Biotechnology and genetic engineering in Bangladesh

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Biotechnology and genetic engineering in Bangladesh is one of the thriving fields of science and technology in the country.

Contents

History

The research for biotechnology in Bangladesh started in the late 1970s. The root cause behind the initiation was the significance of agricultural sector, which had been the backbone of the national economy since the ancient times. The research first started in the department of Genetics and Plant Breeding in Bangladesh Agricultural University through Tissue culture on jute. Subsequently, within the next 10–12 years, similar research programs began to take place in Faculty of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, University of Rajshahi, University of Chittagong, University of Khulna, Islamic University, Kushtia, Jagannath University, Jahangirnagar University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. In 1990, Bangladesh Association for Plant Tissue Culture (BAPTC) was formed which has been organising several international conferences since its inception. In September 1993, the government of Bangladesh formed a National Committee on Biotechnology Product Development to select potential biotechnological projects which could be leased out for commercialisation. In collaboration with BAPTC, the Ministry of Science and Technology organised a workshop on Biosafety Regulation in 1997, after which a task force was formed to formulate biosafety guidelines and biosafety regulations in the light of the regulation of the workshop. In the late 1990s, Bangladesh became a member of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). In 1999, the National Institute of Biotechnology was established as the centre of excellence in biotechnological education. [1] To accelerate multidimensional biotechnological research, in 2006, the government adopted the national policy guidelines on biotechnology which was approved by the National Task force on biotechnology. [2] In 2012, the cabinet approved the draft of National Biotechnology Policy, 2012 which was aimed at eradicating poverty through increasing productivity in agriculture and industrial sectors. [3] [4]

Genome sequencing projects

Jute genome

In 2008, with the funding of the government, the University of Dhaka, DataSoft IT firm and Bangladesh Jute Research Institute initiated a collaborative genome research program on jute under the leadership of Dr. Maqsudul Alam who had previously sequenced the genomes of papaya and rubber. [5] Subsequently, in 2010, the group of scientists successfully sequenced the genome of jute, through which, Bangladesh became only the second country after Malaysia, among the developing nations, to have successfully sequenced a plant genome. [6] [7]

Fungus genome

In 2012, the same group of scientists decoded the genome of Macrophomina phaseolina , a Botryosphaeriaceae fungus, which is responsible for causing seedling blight, root rot, and charcoal rot of more than 500 crop and non-crop species throughout the world. The sequencing took place at the laboratory of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute and was done as part of The Basic and applied Research on Jute project. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Biotechnology industry

Biotechnology industry is yet to be a major contributor on the national economy, however, according to the experts, the results of some ongoing research shows enough potentials of this sector. [14] BCSIR has undertaken the production of Spirulina and a certain quantity of it is being marketed as tablets by several private manufacturers. BCSIR has also explored the production of baker's yeast using molasses which are by-products of the sugarcane manufacturing plants in the northern part of the country. The net production of molasses numbers about 100,000 million tons per year, about half of which is used in the distilleries for the production of ethanol. The production of Rhizobium is also perceived to have commercial potential. Several private pharmaceutical companies have started to develop separate and dedicated biotech units. Some private firms like BRAC Biotechnology Center, Square Agric-tech and Aman Agro Industries are producing virus-free potato seeds in substantial quantities, gradually reducing the dependency on imported potato seeds. Proshika Tissue Culture Center is now exporting varieties of tissue culture derived orchid plants. Pharmaceutical companies like the Incepta Pharmaceuticals have begun to produce and market insulin and preparing to export abroad. Incepta has also signed an agreement with ICGEB to receive the technological know-how for commercially manufacturing hepatitis B vaccine. [1] [14] [15]

Related Research Articles

Genetic engineering Direct manipulation of an organisms genome using biotechnology

Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms. New DNA is obtained by either isolating and copying the genetic material of interest using recombinant DNA methods or by artificially synthesising the DNA. A construct is usually created and used to insert this DNA into the host organism. The first recombinant DNA molecule was made by Paul Berg in 1972 by combining DNA from the monkey virus SV40 with the lambda virus. As well as inserting genes, the process can be used to remove, or "knock out", genes. The new DNA can be inserted randomly, or targeted to a specific part of the genome.

Dhaka College College in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka College is the oldest educational institution of Bangladesh located in Dhaka. It offers higher secondary education (HSC). It has Honours and Masters programs as well which are affiliated to the University of Dhaka.

Naiyyum Choudhury

Naiyyum Choudhury was a Bangladeshi biotechnologist and a nuclear scientist. He pioneered the development and adoption of the National Biotechnology policy of Bangladesh. He served as the Chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, and also served in many important positions in Bangladesh. He was serving as the founding Chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) at the time of his death. He was the Chairman of the Department of Microbiology, Dhaka University, Professor and Coordinator of Biotechnology at BRAC University, and served as faculty member in Jahangir Nagar University and BUET. He was also the IAEA Regional Cooperation Agreement (RCA) Chair person. He was also a fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS), and was serving as the Vice President of BAS at the time of his death. He was also the contact person for Inter Academic Panel (IAP) of Bangladesh.

Nagendra Kumar Singh

Nagendra Kumar Singh is an Indian agricultural scientist. He is a National Professor under ICAR at National Research Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He was born in a small village called Rajapur in the Mau District of Uttar Pradesh. He is known for his research in the area of plant genomics and biotechnology, particularly for his contribution in the decoding of rice, tomato and pigeonpea genomes and understanding of wheat seed storage proteins and their effect on wheat quality. He has also made significant advances in comparative analysis of rice and wheat genomes and mapping of genes for salt tolerance and basmati quality traits in rice.

A consortium of researchers in Bangladesh has successfully decoded the jute plant draft genome sequencing. The consortium consisted of Dhaka University, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute and software company DataSoft Systems Bangladesh Ltd. in collaboration with Centre for Chemical Biology, University of Science Malaysia and University of Hawaii at Manoa, US. On June 16, 2010, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had disclosed in the parliament that Bangladeshi researchers had successfully done draft jute genome sequencing which will contribute to improving jute fibre. Bangladesh is the second country after Malaysia among the developing nations in this kind of achievement.

Maqsudul Alam

Maqsudul Alam was a Bangladeshi-born life-science scientist who is known for his work on genome sequencing. His work on genome sequencing started with bacteria Idiomarina loihiensis in 2003. He came into the focus of Bangladeshi people after his work on genome sequencing of jute species and jute attacking fungus.

Rajeev Kumar Varshney

Rajeev Kumar Varshney is an agricultural scientist, specializing in genomics, genetics, molecular breeding and capacity building in developing countries. Varsheny is currently the Research Program Director- Genetic Gains that includes several units viz. Genomics & Trait Discovery, Forward Breeding, Pre-Breeding, Cell, Molecular Biology & Genetic Engineering, Seed Systems, Biotechnology- ESA, Sequencing and Informatics Services Unit, and Genebank ; and Director, Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems Biology at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a global agricultural research institute. He holds Adjunct/Honorary/Visiting Professor positions at 10 academic institutions in Australia, China, Ghana, Hong Kong and India, including Murdoch University, The University of Western Australia, University of Queensland, West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, University of Hyderabad, Chaudhary Charan Singh University and Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University.

Tofazzal Islam

Md. Tofazzal Islam is a biotechnologist, ecological chemist, educator, and author from Bangladesh. He is now a professor and founder Director of Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE) of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur. He joined Bangladesh Open University (BOU) as a lecturer in 1994 and became an assistant, associate and full professor in 1997, 2004 and 2010, respectively. He joined BSMRAU on July 1, 2010 as a professor and head of the Department of Biotechnology. He is a founding Director (2019-2021) of Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE) of BSMRAU, Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, the cultivation of modern science started during the British rule when the first modern educational institutions, focused on scientific fields, were established in the country. The University of Dhaka, established in 1921, acted as the driving force in producing many renowned scientists in Bangladesh.

Swapan Kumar Datta Indian scientist (born 1953)

Swapan Kumar Datta is a well known scientist (Professor) of rice biotechnology. He is well known for his pioneering research on genetic engineering of Indica rice. Datta has demonstrated the development of genetically engineered Indica rice from protoplast derived from haploid embryogenic cell suspension culture. Golden Indica Rice with enriched Provitamin A and Ferritin rice with high iron content were developed by his group with a vision to meet the challenges of malnutrition in developing countries. Datta has been named as one among the top 25 Indian scientists from all fields of science by India Today.

Ahmad Shamsul Islam is a Bangladeshi scientist and educator. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1987 by the Government of Bangladesh for his contribution to education. He is serving as a Professor of the Department of Botany at the University of Dhaka.

Bangladesh Jute Research Institute is the oldest mono corporate research institute in Bangladesh, operated by Bangladesh government.

Vijay Kumar is an Indian molecular biologist, virologist and an Honorary Scientist at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. Known for his research in hepatology, Kumar is an elected fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India, National Academy of Medical Sciences, and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences as well as a J. C. Bose National Fellow of the Department of Biotechnology. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards for his contributions to Medical Sciences in 1997.

Haseena Khan

Haseena Khan is a Bangladeshi scientist, professor and fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. She is known for her lead on decoding Genome of Tenualosa ilisha from the river Padma. She was awarded Independence Day Award, the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh for her contribution on research and training. Haseena Khan is also known for her contribution to jute genome decoding under Maqsudul Alam's lead.

Trilochan Mohapatra is an Indian biotechnologist, geneticist, a government secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and the director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Known for his studies in the fields of molecular genetics and genomics, Mohapatra is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Indian National Science Academy and the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding. The Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India awarded him the National Bioscience Award for Career Development, one of the highest Indian science awards, for his contributions to biosciences in 2003.

Tilak Raj Sharma is an Indian plant biologist, the executive director of the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), and the chief executive officer of the Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), both autonomous institutes under the Department of Biotechnology. Known for his studies in the fields of genomics and plant disease resistance, Sharma is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Indian National Science Academy. The Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India awarded him the National Bioscience Award for Career Development, one of the highest Indian science awards, for his contributions to biosciences in 2007.

The jute industry is a historically and culturally important industry in Bangladesh. Once one of the country's biggest industries and major export items, the jute industry has declined since the 1970s. Exports have fallen as other countries grow jute and other products like plastics and hemp find more widespread use. As of 2018, Bangladesh produces 33 percent of the total worldwide production of jute.

Margaret Karembu Kenyan science communication specialist and biotechnology advocate

Margaret Gathoni Karembu is a Kenyan science educator and science management specialist in the fields of technology transfer and the applications of biotechnology in Africa. She is the Director of the AfriCenter division of the ISAAA, a non-profit international organization that shares agricultural biotechnology, focusing on genetic engineering. She is the chair of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology Programming Committee, Kenya Chapter.

Senjuti Saha is a Bangladeshi scientist at the Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF), and board member of the Polio Transition Independent Monitoring Board (TIMB) of the World Health Organization (WHO). She is known for her lead on decoding the genome of SARS-CoV2 in Bangladesh.

References

  1. 1 2 Sachin Chaturvedi, S. R. Rao (2004). Biotechnology and Development: Challenges and Opportunities for Asia. Academic Foundation. pp. 177–195. ISBN   817188346X.
  2. ↑ "Govt. approves national biotechnology policy guidelines". Bdnews24.com . Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "Cabinet approves draft of National Biotech Policy". Financial Express . Dhaka. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Cabinet okays draft of National Biotechnology Policy, 2012". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Jute Genome project". The Daily Star. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Jute genome decoded". The Daily Star . Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Dhaka to get jute genome intellectual property right by mid-2012". New Age . Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Bangladeshi scientists decode genome of jute fungus". Daily Sun . Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Reaz Ahmad (20 September 2012). "Alam does it again". The Daily Star. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Sequencing fungus genome: A nonpareil achievement". Financial Express . Dhaka. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Decoding fungal genome: Salute to Dr Maqsudul Alam". Dhaka Courier . Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "BD scientists crack genome sequencing of fungal pathogen". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Bangladeshi scientists invent fungus gene". New Age. 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  14. 1 2 Naiyyum Choudhury and Md. Riajul Hossain. "Biotechnology and genetic engineering". The Daily Star. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  15. ↑ Ahmed, Zia Uddin (2012). "Biotechnology". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
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