CURRENT SCIENCE
A fortnightly journal of research
Editor: P. Balaram
(e-mail: pb@mbu.iisc.ernet.in)
Editorial Board
Apurva Sarin, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.
e-mail: sarina@ncbs.res.in
S. Arunachalam, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation,
Chennai. e-mail: arun@mssrf.res.in
D. Chatterji, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
e-mail: dipankar@mbu.iisc.ernet.in
S. G. Dani, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.
e-mail: dani@math.tifr.res.in
G. R. Desiraju, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad.
e-mail: desiraju@uohyd.ernet.in
R. Gadagkar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
e-mail: ragh@ces.iisc.ernet.in
J. N. Goswami, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
e-mail: goswami@prl.ernet.in
K. N. Ganeshaiah, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.
e-mail: kng@vsnl.com
S. E. Hasnain, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics,
Hyderabad. e-mail: ehtesham@cdfd.org.in
N. V. Joshi, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
e-mail: nvjoshi@ces.iisc.ernet.in
S. Kailas, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.
e-mail: kailas@magnum.barc.ernet.in
C. C. Kartha, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences
and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.
e-mail: cckartha@vsnl.com
A. V. Khare, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar.
e-mail: khare@iopb.res.in
Kusala Rajendran, Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram. e-mail: kusala@seires.net
S. C. Lakhotia, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
e-mail: lakhotia@banaras.ernet.in
R. C. Mahajan, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and
Research, Chandigarh. e-mail: indurc@cha.i91.net.in
U. Maitra, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
e-mail: maitra@orgchem.iisc.ernet.in
K. Muralidhar, University of Delhi, Delhi.
e-mail: kambadurmurali2001@rediffmail.com
R. Narasimhan, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
e-mail: narasi@mecheng.iisc.ernet.in
R. Nityananda, National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune.
e-mail: rajaram@ncra.tifr.res.in
T. J. Pandian, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai.
e-mail: tjpandian@eth.net
D. Pental, Delhi University South Campus, New Delhi.
e-mail: dpental@hotmail.com
G. Prathap, CSIR Centre for Mathematical Modelling and
Computer Simulation, Bangalore.
e-mail: gp@css.cmmacs.ernet.in
R. R. Rao, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,
Bangalore. e-mail: rr_rao@vsnl.net
Rohini M. Godbole, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
e-mail: rohini@cts.iisc.ernet.in
P. N. Shankar, National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore.
e-mail: pns@ctfd.cmmacs.ernet.in
S. R. Shetye, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa.
e-mail: shetye@csnio.ren.nic.in
A. Sinha, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.
e-mail: asinha@nias.iisc.ernet.in
J. Srinivasan, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
e-mail: jayes@caos.iisc.ernet.in
S. K. Tandon, University of Delhi, Delhi.
e-mail: sktand@nda.vsnl.net.in
R. Uma Shaanker, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.
e-mail: rus@vsnl.com
K. S. Valdiya, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific
Research, Bangalore. e-mail: nehrucen@jncasr.ac.in
Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath, National Brain Research Centre,
Manesar. e-mail: vijir@nbrc.ac.inp
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Consulting Editor: K. R. Rao
Science Correspondents: Minakshi De, Monika Koul Moza,
Mrinalini G. Walawalkar
Editorial staff: Chandrika Ramesh, G. Madhavan,
C. S. Ravi Kumar, Riki Krishnan, Shantha Nair, N. Subashini,
M. S. Venugopal
Circulation and Accounts: B. R. K. Iyengar, Peter Jayaraj,
Ranjini Mohan, Shanthi Bhaskar, C. Vedamurthy, C. Visweswariah
Working Committee, Current Science Association
P. Balaram, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
D. Banerjee, Defence Research and Development Organisation,
New Delhi
R. Gadagkar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (Treasurer)
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon, Bangalore
R. Kumar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
G. Madhavan Nair, Department of Space, Bangalore
N. V. Madhusudana, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore
(Secretary)
Manju Sharma, Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi
R. A. Mashelkar, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,
New Delhi (Vice-President )
N. Mukunda, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
R. Narasimha, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
T. V. Ramakrishnan, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
M. S. Swaminathan, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation,
Chennai (President )
M. S. Valiathan, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
(Previous President )
Vijay Chandru, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
© 2004, Current Science Association
Edited and published by P. Balaram, Current Science Association, Bangalore 560 080.
Typeset by WINTECS Typesetters (Ph: 2332 7311), Bangalore 560 021 and Printed at Printek Printers, Bangalore (Ph: 2328 7763)