Gobinda Kisor Manna obtained his DSc degree (1962) from the University of Calcutta. His areas of specialization were animal cytogenetics, environmental and microbial mutagenesis and radiation biology. He was Indo-Czech Visiting Professor to Czechoslovakia (1978); Professor of Zoology (later INSA Senior Scientist & Professor Emeritus), University of Kalyani, Kalyani.

Academic and Research Achievements: Manna started his research on cytotaxonomy and chromosomes in evolution in Arididae, Grylidae, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Coleoptera, fish, amphibia and mammals. His findings (1951), specially on Heteroptera, quoted even today in books and papers. He pioneered the development of mammalian and fish cytogenetics. Also he pioneered the development of a technique for handling human chromosomes (1954). His work on human cervix cancer and handling of chromosomes of solid tumour by a coumarin technique is a classic contribution. In 1967, he switched over to the study of microbes as mutagens, an area newly added to the field of mutagenesis, showing that viruses, bacteria, lower fungi and parasitic protozoan are potential mutagens like chemical and physical ones.

Other Contributions: Manna was a Member of IUBS, UGC and CSIR Committees. He served on the Editorial Boards of four journals and edited five volumes of Perspectives in Cytology and Genetics. He was UGC National Fellow (1980-82) and a Member of INSA Council (1980-82).

Awards and Honours: Manna was the recipient of Sir JC Bose Award of UGC (1980). He was President, Zoology Section of Indian Science Congress (1969); Fellow, National Academy of Sciences (India), Allahabad; Indian Academy of Zoology; Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore; West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology.