Molecular Biology/Biotechnology
Key staff: Dr Azizur Rahman
Molecular biology techniques are used in almost all areas of biological sciences, including biomedical science, biotechnology and forensic science. These techniques include analysis of DNA and RNA, quantitative analysis of gene expression, and manipulation of DNA and RNA in vitro and in vivo, which have many biotechnological and biomedical applications.
Recent projects
Production of novel human proteins in eukaryotic systems. Development of in vitro and in vivo eukaryotic systems for production of bioactive human blood plasma protein.
Study of eukaryotic gene expression. Differential gene expression of human fatty acid desaturase and cytokine genes, using quantitative PCR methods.
Molecular diagnostics of genetically modified food. Identification of transgene sequence in genetically modified organism by PCR and quantitative competitive PCR methods.
Aquagenomics: isolation and characterisation of important fish genes which are related to human health and biotechnology.
Transgenesis: development of transgenic animals for human disease models and for many biotechnological applications.
Publications
Xiang, M., Rahman, M. A., Ai, H., Li, X., and Harbige, L. S. (2006) Diet and dene expression: delta-5 and delta-6 desaturases in healthy Chinese and European subjects. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 50 (6), pp. 492–498.
Sanden, M., Bruce, I. J., Rahman, M. A., and Hemre, G. I. (2004) The fate of transgenic sequences present in genetically modified (GM) plant products in fish feed, investing the survival of GM soybean DNA fragments during feeding of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. L. Aquaculture, 237, pp. 391–405.
Hwang, G., et al. (2004) Expression of Human Coagulation Factor VII in fish embryos by gene transfer. Marine Biotechnology, 6 (5), pp. 485–492.
Farahmand, H., Rahman, M. A., Sohm, F., Hwang, G. L., and Maclean, N. (2003) Isolation and expression of Tilapia (Orechromis niloticus) serine 8 type GnRH coding and regulatory sequences. Gene, 304, pp. 97–106.
Maclean, N., et al. (2003) Transgenic tilapia and the tilapia genome. Gene, 295 (2), pp. 265–277.
Rahman, M. A., et al. (2001) Growth and nutritional trials on transgenic Nile tilapia containing an exogenous growth hormone gene. Journal of Fish Biology, 59, pp. 62–78.