Animal Biotechnology component,
National Institute of Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB)
Group leader
Dr. Khalid Naeem Khawaja,
CSO/HEAD Animal Health
Team members
Dr. M. Naeem Riaz
(Senior Scientific officer) Ext. 3948 (naeem_nibge@yahoo.com)
Dr. Fozia Nasreen
(Senior Scientific officer) Ext. 3948 (fozianasreen@gmail.com)
Dr. Tahira Kamal
(Scientific officer) Ext No. 3911 (email: tahirakhurram3@gmail.com)
Ms. Asma Jabeen
(Scientific officer) Ext No. 3908 (email: asmajabeen2010@yahoo.com)
Mr. Rashid Hassan
(Research associate) Ext No. 3948 (email: raashaiduaar@yahoo.com)
Mr. Muhammad Suleman (Lab Technician) Ext No. 3948 (email: sulemanspk@yahoo.com)
Mr. Farooq Rashid
Mr. Gul Fraz Khan
(Lab Technician) Ext No. 3912 (email: farooqrashid2003@yahoo.com)
(Office Attendant)
Mr. Ijaz Ahmad Abbasi (Office Attendant)
Mr. M. Siddique
(Driver)
Mr. Ashfaq M. Saryoa
(Genitor)
Current Activities
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Genetic analysis of genes controlling growth, milk production and disease resistance etc. in
Pakistani food animals
Genetic analysis of inherited disorders in cattle.
To develop DNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics for diseases in food animals
Other activities
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Teaching and research supervisions of PIASA post graduate students
Dr. Naeem Riaz
SSO, NIGAB
Date of joining :
Reporting Period
:
27 March, 2012
01. 08.2012 to 31.08.2012
Experiment 1: Genetic analysis of prolactin gene polymorphism in Nili-ravi buffaloes, Sahiwal and
Achai cattle
Introduction: Lactotrophs are special cells in frontal lobe of the pituitary gland that secretes a multifunctional hormone called “prolactin”. It plays an important regulatory function in many physiological
processes of the body like development, growth of mammary glands (mamogenesis), expression of milk
protein and milk secretion from mammary glands. It also involves in the synthesis of lactose and milk
fats etc.
Objectives: Molecular analysis of prolactin gene polymorphism in Nili-ravi buffaloes, Sahiwal and Achai
cattle
Progress: Results showed that animals of Nili-Ravi buffaloes were found to be monomorphic for GG
genotype, while in case of Sahiwal and Achai cattle the prolactin gene present in three polymorphic
form having three genotypes GG, GA & AA. The frequency of these genotypes varies according to the
breeds. In Sahiwal cattle the frequency of genotypes GG was higher followed by AG and AA while in
Achai cattle the frequency of genotype AG was higher followed by GG and AA. Thus overall frequency of
allele G was significantly higher in all the studied animals. More blood samples will be collected and
their molecular analysis is going on. almost 200 samples screened.
Experiment 2: Molecular analysis of Leptin gene polymorphism in Nili-ravi buffaloes
Objective: To study Leptin gene polymorphism in Nili-Ravi buffaloes
Progress: In this regards blood samples were collected, genomic DNA was extracted and molecular
analysis of leptin gene is in progress PCR-RFLP method is optimized and the screening is going on, for the
collection of blood samples from cattle tour will be arranged in next month.
Experiment 3 : project on “Epigenetic profile study of milk production genes promoters in bovines”
Have been designed paper work is completed and information regarding the location of cattle resources
in Pakistan is going on. Purchase of chemicals is completed and the experimental work is in optimization
phase
Dr. Fozia Nasreen
SSO, NIGAB
Date of joining :
27 March, 2012
Reporting Period
:
01.08.2012 to 31.08.2012
Work completed:
Project entitled “Genetic Testing for BLAD, Citrullinamia, DUMPS and bovine
Inherited Zinc Deficiency in Pakistani Bos indicus, Bos taurus and Bos indicus x Bos taurus cattle” Have
been designed paper work is completed and information regarding the location of cattle and chicken
genetic resources in Pakistan is still going on. Purchase of chemicals for the smooth running of
experiments is partially completed and the Optimization for the experiments in lab is almost done for
some of the diseases. Following is the list of tasks achieved in the month of August, 2012
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Blood Sample Collection from different livestock farms
DNA extraction from Blood
DNA Quantification to check its quality
PCR Optimization for the amplification of gene encoding bovine CD18
PCR amplification of the target gene’s responsible for the Citrullinaemia
Optimization of a PCR-RFLP based method for the genotyping of BLAD and
Citrullinaemia
Genetic Screening of all the AI bulls
Trying to optimize a project on epigenetic initially its planned for the 3 cattle
breeds, plan of work is completed but waiting for the few chemicals to start
practical lab work on this project
Test for the diagnosis of the CVM disease is in optimization process while BLAD
and citrullinaemia is optimized
Participated in curriculum revision for PIASA, designed two new courses including
General biotechnology and Animal molecular genetics, while one course on
Genomics Proteomics and Bioinformatics is revised.
Final exam conducted for AGB-700 and AGB- 701
Lap experiments supervision.
Along with this testing for all the samples, reagents and equipments present in lab is completed.
Dr. Tahira Kamal (Scientific officer) and Ms. Asma Jabeen (Scientific officer) Both have joined recently
and are busy in project designing To develop DNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics for diseases in
food animals and relevant lab activities.
Dr. Tahira Kamal
(Scientific officer)
A project entitled “Standardization of reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification
(RT-LAMP) diagnostic test for Rapid Detection of Foot & Mouth Disease Virus under field condition” is
designed. Paper work is completed, trying to order all the chemicals and equipments required to
complete the project. Partial optimization of the project is also in progress
Ms. Asma Jabeen
(Scientific officer)
Project entitled “Development of cloned vaccines against avian adenovirus serotype-4 in poultry”
Paper work is completed, trying to order all the chemicals and equipments required to complete the
project. Partial optimization of the project is also in progress