Laboratory of Ecological Genetics and Biotechnology
Laboratory of Applied Genomics
Laboratory of Plant Cytogenomics
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics
Laboratory of Molecular Bases for Genome Stability
Laboratory of Cytoplasmic Heredity
National Coordination Biosafety Centre
National Coordination Centre on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing
(ABS NCC)
Republican DNA Bank of a Human, Plants, Animals, Microorganisms
The Shareable Core Facilities “GENOME”
About the Institute
The Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus was established in 1965. The founder and the first director of the Institute was Nikolai V. Turbin, an outstanding geneticist, the Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Honored Scientist of the Byelorussian SSR and the laureate of the State Award of the Byelorussian SSR. At different times, outstanding geneticists worked at the Institute: A.P. Zhebrak and P.F. Rokitsky, the Academicians of the Academy of Sciences of the Byelorussian SSR; A.N. Ipatiev, the Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Byelorussian SSR.
Over the years of its existence, the Institute has made a significant contribution to the solution of a number of fundamental and applied genetic issues. It rightfully has the fame of one of the recognized centers of the former Soviet Union in the theory of heterosis, quantitative genetics and ecological genetics (activity under the direction of Academician N.V. Turbin, Academician L.V. Khotyleva, and Academician A.V. Kilchevsky); and mathematical genetics (activity under the direction of Academician P.F. Rokitsky). The activity in the field of experimental polyploidy of agricultural plants and cytogenetics of distant hybrids, led under the direction of Corresponding Member V.E. Bormotov, received the widespread recognition of the scientific community. The staff members of the Institute were among the first who started to comprehensively investigate the interaction between nuclear and cytoplasmic genetic systems (under the direction of A.N. Palilova, D.Sc. in Biology; Corresponding Member O.G. Davydenko etc.), and develop a problem of the genetic transformation of plants (under the direction of Academician N.A. Kartel). For over 30 years, oncogenetics and mutagenesis study was carried out at the Institute.
Outstanding achievements of the Institute’s staff members were marked with the State Awards of the Byelorussian SSR and the Republic of Belarus (1974, 1984 and 2002); Lenin Komsomol Prize of the Byelorussian SSR (1990); the Awards of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (1993, 1999, 2001,2003, and 2011); and the Academician V. A. Koptyuga Award (2007).
Directions of activity:
- Study of the structural and functional organization of plant, animal, microorganism and human genomes;
- Development of problems in the area of genetic and cell engineering;
- Development of genomic biotechnology for agriculture, medicine, sports and environmental protection;
- Study of biosafety, conservation of genetic resources and their use monitoring related issues;
- Study of the genome and microbiome interaction;
- Bioinformatics
News
Scientific and Practical Workshop
A scientific and practical workshop on the topic “Real-time PCR ― possible types of experiments. MIQE — a standard for working with a qPCR technique” was held in the Laboratory of Ecological Genetics and Biotechnology.
The main principles of real-time PCR, the specifics of choosing an experimental model, the optimization of qPCR stages, methods to analyze the data obtained and the need to apply the MIQE standard in scientific research were reported on.
The study results of the Republican Microbiome Research Centre under the completed economic agreement 30/2024 “To Develop Methodology for the Quantitative Determination of a Multi-Strain Lactococcus Starter Using the Real-time PCR” were presented.
The workshop included discussions and experience exchange of laboratory staff members with active participation of young people.
New Healthcare Service
The Institute of Genetics and Cytology, NAS of Belarus, has launched a new healthcare service ‒ the direct Sanger sequencing of a small genome region to confirm (or negate) the presence of a genetic variant identified during massively parallel sequencing (high-throughput sequencing using NGS (next generation sequencing).
This type of analysis is necessary to establish the molecular genetic causes of hereditary diseases and, accordingly, their accurate diagnosis. Patients with the results of clinical or whole exome sequencing obtained both in our Republic and abroad approach the Institute. Requests are related to the need to confirm the genetic causes of metabolic, musculoskeletal, ophthalmological and other diseases. Patients provide buccal epithelial samples for testing and obtain results within 35 working days.
Lecture on Terahertz Radiation
On June 6, Sergey Peltek, Head of the Molecular Biotechnology Department of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, delivered a lecture on the topic “Studying Terahertz Radiation Effects on the Genetic Systems of Transcriptional and Proteomic Levels” at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology, NAS of Belarus.
The authors were the first in the world to show that terahertz radiation can cause complex changes in the activity of E. coli genetic systems: division is disrupted, motility is suppressed, aggregation is enhanced and the cell membrane structure changes. Of particular note is the fact that the activity of entire gene cascades responsible for adhesion, morphogenesis and membrane stability changes. These results open up fundamentally new approaches to an understanding of molecular mechanisms of the effect of weak electromagnetic fields on living systems.
The report aroused keen interest among the Institute’s staff; the participants were active in asking questions and discussing the prospects of applying such research in biomedicine and biotechnology.
