KARACHI: A comprehensive seminar and hands-on training workshop on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene concluded on Wednesday at the Dr. A.Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Karachi, where students, researchers, and faculty members termed it a highly valuable academic and research experience.
During the opening session, Principal Investigator Prof. Satwat Zahra delivered a detailed presentation titled “Next Generation Sequencing of Vitamin D Receptor Gene in Malnourished Individuals: A Nutrigenomic Perspective.” She highlighted the significance of nutrigenomics and emphasized the role of genetic variations in addressing malnutrition, while sharing insights on personalized nutrition and molecular research.
The technical session began with an in-depth lecture by Prof. Dr. Kamran Azeem, who provided a comprehensive introduction to Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), tracing the evolution of DNA sequencing technologies and elaborating on various sequencing methods and modern applications of NGS in biological research.
Participants were also provided practical training on NGS workflows and techniques, along with exposure to various bioinformatics tools used for sequencing data analysis. The interactive session effectively bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Vice Chancellor University of Karachi, Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, in his address, underscored the growing importance of advanced molecular techniques, particularly NGS, and encouraged students and researchers to actively contribute to modern scientific research.
At the conclusion of the workshop, certificates were distributed among participants. The event witnessed active participation from students and researchers of the University of Karachi, Hamdard University, Dow University, and Bahria University, reflecting strong inter-university collaboration.
