KARACHI, (MILLAT/APP): The newly procured `human genome mapping
machine’ at the Jamil-ur-Rahman Center for Genome Research, University
of Karachi, will help scientists for better diagnosis and treatment of
fatal diseases like cancer.
The machine was procured at a cost of Rs. 30 million at
Jamil-ur-Rahman Center which was set up as a part of Dr. Panjwani
Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, University of
Karachi.
Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, former Chairman Higher Education
Commission (HEC) and ex-Federal Minister for Science and Technology,
expressed these views while delivering the opening lecture at the
three-day workshop on `Next Generation DNA Sequencing Data Analysis’
being held at L.E.J. National Science Information Centre, University
of Karachi on Monday.
The participants from the various universities of different
cities will be trained in the workshop by Dr. Waseem Haider of COMSATS
Institute of Information Technology Islamabad, Dr. M. Kamran Azim and
Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan of International Center for Chemical and
Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi University.
The workshop is designed for early career life scientists,
post-doctoral fellows, M. Phil and Ph.D. students, and corporate
professionals working in the areas of genomics and bioinformatics.
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman said the field genetics is also finding wide
applications in health-related research with a growing understanding
of genetic diseases.
He said that the Next Generation DNA Sequencing (NGS) technology
has revolutionized the field of genomics. Using NGS, an entire human
genome can be sequenced within a single day, he said and added that
this technology has tremendous applications in biomedicine,
agriculture, and biotechnology.
He said that Jamil-ur-Rahman Center was setup as a part of PCMD
to strengthen the ongoing molecular medicine research efforts and to
train the manpower in this cutting edge area of biology.
`The center was named after my father, late Jamil-ur-Rahman’, he
further stated.
He said that he had announced the donation for the center when he
received the Engro Excellence Award of Rs. five million on 14th
January 2011. He donated the award money as well as his own savings
for the construction of the centre.
In the end of the opening ceremony, Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan
presented the vote of thanks.