To mark International DNA Day, the Biomedical Engineering Department of Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET) organized a symposium on “One Humanity, Many Genomes”, which was attended by a large number of students and faculty members.

KARACHI, May 31, 2023 – To mark International DNA Day, the Biomedical Engineering Department of Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET) organized a symposium on “One Humanity, Many Genomes”, which was attended by a large number of students and faculty members.
Speaking on the memorable occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Vali Uddin said that Biomedical Engineering is not limited to instrumentation and repair, rather it is a multidisciplinary field that offers opportunities for higher studies and research including employment. The overall goal of the Human Genome Initiative is to acquire fundamental information needed to further our basic scientific understanding of human genetics and the role of various genes in health and disease.
Assistant Director of Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), Afsheen Tariq said that the PASTIC is basically a research institute with a prime focus on scientific academic principles and research and the dissemination of scientific studies and information technology.
Dr. Syeda Sadaf Akberr, Dean Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Malir University of Science & Technology, said that DNA is the base of life. Some genetic changes have been associated with an increased risk of having a child with a birth defect or developmental disability or developing diseases such as cancer or heart disease.
Dr. Bilal Azmi, Assistant Professor of Dow University of Medical Sciences, said that DNA is semiconservative content, which means 50% from my side and reaming 50% from my parents’ side. Genetic variations are a kind of alteration. DNA is content to be used for forensic evidence. It is a very important thing used for the purpose of investigation.
Prof. Dr. Shamim Akhter, University of Karachi was of the view that insulin is one of the best products of genetic engineering. It is formed as a precursor protein pre-proinsulin.
Registrar SSUET, Commodore (r) Engr. Syed Sarfraz Ali said that over the past few decades, we have witnessed remarkable progress in understanding our DNA, the fundamental building block of life. This valuable knowledge has unlocked the door to a new era of personalized medicine, offering tailored treatments that are specifically designed to target an individual’s unique genetic makeup.
Chairperson Bio-medical Engineering Department, Prof. Dr. Sidra Abid Syed said that the new technology offers ample opportunities for anyone to reach anywhere. The information generated by the human genome project is promising to be important source material for biomedical fields that immensely benefit medical science.
Presenting a vote of thanks, the Dean Faculty of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aamir, said that the event has been a true testament to our commitment to promoting knowledge and understanding in the field of biomedical engineering and sciences and celebrating International DNA Day we contribute to the promotion of sustainable goal 3.
Professor Emirates M. A. Haleem Siddiqui and Alumni Tahir Jalil also spoke on the occasion. The event was concluded by awarding the souvenirs to the guest speakers.