The Bangladesh Association for Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology (BAPTC&B) has taken the initiative to organize a one-of-a-kind workshop on the fundamentals of advanced genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9.
Titled “Precision Gene Editing with CRISPR-Cas9 Technology: Tools & Applications,” the exclusive five-day hands-on training featured a series of structured modules and lectures, covering everything from the basics of CRISPR to its application in developing novel trait crops.
The workshop took place from May 25 to May 29, at the Plant Breeding & Biotechnology Laboratory of the Department of Botany, University of Dhaka.
The pursuit of new knowledge and technology in the field of genetics and plant breeding has been a long-standing practice for the biotechnologists and breeders of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s agricultural scenario has transformed since its independence, and production have increased many folds to feed the mouths of around 180 million people. Thus, the people of this country hardly face any food scarcity or famine even in the harsh climatic disasters.
This is due to the continuous advancement in the sector of plant biotechnology and breeding by the dedicated scientists, researchers and farmers of Bangladesh.
In continual of such devotion, the introduction of the advanced genome editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 has been an active agenda in the current plant biotechnology sectors of Bangladesh where researchers and scientists are trying to introduce novel, climate smart, nutritious and futuristic genetic variants in the species pool of global crops.
BAPTC&B has been a pioneer organization in setting precedence in these scenarios.
From the very beginning of their establishment in the 1980’s, BAPTC&B has worked tirelessly to arrange conferences, meet-ups, workshops and trainings to disseminate latest knowledge and technologies amongst scientists of public and private sectors of Bangladesh.
Their latest workshop drew a total of 20 participants from public and private sectors of Bangladesh, including the University of Dhaka, Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University, Khulna University, Jessore University of Science & Technology, Brac University, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI-PLC), and Lal Teer Seed Ltd.
The participation from renowned public and private institutes of Bangladesh indicates a huge positive uplift in the days to come, as these institutes have long served the nations interest in boosting agricultural production, developing genotypes, enriching the gene bank and aiding the farmers.
Associate professor of the Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dr Tahmina Islam served as the valuable key resource personnel in the workshop.
Playing the key role in the dissemination of the hands-on knowledge on CRISPR-Cas9 technology in which she expertized during her post-doctoral era in the Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany.
She is currently working tirelessly in the development of this new technology in plant biotechnology of Bangladesh and implementing it in her research goals to create novel trait-based crops.
Thus, she designed 7 in-silico and hands-on modules which would cover from the very basics of CRISPR to developing a feasible and constructible vector for genome editing.
The workshop also integrated quiz and presentations for the participants for the sake of correct evaluation of their understanding and performance as an interactive group.
At both the inaugural and closing ceremony of the workshop, the dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dr Md Enamul Haque graced as the chief guest and showed immense support for the initiative.
The ceremonies were chaired by the president of BAPTC&B, and professor of the Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dr Rakha Hari Sarker.
As the host for the workshop premises, chairman of the Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Professor Dr Mihir Lal Saha was present at the inaugural as a special guest.
Two key speakers from global institutes, Dr Kutub Uddin Molla Joy, scientist of Central Rice Research Institute, India, and Dr Ananda Mustafiz, associate professor of South Asian University, New Delhi, India, actively took part in the workshop by delivering key lectures on the topic.
Both researchers have inept understanding and a decade long expertize in the field of genome editing which they are now applying to enhance the biotechnological development of global agriculture.
The general secretary of BAPTC&B and professor of the Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dr Muhammad Nurul Islam and the treasurer of the organization, Professor Dr GM Al Amin, department of Botany, Jagannath University was also actively present ensuring the smooth conduction of the hands-on experience.
BAPTC&B has made a remarkable contribution by successfully implementing this initiative which would greatly benefit the public and the private sectors of biotechnology in Bangladesh in recent times.