How DNA Is Copied Onto RNA Revealed Through Three-Dimensional Transcription Film

ScienceDaily (June 19, 2010) — Gene expression takes place in two stages: the transcription of DNA to RNA by an enzyme called RNA polymerase, , followed by the translation of this RNA into proteins, whose behaviour affects the characteristics of each individual.

Transcription: a mechanism controlled in time and space
Transcription involves about fifty regulatory molecules that interact with each other to begin reading the gene at the right place and the right time. The slightest irregularity of one of these molecules disturbs the transcription. An understanding of the initiation and regulation mechanisms is essential in order to understand gene expression. The structural biology researchers at IGBMC are studying molecular structures to gain a better understanding of how they function. Patrick Schultz's team is particularly focusing on the architecture of the molecules involved in transcription and attempting to decode the mechanisms of their interactions.
An 'image-by-image' analysis
An analysis of the transcription complexes by electron cryomicroscopy allows a molecule to be observed in a hydrated state close to its natural state. Each photograph, taken using a microscope, shows thousands of specimens of the same molecule from different angles and at different instants in their reaction cycle. The statistical analysis of these images performed by Patrick Schultz's team revealed different conformations in three dimensions, which correspond to different stages of transcription initiation. 'We performed image-by-image sequencing and made a film of the initial stages of transcription,' says Schultz.
The factor TFIID, the main player in the transcription process
Patrick Schultz's team is interested in a complex protein that acts as an assembly platform in the initiation phase of transcription: the factor TFIID. Through interaction with the activator Rap1, bound upstream from the gene to be transcribed, it is attracted to the DNA and binds onto it. Combined with another factor, TFIIA, it changes conformation and allows the RNA polymerase to initiate transcription. The original aspect of this mechanism is based on the formation of a DNA loop, which allows the RNA polymerase to be positioned exactly at the start of the sequence of the gene to be transcribed.
The structure of the transcription factor TFIID obtained after image analysis is represented in yellow on an electron cryomicroscopy image background, showing the frozen hydrated molecules in dark grey. The transcription activator Rap1 (red) interacts with the factor TFIIA (blue) and contributes to forming a DNA loop (green).
What is electron cryomicroscopy?
The biological molecules in living organisms exist in an aqueous environment, which must be preserved whilst observing the molecules. In order to be 'seen', however, molecules must be placed in an electron microscope, which operates in a vacuum and dehydrates the sample. The solution, developed in the 1980s, is to use refrigeration to keep the specimen hydrated and to examine it by electron cryomicroscopy. A very thin film (approximately 100 nm, or one ten-thousandth of a millimetre thick) of the suspension containing the sample to be analysed must be created in order to be transparent to electrons. (Thin film shown in light blue in Figure A.) This film is cooled very rapidly (at a rate of approximately 10,000°C per second) by plunging it into liquid ethane cooled to -170°C. This freezing speed prevents the formation of ice crystals, and the sample (yellow in Figure A) is trapped in a layer of vitrified water. The cold chain must be maintained throughout the observation period using a cold plate. The molecules (dark grey in Figure B) are hydrated and observed without contrast agent.

How to Use Twitter

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  Twitter is a free social networking and microblogging service. It allows you to send "tweets" which are essentially posts limited to 140 characters. You can receive and send updates to and from Twitter using a short message service (text), RSS, instant message, email or through a third party application. Read on to learn how to use Twitter.
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  Twitter Tips

  1. Always read the Terms of Service.
  2. Don't give out private information.
  3. Supervise minors using Twitter.
  4. Updates do not screen out obscenities.
  5. Don't text message unless you know the costs.
     

     Step 1: Join Twitter

  6. You can join Twitter for free by going to their sign-up page.Twitter: Sign-Up Page¹ Once there, you will need to do the following:

  1. Choose a user name.
  2. Choose a password. It needs to be at least 6 characters long.
  3. Insert your email address.
  4. Type in the words for the CAPTCHA device.
  5. Click on the Terms of Service.Twitter: Terms of Service² It will pop-up in a new window or tab. Read it carefully. Then return to the sign-up page.
  6. If you want email updates, click on the box.
  7. Click I accept. Create my account.
  8. 
     

     Find Your Friends on Twitter

     • After you accept, you will be brought to a screen that asks Are your friends on Twitter? This will help you find any friends you might have on Twitter by accessing your Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, AOL or MSN email accounts. Essentially, it looks at your contacts and then matches email addresses. It does not work with any other type of email accounts.

     • You will need to either:

     1. Find Your Friends: Insert your email address and password, and click continue.
     2. Skip This Step: Click on the skip link. This link is not boxed, but appears in blue underneath the continue box.

     • Don't worry. If you skip this part, but want to attempt it later, you can. Once you are finished, you will find yourself at the "find & follow" page of Twitter. You're ready to move onto the next step.
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     Step 2: What to Do Now

     • Once you've signed up, you will be taken to your personal homepage. You will be presented with three options: "tell us what you're doing," "find some friends" and "turn on your mobile phone."
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      Option 1: Post Your First Tweet

      • The first thing you will notice is the message What are you doing? above an empty text box.

      1. Type an answer to the prompt in 140 characters or less.
      2. Click on the gray update box.
      3. You've posted your first Tweet!
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      Option 2: Finding Friends

      • Clicking on the link "find some friends and follow what they're doing" will allow you to either find friends via your email account or invite friends who are not using Twitter yet to join.

      • Inviting Friends to Join Twitter

      1. To invite friends, click on the gray tab that says Invite by Email.
      2. Type in an email address.
         
         • You can enter more than one email address by separating them with a comma.
      3. If you want to see what your friends will be getting, click on the blue text that says What will this look like?
      4. When you are finished, click on send.

      • Find Friends on Twitter
      • So how do you find friends while you're waiting for your other friends to sign up?

      1. At the very top of the page, to the left of the Twitter logo, there is a search box.
      2. Type in a word or phrase and see what pops up.
         
         • For example, if you type in "Mahalo," you'll discover that many of Mahalo verticals have their own Twitter profiles such as Mahalo News, Food, Games, Videos, TV and Entertainment.
      3. Once you've found a friend or someone you'd like to follow, click the gray follow button on the right side of the search result box.
         

         Option 3: Getting Connected

         • Clicking on the text "Turn on your mobile phone to update your friends on the go" will help you set up your mobile phone to send and receive Twitter messages.

         1. Twitter will ask for your phone number and country code.
            
            • If you're in the United States or Canada, add "+1" to your nine digit number.
            • If you live elsewhere, you can find your country code by going to International Dialing Codes.Kropla: International Dialing Codes³
         2. Once you have completed that step, you will need to verify your number by texting a code to 40404 in the US, 21212 in Canada or +44 7624 801423 in all other international locations.

         • NOTE: Twitter does not charge for this service, but you phone carrier might. Standard text messaging rates apply.
         
         

         Step 3: Setting Up Twitter

         • The next thing you will want to do is adjust your settings. Look at the top of the page. You will see a set of words in blue. Click on Settings. From your Settings page, you will be able to change or adjust the following:
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           Account

           • Account is the default screen, or the first one you will see after clicking on Settings. On this page you can change your name, username, email address and time zone. You can also add the following information:

           1. More Info URL: A link to your homepage or blog.
           2. One Line Bio: Your life story in 160 letters or less.
           3. Your Location: It's 10 o'clock. Do you know where you are?
           4. Your Language: Currently you can see Twitter in English or Japanese.

           • One of the most important things you can do on the Account screen is "protect your updates." There is a Protect my updates checkbox located at the bottom of a screen. If you click on the box, your profile will no longer be visible on Twitter's public timeline.Twitter: Public Timeline⁴ This means only people that you approve can follow your updates. If you are a minor or concerned with your privacy, check this box.
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           Password

           • This is where you need to go if you want to change your password. Twitter will ask you to enter your new password twice.
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           Devices

           • If you wish to send and receive Twitter updates via your mobile phone, this screen will allow you to enter and verify your cell number.
         • 
           
           
           

           Notices

           • This is where you can change how often you are notified about new posts or followers by text message, instant message or email. You have several options; some are automatically selected for you.

           1. Auto Nudge: This will text message or instant message you if you have not updated your page in twenty-four hours. The default for this is off.
           2. @ Replies: This will show you all, some or no replies in your timeline from other people on Twitter.
              
              • An @ reply (or @reply) is a public Twitter update directed at a certain person. It starts with "@username." For example, to do an @reply toward me, you would type "@darcylogan" along with whatever message you wished to send me.
              • From the Settings page, you have three options which apply to @replies:
                
                1. See all @ replies: See all of the @replies made by people you follow, whether or not you follow the person to whom the reply is directed.
                2. See @ replies of everyone you are following: See @replies from people you follow directed at other people you follow. (Default)
                3. See no @ replies: Never see @replies on your timeline.
           3. New Follower Emails: This box is automatically checked, which means you will be sent emails anytime someone starts "following" you on Twitter. If you don't want to receive emails, make sure the box is not checked.
           4. Direct Text Emails: This box emails you when you receive a direct message. It is automatically checked. If you don't want to receive emails, you need to uncheck it.
           5. Email Newsletter: If you want email updates, this is the box to check. It is not checked by default.
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           Picture

           • This is where you can change your image. The maximum image size is 700k. Hint: Use the WeeMee image you created for your Mahalo Social account!
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           Design

           • This tab allows you to change your page design in Twitter. It allows you to change your background color, background image, text color, name color, link color, sidebar fill color and sidebar border color. All except background image requires you to insert the six digit color value. If you are unfamiliar with these, a basic guide along with the most popular html colors can be found on Wikipedia.Wikipedia: HTML Color Names⁵
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           Step 4: Sending Twitter Messages (Tweets)

           • There are three types of Twitter messages (a.k.a. "Tweets"): updates, @replies and direct messages. This step only covers how to send these messages through Twitter's website. If you are interested in doing this through your mobile phone, see Step 5. For third party applications that allow you to connect to Twitter in other ways, see Step 6.

           • Updates
           • An update is sent through the main status update box, located below the "What are you doing?" prompt on your Twitter profile page.
           • @Replies
           • An @reply is a public Twitter update directed at a certain person. It can be viewed by other Twitter members, even though you did not direct it to them. There are two ways you can send an @reply:

           1. Type in @username and your message.
           2. Click on the reply button on a person's update. The reply button looks like a curved arrow.

           • Direct Messages
           • You can send direct messages to anyone you are following as long as they are following you. These are private messages that will not be viewed by others. There are several ways you can do this.

           1. Using the status update box on your Twitter profile page.
              
              • You need to add "d + username + message."
              • So, if you wanted to say "Hi" via direct message to me, you would type in d darcylogan Hi!
           2. Click the message link on your friend's profile page.
           3. Use the drop down box on your direct message inbox page. You can find this page by clicking on "Direct Messages" on the right sidebar.
           4. By replying to a recent update. This automatically inserts an @reply. Replace the @ with the letter "D" and a space, then type your message.
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Craig Venter creates synthetic life form

On May 20th, J. Craig Venter and his team at J.C Venter Institute announced the creation of a cell controlled by a synthetic genome in a paper published in SCIENCE. As science historian George Dyson points out, "from the point of view of technology, a code generated within a digital computer is now self-replicating as the genome of a line of living cells. From the point of view of biology, a code generated by a living organism has been translated into a digital representation for replication, editing, and transmission to other cells."  This new development is all about operating on a large scale. "Reading the genetic code of a wide range of species," the paper says, "has increased exponentially from these early studies. Our ability to rapidly digitize genomic information has increased by more than eight orders of magnitude over the past 25 years " This is a big scaling up in our technological abilities. Physicist Freeman Dyson, commenting on the paper, notes that "the sequencing and synthesizing DNA give us all the tools we need to create new forms of life". But it remains to be seen how it will serve in practice.  One question is whether or not a DNA sequence alone enough to generate a living creature. One way of reading of the paper suggests this doesn't seem to be the case because of the use of old microplasma cells into which the DNA was inserted -- that this is not about "creating" life" because, the new life requires an existing living recipient cell. If this is the case, what is the chance of producing something de novo? The paper might appear to be about a somewhat banal technological feat. The new techniques build on existing capabilities. What else is being added, what is qualitatively new?  While it is correct to say that the individual cell was not created, a new line of cells (dare one say species?) was generated. This is new life that is self-propagating, i.e. "the cells with only the synthetic genome are self replicating and capable of logarithmic growth

Caste Off Those Blinkers by SAGARIKA GHOSE

India's elite needs to come to terms with caste

The headlines scream almost every day: 'Girl allegedly murdered because of inter-caste romance', 'Couple killed by relatives because of caste honour'. The matrimonials are unabashed: 'Match sought for fair khatri girl," or 'Brahmin boy seeks Brahmin partner.' A Delhi mother whispers that her daughter's choice of husband is not "our kind of person" , but stops short of admitting that the prospective groom is basically not from the same caste. Characters in Bollywood films bear surnames that are drawn from the very narrow social pool of Sharma Mehta and Roy. Indians may be holidaying in Phuket, shopping at Mango and devouring Sex and the City, but one social reality just refuses to go away. And that reality is caste.

Should caste matter to a modern Indian? Of course it shouldn't. Yet whether we like it or not, caste is still a defining category. Excluding a narrow westernized elite band, Indians marry according to caste, socialize within similar castes, education is determined by caste and caste by and large corresponds to class when it comes to backwardness. Twenty years ago when VP Singh implemented the Mandal recommendations reserving 27 per cent government jobs for OBCs, many caste Hindus heard the word OBC for the first time. Today there are similar feelings of dread that the government has decided to include caste in the 2011 census. But its time that the elite and middle class came to terms with caste, debated it openly and exorcised caste demons.

When parliament pushed for a caste census there was near panic about an impending caste war. It was argued that counting OBCs would only add further muscle power to the caste chieftains to once again lobby for that terrible q word: quotas. But will counting OBCs make caste loyalties deeper or will it on the other hand provide, for the first time, hard reliable information on how many OBC castes there are and what their numerical strength is? Confronted by real numbers, it may be more difficult in fact for the quota warriors to argue for reservations. The Constitution makers of '47 aimed to progressively abolish caste discrimination, not abolish caste as an identity. Unless we all understand and study caste, we will never be able to fight it or develop a genuinely anti-caste mindset.

Political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Satish Deshpande say that a colonial caste based census where all castes, including the Hindu "upper castes" are counted and ranked is neither feasible nor desirable. What we need is to count OBCs in the same manner as we count SCs and STs. We need to count Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) in order to get an accurate picture of their actual number. We are thus not counting all castes, but only backward communities. When reservations for OBCs have been provided for at the Union and state levels, surely a census is essential to find out what the actual hard numbers are and whether the quotas are accurate.

So how does caste operate nowadays? There is the robust argument that caste is irrelevant in contemporary India, what matters is quality health and education for all irrespective of caste. Increasingly elections are showing that caste is no longer the sole criteria for voting preferences: voters are voting for bijli sadak pani, padhai and hardworking candidates and not for Gujjars, Reddys and Ezhavas. But while caste may be irrelevant for a minority, it is highly relevant indeed salient for others. When it comes to social and economic progress, certain castes have done better than others and the advantages of English language and a modern education are distributed along caste lines. Generalizations are risky, and rural Brahmins can be impoverished and backward too, yet access to English and to quality education has traditionally been the monopoly of upper castes. Class and caste are still by and large coterminus, and there is every likelihood that an upper class person in India is also "upper caste" and a "lower class" person is also "lower caste". Secure amidst our Krishnamurthys, Sens and Vermas, we never stop to think about how we got so secure in the first place.

The English-speaking elite is overwhelmingly "upper caste", that is comprising of the forward levels of the Hindu varna system. The Bengali 'bhadralok' class, or the genteel class which was supposed to be the only non-caste class in India, is also a caste-based category as the bhadralok are restricted to the upper caste even though they may not be exclusively Brahmin. A Bengali dalit bhadralok is still unheard of. In 1996 when BN Uniyal undertook a survey of national newspapers, he found that among 686 journalists accredited to the government, 454 were upper caste, the remaining 232 did not carry their caste names and in a random sample of 47, not a single one was a dalit. In a survey of matrimonial advertising carried out in 2000, ad agency McCann Erickson noted that caste remains as important in the new century as it was four decades ago. In 2002 Virginius Xaxa found that only 6 of Delhi University's 311 professors are dalits.

Thus a caste census should thus not be seen as simply a political instrument designed to secure quotas. The fight against caste is best fought when we know the enemy. Caste is an immutable, invisible and overwhelming reality in our daily lives. If we continue to act as if caste does not exist, or deny its existence, we would be failing to do battle with one of the most urgent social inequalities of our time.

No More Excuses, Now Anyone Can Convert Your Paper to iPaper

I came across this article as I was browsing some of my favorite blogs, and this immediately caught my attention. This is a site that is perfect for those who do not own a scanner or have convenient access to one.

Scribd now has a program they call Convert Your Paper to Ipaper…

which is a way for you to have all your paper documents scanned and published on the Internet, all at no cost to you..yes..you read that right….Totally FREE! All you need to worry about it getting the documents sent to them, then they take care of the rest.

How Can They Do This For Free?

They are able to offset the expense for scanning by the advertisements that are relevant to your documents.

Can You Have Any Type of Documents Scanned?

Scribd can scan almost any type of written document. They use a highly advanced scanning process which is provided by their partners, giving them the ability to scan about any document in high volumes. If you do have any questions however, they are easy to contact and ready to answer any of your questions.

Who is Scribd?

Scribd is a huge, digital library where you can publish your own original content. The focus of Scribd is to provide a way for those who have tons of documents sitting around their home or office, and to have a place to publish these documents for all to read.

What’s Their Plan?

First and foremost they are looking to save a lot of trees, which I am all for. They are also looking to utilize their space to service those who have some very important documents that were created long before the digital era. There may also be some documents that have been lost, out of print, or printed but now deleted. This provides a new life to documents that can be shared among many re-digitized and accessible to all.

The reason I am all for this and ready to support them is they are providing a great service at no cost to you. You no longer have to take the time scanning paper after paper, or the expense of purchasing a scanner, but just stick your documents in an envelope, send them off in the mail to Scribd, and before you know it, your documents are accessible to you on the Internet, never to be lost or misplaced again, nor taking up all that valuable space in your home or office.
JUST LOGON TO http://www.scribd.com/

What is Moleosophy?

The study of moles is called Moleosophy.The location of a mole, its size, shape and colour can be interpreted as indicators of your character,as well as generalities for the future. Twin moles could have yet another connotation. Moleosophy, when co-related with interpretations of other psychic sciences, substantiates personality and character readings, and provides a complete view of the subject.
"Did you know that a mole on either of your cheeks could classify you as serious, studious and solemn?"

Significance of Twin Moles


When there are twin moles irrespective of their location,the person possesses a dual nature. The presence of two moles, side by side, is indicative of a person being in love with two people.



Significance of shapes in Moles


Round - A round mole signifies the goodness in people.

Oblong - An oblong mole depicts a modest share of acquired wealth.

Angular - An angular mole suggests that the individual has both positive and negative characteristics.


Significance of Moles based on color Light Colored Moles - Those who have light colored moles are considered lucky.

Black Moles - This denotes that a person would have to surmount obstacles in order to achieve the desired results.


What Moles on your body parts means?

Area Description

Arms Moles on arms indicate that the person is polite, diligent and will lead a happy married life.If mole is near the elbow, the man will need to struggle in life, and might also become a young widower. If the woman has the same characteristics, however, her problems relate to her occupation.

Armpits A mole under the left arm is indicative of great struggle early in life, which is, however, well rewarded. Wealth makes later years equally pleasurable. A mole under the right arm shows that one needs to be alert and cautious in matters of security.

Back People like this are unreliable, and with them one must ensure that all facts are available before one enters any sort of negotiation for any enterprise.

Breast(mole on breast) A mole on the right breast is indicative of laziness, which may affect family life. You need to be assertive about your needs to be able to enjoy the love and comfort of the children. A mole on the left breast belongs to active and energetic people, who generally get what they want in life.

Buttocks People who have a mole on buttocks are un-ambitious, and will be reconciled to any mode of living.

Cheek A mole on cheek (either cheek) indicates a serious and studious person who has no interest in material pleasures.

Chin(mole on chin) A mole on either side of the chin is indicative of people who are affectionate and caring. These people adapt easily to any situation. They love travelling and respect the law of the land. They are also dedicated and conscientious workers and willingly accept responsibilities.

Ear People who are born with a mole on ear are generally considered lucky.

Elbow People who have moles on elbow love to travel. They are adventurous and spirited.

Eye If the mole is located on the outer corner of the eye, this indicates that the person is honest, reliable and forthright.

Eyebrow If a mole is located on the right eyebrow, it signifies that these people will have a highly active life and will be successful in all ventures.

Finger People who have a mole on finger turn out to be dishonest and tend to grossly exaggerate.

Foot People with a mole on foot are easy going and laid back. They need to exercise to stay healthy.

Genitals Mole on genitals lead to sexual addiction.

Forehead People who have a mole on forehead will be prosperous and well settled in life.

Hand Those people who have a mole on hand are talented and make a success of their lives.

Heel People who possess a mole on their heel make enemies easily and are prone to losing friends.

Hip A mole on any part of the hip except the buttocks signifies that these people are contented, resilient and spirited.

Knee If you have a mole on right knee, it implies that you are a friendly person. A mole on left knee signifies that these people lead an extravagant lifestyle.

Lips People with a mole on lips always aspire to get ahead in life.

Navel A man who has a mole on navel will be lucky in life and a woman who has the same desires children.

Neck If the mole is on the front of the neck, it signifies unexpected good fortune. If it is on either side of the neck, it indicates an unreasonable temperament. A mole on the back of the neck indicates a person's desire to lead a simple life.

Nipple If a man has a mole on nipple, it indicates a fickle nature. If a woman has a mole on nipple, it indicates that she is striving for social status.

Nose A mole on nose belongs to a person who will be a sincere friend and a hard-working individual.

Shoulder A mole on right shoulder indicates a sensible, industrious individual.

Wrist A mole on wrist indicates that the person is frugal, ingenious and dependable.

Nokia India To Launch Stunning N8 By Diwali 2010

If you have ever thought that Nokia has gone into the shadows equipped with a host of smartphone talents then you are wrong, because Nokia unveils N8, one of the best Super phone in N-Series probably.

This is the first device to be powered by the brand new Symbian 3 platform, the Nokia N8 will launch with a new super breed of camera that promises to capture photos and video beyond your imagination.

The biggest plus in the Nokia N8 is its 12-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash.

It also features a substantially BIGGER sensor than any ever used in any other Nokia device – even bigger than many found in dedicated cameras.The N8 is also the first Nokia device to support HD Video recording And also allows you to edit them with a smart built-in editing suite on the device.

This super phone also supports Dolby Digital Plus surround sound and users can connect it to their home theatre system.There’s also a HDMI connector allowing you to hook the smartphone to your HD TV and share your media with friends and family with a very high level of clarity.

The Nokia N8 also doubles as a portable entertainment centre, allowing you to watch HD quality video with Dolby Digital Plus surround sound and hook into a dedicated Web TV application for access to news and entertainment on the move.Nokia N8 also exceeds your imagination in the space constraints as it has 16GB of built-in storage and is expandable up to 48GB with a micro SD card.

Joining the social messaging Bandwagon fold with the likes of the latest Eseries and Cseries devices, N8 enters the fray with LIVE Twitter and Facebook updates direct to your homescreen. Comment, read and send messages, update your status and share your location and photos with just a touch.Embracing the likes of location based services, the N8 is very location-savvy and comes with FREE global Ovi Maps walk and drive navigation with support in more than 70 countries worldwide for LIFETIME.

Nokia N8 is carved from a single piece of anodised aluminium and looks glorious decked in one of five eye-catching colours, The N8 will be available in SELECT markets during the third quarter of 2010 and in India by Diwali. It is estimated to be priced at around the EUR 360 (Rs. 22,000) excluding taxes or subsidies in Countries other than India. Also, it would be outright foolishness to expect this phone to be priced below the 25k mark in India, that’s something Nokia has learnt more from its brother companies like Apple .