in India focused on cellular and molecular biology. The video traces the center’s origins, growth, and contributions to biotechnology, stem cell research, cancer research, and disease prevention, emphasizing its role as a hub for cutting-edge life science research in India.

Highlights

Biotechnology in India was ushered in the 1990s, stimulating interest in cellular life and leading to advancements in life sciences.

Cells are the basic units of life in both plant and animal worlds, with each cell interacting uniquely within its environment.

The first cell was observed by Robert Hook in 1665, which marked the beginning of the exploration of the microscopic world.

Understanding cellular machinery at the molecular level is crucial for insights into how a healthy body functions and how abnormalities cause diseases.

The National Center for Cell Science (NCCS) evolved from a modest tissue culture facility established in 1986 at the University of Pune.

Embryonic stem cells can give rise to all cell types in the body and are used to study tissue and organ development.

NCCS researchers study the biological properties of stem cells to develop better cell-based therapies for regenerative medicine.

Key NCCS research includes modeling neurodevelopmental disorders and studying the mechanisms regulating blood stem cell fate.

The establishment of the first comprehensive international cell repository at NCCS led to breakthroughs in cell culture methodologies.

NCCS research initiatives focus on discovering cancer stem cells and exploring gene regulatory networks in various types of cancer.

Advanced equipment at NCCS, such as the confocal laser scanning microscope and proteomics facility, allows researchers to study cellular functions in unprecedented detail.

NCCS researchers use cutting-edge techniques like X-ray diffraction and cryo-electron microscopy to study protein structures and their functions.

The fruit fly model organism is used at NCCS to study memory formation, providing insights into how the human brain functions.

The National Center for Microbial Resource at NCCS houses the world’s largest culture collection, focusing on microbial research and the Indian human microbiome.

NCCS has grown significantly under various leaderships, with its contributions recognized by prestigious national and international awards.

Transcripts

[Music]

it was around

1990s that biotechnology was ushered in

India and stimulated A Renewed interest

in the mysteries of cellular life with

far-reaching progress that you witness

today we cells are the basic units of

life in the blond and animal world

including you humans

too each cell in your body has a

specific characteristic dictating its

interactions with other cells molecules

and

microorganisms and the surrounding

tissues plants and animals are composed

of trillions of microscopic cells of

different

types and I have the honor of having

been the first to be observed

as a Cell by Robert Hook in

1665 which I should say made visible for

the first time our hitherto unexplored

microscopic

[Music]

world to understand the functioning of

any living body it is important to study

the nuances of how the various

components of biological systems operate

at the minutest molecular level learning

about the nuts and bows of the cellular

Machinery provides invaluable insight

into how a normal healthy body functions

and what abnormalities at the tiniest

level lead to various

diseases and that is the basic research

that has been carried out with the

consistent support of different in-house

facilities of the institution over the

last 30

years

it was in

1986 that the promising new

possibilities embased by

biotechnology led to the establishment

of a modest tissue culture facility

within the zoology Department of the

University of

Puna which has metamorphosed over the

last three decades into the large

multidisciplinary National Center for

cell

signs

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ever since I first peered through a

microscope I wondered how how do these

tiny little cells organize themselves

into a walking talking thinking human

being this question led me to pursue a

career in this exciting field of

biology I am from a small town and I

feel lucky to have been selected as a

PhD student here at nccs in the midst of

the savitri B P Pune University

and now I would like to fully explore

the interconnected web of the

fascinating research that is being

conducted in the labs here before

choosing my area of

focus way back in the 17th century it

was the technology of polished glass

lenses that set the pace of

microbiological discoveries rapid

improvements in Optical design from

magnifying lenses to simple and compound

microscopes and further to more

sophisticated instruments eventually

helped Advance the discipline of cell

science to present

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times and wow what you see now is of

unbelievable

magnitude the gon focal scanning

microscope uses laser to illuminate sing

Le planes of tissues so that one can

visualize the sections of submicron

resolution thousands of times more

magnified than Hook's Discovery over 300

years

ago today we know that the human body is

made up of trillions of cells and guess

what biologists have discovered around

200 different types of cells over the

years research has revealed that each

cell is designed to form a particular

organ that carries out a specific vital

function and all of them put together

makes for a complex interdependent

system a well oiled machine in perfect

working condition called a healthy human

being life begins with a single cell and

it is remarkable that the information to

form an entire organism is present in

that very

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cell soon after fertilization the single

celled embryo under goes a series of

Divisions until it finally forms a

structure of around 16 to 32 cells

called the blasto cyst where we can find

a very special type of cell called the

bionic stem cell so embryonic stem cells

are actually derived from the early

embryo and these cells have the

capability of giving rise to all the

cell types in the body for example

muscle cells neurons and epithelial

cells we use these cells to study how

tissues organs and organisms develop we

are also studying the cell biological

properties of these cells in order to

develop better cell-based therapies that

can be used in regenerative

medicine having visited some of the

laboratories on campus now I understand

how over the years nccs researchers have

investigated various aspects of stem

cell biology such

as studying the movement of molecules

within cells and how it dictates the

differentiation of stem cells into

diverse types of cells

using stem cells to model

neurodevelopmental

disorders studying the mechanism that

regulates blood stem cell

fate standardizing the use of stem cells

in bone

remodeling understanding stem cell

differentiation developing

cryopreservation protocols for

hematopoetic and mesenchimal stem cells

and the generation of induced plur poent

stem

cells together the research stemming

from these groups aims to understand the

process of early Maman development and

the generation of specific systems such

as the nervous system the hematopoetic

system

Etc I wonder how it all started right

here in the University campus I got an

opportunity to work in Nobel Institute

for medical C research and genetics in

Sweden with Professor

KAS and I could do lot of things there

lot of things then I decided on return I

would develop an organization

wherein all scientists will get all the

facilities and a unit was established

temporary unit by

icmr to start with in the department of

zoology the activity expanded to such an

extent that we needed more

space so we purchased two

buildings named jitasa and jasna where

we could shift all these and Carry Out

work once the facilities were set up it

was time to start the research projects

the first project that I started at nfcc

was to try to use cell lines as an alter

native for animals in biomedical

research and this was possible only

because nfcc had a full range of cell

lines right from mosquito to man and

also the centralized facilities for

washing packing and sterilization which

was a luxury at that time the basic

theme was regeneration organ

preservation organ Banking and this has

led to the entire research area in my

field Dr hey head of atcc cell culture

visit

us and knowing our capacity and our

facilities he recognized that as a

comprehensive International cell

repository from what I realized the

founding director was very conscious of

the social responsibilities of science

right from the very Inception of The

Institute he encouraged application

driven translational research set high

standards for cell culture methodologies

and initiated regular Hands-On training

program for cell culture

propagation 8 years later Dr GC Mishra

took over the Reigns of the fledgling

organization which was poised for

incremental growth in every possible way

shifting from the utilitarian go through

facility to a specifically designed

spacious campus

in

1995 The Institute was called as NF a

TCC in order to attract qualified

competent scientist that Institute

should be named as National Center for

Sal

science I went abroad

USA met 110

people and could bring as a r

migration eight qualified highly trained

scientist I equipped The

Institute with state of art

equipments facilitated the process of

requiring

animals and

reagents give them freedom and it

clicked in a very short time

nccs started being recognized

as one of the best institution in this

country there were manifold expansions

all around specialized Animal

House cell culture

repository technological leap in

essential

equipment change of focus towards

Innovation through basic

research and heralding all this

reflecting A Renewed vigor the change of

name plate to the National Center for

cell

signs research at nccs also focuses on

studying

how

you pathogens such as the influenza

virus attack the human body so the human

body has Exquisite defense mechanism

which help us to protect from pathogens

such as influenza viruses or other

viruses

but what happened during course of

evolution viruses have developed

strategies that can help them to evade

this immune response by gaining insights

into the strategies that pathogens adopt

to evade and overcome the body's immune

system research groups here aspire to

help develop better drugs against

pathogens scientists at nccs are

conducting research to understand the

working of the immune systems in healthy

as well as affected

individuals in addition investigations

are also geared towards learning how and

why the immune system sometimes turns

against itself resulting in autoimmune

diseases 20th century witnessed a

remarkable growth in almost all the

branches of science

and molecular biology was no

[Music]

exception in the 1950s s Francis grick

postulated the central dogma of

molecular

biology this stated that DNA was an

information storage molecule capable of

replicating itself and transmitting

information this information

has to be read in order to put together

the amino acids in a specific sequence

to ultimately synthesize every distinct

protein through an intermediate step of

another molecule called

RNA this flow of information is

regulated at multiple stages to control

the production of certain specific

proteins at any given time in response

to different stimuli such

as a cell being attacked by a

pathogen a stem cell differentiating

into a particular cell type or a cell

simply undergoing

division any deviation from this

precisely controlled system causes

serious molecular upheaval resulting in

major diseases such as diabetes

autoimmune diseases and even

cancer cancer claims among the largest

number of victims every year

worldwide and nccs researchers have put

in considerable efforts into tackling

this Menace since the early

days the major focus of research here is

to understand the alterations in the

gene regulatory networks in different

types of cancer ERS affecting vital

organs such as lung brain ovary and

breast the nccs research initiative

specifically has been in the discovery

of cancer stem cells which contribute to

tumor heterogenity in a tumor actually

that makes it a very difficult

proposition to treat other initiatives

have also been in the discovery of long

non-coding rnas as well as in

elucidation of the cellular signaling

networks and cross talk which are

important in understanding

oncogenesis I understand that non-coding

rnas are rnas that do not code for

proteins so then what else can they do

the RNA pair that we discovered in this

lab was termed as Jer it is genomic

instability inducing RNA and its

antisense counterpart by performing a

lot of invo and invitro experiments we

were able to kind of prove that this RNA

pair was responsible in maintaining

cellular

homeostasis and disturbance in the

levels was responsible for cancer other

research groups here also aim at

understanding the relationship between

different diseases and metabolic

disorders like cancer diabetes and

[Music]

obesity in

2011 Dr sheaker Mandi took over the

mantle of this prestigious organization

considered amongst the top high-profile

life science research institutes in

India with him an era of

multidisciplinary collaborations for

fast and effective deliverables in

Modern Biology was

initiated a new wave of innovative

approaches to address the existing

problems has taken

root today much of the pioneering

investigative work has found frusion and

is poised for fresh collaborations with

clinicians to explore possibilities for

translating the promising scientific

breakthroughs into tangible benefits for

patients all this is so very fascinating

and

complex it will be interesting to find

out what sort of instruments are

required to carry out these highly

complicated

experiments wow look at that nccs

researchers are really fortunate to have

the latest state-of-the-art equipment to

study almost every minute aspect of

cells

inhouse without having to step out of

the

campus the sequence facility helps read

and count the presence of specific DNA

and RNA sequences in a

sample this versatile machine can also

be used to identify any changes or

mutations in the sequence of

DNA the proteom miix facility is

equipped with Advanced instruments like

Mass spectrometers with the ability to

analyze all the proteins and metabolites

present in any specifically chosen cell

or

tissue

nccs also has a number of the latest

technologically advanced microscopes

like this Con focal laser scanning

microscope using fluorescent markers

researchers can now study the movement

and localization of specific molecules

and organal with extraordinary

resolution in real

time the flow cytometry facility at

nccs has a number of high-end cell

sorters and

analyzers these machines help detect the

presence of specific proteins in a

single cell and can even sort out

individual cells based on the level of a

particular

protein now I realize how all these

instruments are vital for nccs

researchers to investigate the basic

biology and physiology of cells which

could eventually lead to Innovative

therapies against various

diseases such as infections by

lesmana are the kind of effort that we

have been doing going deeper into the

areas of modern cell biology

strengthening the areas uh that we were

already in we had our presence in for

example cancer ology and so on so forth

adding certain new areas which we

thought is a more futuristic way of

looking at cell biology uh connecting to

the society and connecting to Industry

one of the newer research areas at nccs

involves the study of macromolecular

structures the major research activity

of this group is focused on three

cellular processors namely host pathogen

interactions new nuclear cytoplasmic

transport and neuronal

transmission such research is important

to understand how the structure of

specific proteins contribute towards the

exact

function proteins are the workhorses of

any cellular function and they are like

these nanom machines that carry out

various steps of these uh cellular

processes and to obtain high resolution

inform information structural

information into functions of these

proteins structural biologists around

the world study them in great details by

using techniques like x-ray defraction

or single particle cry electron

microscopy these insights can lead to

precisely targeting them for therapeutic

interventions or drug Discovery

researchers here utilize x-ray radiation

to determine extremely high resolution

structures of protein crystals

revealing angstrom level

details which can you imagine are a 100

million of a

[Music]

millimeter fruit

flies I wonder what sort of research

goes on in

here understanding how memories are

formed is a question that has intrigued

humans for thousands of

years at nccs the fruit fly is used as a

model organism to study how individuals

form

memories contrasting tastes smells or

even courtship Behavior are a stimuli

for studying the molecular basis of

sensorial memory

formation the fruit fly believe it or

not is remarkable similar to us human

beings and so is a versatile system for

study we hope that our research will

eventually lead to a deeper

understanding of how our brains work and

also to therapeutic approaches of

treating neurodegenerative

disorders it is fascinating that the

human body which has 10 of trillions of

cells is inhabited by many more

microbial cells which constitute the

human

microbiome it is now realized that these

minuscule

microorganisms influence almost all

aspects of human life Moods Food habits

and even the propensity toward specific

diseases realizing the seminal

importance of research in this area the

national Center for microbial resource

ncmr at NC C CS is now geared to

initiate an

unprecedented pan India project on the

Indian human

microbiome the broad Charter of ncmr is

to authenticate characterize and

preserve microbial resources from

diverse

sources the extensive collection of

microorganisms at

ncmr makes it the largest individual

culture collection in the world World it

has been recognized as an international

depository Authority Ida for the

deposition of patent

microorganisms I am on my way to meet Dr

gopal kundu Who has recently taken over

the responsibilities of nccs as the

Director in

charge as you know nccs conducts several

academic and training program for

students for technicians technical

officers the national Center for cell

science has definitely come a long way

since the early days of

1986 expertise HED attract many close

collaborations with the

industry it has a specifically designed

rigorous biotechnology coursework for

PhD

students nccf

has also hosted several Noble laurates

to interact with students and give

public lectures additionally Outreach

programs are routinely conducted to

inculcate Scientific temper through

science

popularization the annual Sports and

cultural events are very popular and

stimulating taking care of the physical

and mental well-being of the students

staff and faculty

today nccs has a spacious and green

Campus with comfortable

hosts faculty housing Guest House

director's Bungalow and other

administrative support facilities

necessary for the smooth running of any

such large organization many faculty

members of nccs have been elected

fellows of national and international

science

academies nccs science

have made significant contributions and

gained recognition through several

Awards and prestigious honors such as

the padmashri

award The Shanti swaro bagar award the

national bioscience award the JC Bose

National

Fellowship the National Woman

bioscientist award the welcome trust

fellowship and many others

[Music]

under the leadership of Dr ulas wag Dr

Gan Chandra Mishra Dr Shear man and Dr

gopal gundu nccs has grown exponentially

and aspires to take cell biology

research to Greater

Heights the Relentless quest of over

three decades now finds a new vision a

New Horizon and fresh energy to LEAP

into the new era of biotechnological

research in

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India

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n

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now