Iran ready to help Turkey launch gene bank

TEHRAN – Iran is ready to share its expertise and vast experiences in genetic information banking with Turkey and cooperate in establishing a genetic bank in the country, the head of the Forensic Medicine Department said.

“The gene bank is a source of national pride for the country,” Abbas Masjedi-Arani was quoted as saying by IRNA.

He made the remarks during a meeting in Tehran on Friday with Hizir Asliyuksek, the chairman of the Turkish Forensic Medicine Institute.

The Iranian gene bank has been successfully launched and is now operational. The genetic profiles of criminals who have committed repeat crimes are stored there, and storing the genetic profiles of people with high-risk jobs such as journalists, firefighters and pilots is also on the agenda, he noted.

In addition to genetic kits, some laboratory devices, equipment and software are also manufactured locally by experts, Masjedi-Arani added.

The center focuses primarily on providing scientific and educational services to people.

The Department of Forensic Medicine is also involved in tissue processing. Since more than 400,000 patients benefit from processed tissues every year, the department has started taking serious measures in this regard.

He also stressed that strengthening scientific interactions between the two countries will lead to further collaborations.

Asliyuksek, for his part, said that Turkish forensics has made significant progress in the past two years. The two countries can exchange experts to strengthen cooperation in specialized fields.

Observing some of the achievements and productions of the Iranian Forensic Research Center, the Turkish official invited the center to present its products and achievements at the Forensic Science Congress, which will be held in Turkey with the participation of 20 countries.

International Genetics Exhibition

The 6th International Congress and 18th National Congress of Genetics will be held in Tehran from July 7 to 9.

Organized by Shahid Beheshti University, the three-day event will be held under the theme of “Genetics for Health; Food Security; Conservation of Genetic Resources; Immediate Needs and Future Necessities,” IRNA reported.

Held every two years, the main objective of the congress is to share the latest global scientific advances between professors, researchers and experts in genetics.

International universities from Iraq, Afghanistan and Russia are cooperating with Shahid Beheshti University to organize this year’s congress, IRNA quoted the head of the Iranian Genetics Society as saying.

While there are 13 climates or weather variations across the world, Iran enjoys eleven climate diversities that result in great genetic and plant diversity. It is considered a valuable natural resource for the country, Mokhtar Jalali-Jouran said.

The value of biological, plant and animal genetic diversity in Iran is far greater than that of oil and gas, he stressed.

In terms of genetic scientific production, Iran ranks 2nd in the region and 22nd in the world, ISNA quoted the scientific secretary of the congress as saying.

Researchers from 15 countries, including Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, Australia, the United States, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Hungary, Russia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Turkey, submitted papers to the Congress, he said.

Of the 794 papers submitted, 758 were accepted. 64 papers will be presented in the form of conferences and 694 in the form of posters, he said.

The accepted articles concerned the fields of human genetics (475), plant genetics (188), animal genetics (179), ethics and biosafety (29), stem cells and microorganisms (15).

There will be 20 speakers online and in person, and a total of 17 educational workshops will be held during this year’s congress, he added.

Iran-Türkiye Technological Cooperation

In September 2023, Turkish Ambassador to Iran Hicabi Kirlangic and Iranian Deputy Minister of Science Vahid Haddadi-Asl stressed strengthening technological cooperation, especially joint scientific collaboration.

“Iran’s scientific and technological relations have not developed in parallel with its political and economic relations. We are ready to expand our relations with Turkey in terms of study opportunities, student exchanges, scholarships, technology and knowledge-based businesses,” Haddadi-Asl was quoted as saying by IRIB.

In a meeting held in Tehran on September 12, Haddadi-Asl stressed the importance of scientific relations between Iran and Turkey as two neighboring Muslim countries.

Highlighting the cultural, historical and religious commonalities of Iran and Turkey, Kirlangic said that scientific cooperation between the two countries should be much higher than the current level.

MT/MG