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Genetic engineering is a powerful tool to manipulate the genome of an organism for it to produce a new trait(s) or to change its existing trait(s). Plant genetic engineering involves procedures like gene isolation, characterization, modifi cation and, eventually, introduction and expression of the gene in the transgenic plant. It covers the fi elds of … Read more

The quality of palm oil is primarily determined by its content of free fatty acids (FFA) as they are easily oxidized to make the oil rancid. Sambanthamurthi et al. (1991) reported an increase in FFA in palm oil due to the action of an endogenous lipase. Lipases are one of the most studied groups of … Read more

Oil palms can be distinguished based on the colour of their fruit coats. The two most common types are nigrescens (Nig) and virescens (Vir) (Figure 1). Vir fruits undergo a clear colour change on ripening, making it easier to identify the ripe bunches for harvesting. The fruits of the more commonly occurring Nig palms undergo only … Read more

Polyglycerols and their derivatives have a broad range of applications (Table 1). MPOB has developed a process to produce polyglycerols (Figure 1) by microwave heating with a substantially reduced reaction time. Glycerol is polymerized at elevated temperatures, preferably 250ºC-270ºC, in the presence of a catalyst. However, a drawback is the tendency to produce highly coloured … Read more

The skin is a barrier between the body and the environment, and any stress imposed by the environment can affect it. Cracked heels are a common foot problem, generally occurring in hot tropical climates, but also in summer and winter in the temperate countries. Heels crack from excessive water loss from the skin, causing it … Read more