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
August 5, 2026
Nadezhda Ryabokon, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Bases for Genome Stability, has given an interview to a BelTIZ correspondent, the specialized mass media of the Belarusian Society of the Visually Impaired.
The interview aired on July 31, 2026, in the podcast “Inherited Diagnosis. Hereditary Eye Diseases.”
It has presented information on the importance of molecular genetic testing for patients and their close relatives in case of hereditary ocular diseases.
It explains the causes of unfavorable genetic variants, as well as inheritance types.
It describes the services provided by the Institute of Genetics and Cytology, NAS of Belarus, to assess a genetic predisposition to or search for molecular genetic determinants of eye diseases.
It has announced a new research project on the genetics of keratoconus and invites patients with familial forms of the disease to take part in the study.
June 5, 2026
The latest issue of The Science & Innovation Journal No. 5 (279) features an article about Director of our Institute, Lyudmila Makarina-Kibak. A Doctor of Medical Science, Professor, and the Honored Doctor of the Republic of Belarus. Behind is the career path combining medicine, politics, teaching, and science. But whatever she does, her primary goal always remains only one: helping people. Today, as Head of the Institute of Genetics and Cytology, NAS of Sciences of Belarus, Lyudmila Makarina-Kibak sees her mission in the development of the Institute and supporting its staff of world-class scientists, protecting their interests, and creating all conditions for moving forward. Genetics and biotechnology make a huge contribution to science, economy, and people’s quality of life.
