Professor of IPB: Benefits of Genetics
Genetics studies the diversity of organisms and its causes for better utilization. For example, genetics could help solve the problem of food needs and find the non-pathogenic cause of an illness, which is passed on in humans.
One example of the health problems suffered by a woman in the US, in her early age of 20 is her legs felt sore after walking not so far away. After consulting a doctor and therapy, she did not get recovered yet, and, eventually after a therapy of battery and X-ray, it found that the arteries from the aorta down to her feet experienced hardening due to calcification clogging with precipitated calcium phosphate.
This case was later handled by a group of doctors and scientists associated with the specialists of the National Institutes of Health in the United States. The team found an enzyme called CD73 that played a role in signaling between cells to block the deposit of calcium. Based on family history of the woman, it turned out that two brothers and two sisters were also found to suffer from the disease although both parents were normal. The pattern of inherited disease is predicted to be of genetic cause; ancestors have inherited genes that determine the expression of CD73 enzyme, one of her mother's family and one from her father’s family.
"Another case that can be studied by geneticists is for example to trace the spread and origin of a tribe or nation by analyzing the mitochondrial DNA of human because mitochondria are inherited through the mother, maternal. In 1987 the results of human mitochondrial genome research reportedly suggested that the origin of modern man now came from a woman who lived 150,000 years ago in Africa," said Professor of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MIPA), Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Prof. Dr. Alex Hartana in a press conference of pre scientific oration at Baranangsiang Campus of IPB, Bogor, on Thursday (6/10).
The purpose of Prof. Alex to study genetics is to develop the science, pass on and teach it. In addition, it is also to solve the problems such as disease and food problems.
Between the years 1960-2000, agricultural production in foodstuffs doubled, such as the world food production known as the Green Revolution. Increased production of food crops could result from improved ways of farming and the development of superior crop genotypes by geneticists. Plant breeders continue to seek the possibility of mutant genes that can increase the yield and nutritional value.
"Genetics is a collection of scientific information in the field of biology underlying the basic science of inheritance or heredity. Genetics develops out of the curiosity to solving the mystery of inheritance. Mendel was the first to suggest that inheritance is separate and not a mixing. Mendel's theory was only acclaimed worldwide after 30 years his was introduced," he said.
Genetics continues to find solutions to the problems of diseases in humans caused by genetic abnormalities. Meanwhile, the growing world food needs require geneticists, plant and livestock breeders in the broad sense to work hard and together to solve the problem. (Mtd)
