Unikalny tsentr DNA-biatehnalogiy adkrysia sh Minsku
A unique DNA biotechnology center has opened in Minsk at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of BelarusOlga Belyavskaya, BELTA, 17.12.2009
Alexander Kilchevsky, Director of the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences, noted at the opening ceremony of the center that the new structure will make it possible to more effectively implement the achievements of genetics and genomics in healthcare, agriculture, sports and environmental protection in Belarus.
The Center will work in several areas in the field of DNA biotechnology. One of them will be DNA diagnostics of a person's genetic predisposition to cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, hemochromatosis (iron metabolism disorder). The capabilities of the center will allow to identify mutations that lead to hearing impairment, determine resistance to the AIDS virus, sensitivity to xenobiotics.
Separately, the center will organize work on DNA testing in the field of sports genetics. Modern technologies will help scientists to study the genes that affect the state of the musculoskeletal system of athletes, their endurance, speed, strength, adaptation to hypoxia, the ability to recover after physical exertion. The genes responsible for the predisposition to varicose veins in hockey players and football players, brain injuries in boxers will also be identified here.
With the help of the equipment of the new center, specialists will also be able to determine the presence of genetically modified ingredients in food raw materials and foodstuffs, carry out genetic labeling of plants to identify their varietal affiliation, organize genetic examination of breeding animals, including DNA diagnostics of hereditary diseases of cattle, DNA typing of pigs according to economically useful signs (meat productivity, multiple fertility, resistance to stress and colibacteriosis), DNA diagnostics of viral diseases of farm animals.
Every living organism carries unique genetic information. DNA technologies based on the use of DNA markers are a kind of key to the knowledge of this individuality. Their use in practice makes it possible to quickly and effectively test genotypes, identifying genotypic features, which significantly expands the possibilities of medical diagnostics, opens up broad prospects in breeding and environmental activities. The use of such innovations, for example, in healthcare allows you to correctly determine the prognosis of the development of dangerous complications of various diseases, as well as to choose the right methods of their treatment, in agriculture – to shorten the timing of breeding processes, significantly increase their efficiency, obtain new plant varieties with specified properties and improve animal breeds.
The Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus is the country's leading research center in the field of genetics and genomics of plants, animals, microorganisms and humans. One of the priorities of his scientific activity is to use the achievements of genetic science as a fundamental basis for the development of modern DNA technologies for various areas of the national economy.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru17.12.2009