KARACHI, Dec 6: Speakers at a workshop on Monday stressed the need for teaching medical genetics at professional colleges so that genetic diseases, which are common in the country, can be diagnosed and properly treated.
They expressed concern over the fact that genetics was being badly neglected and not taught in a meaningful way to medical students. Experts were of the view that some genetic diseases could be cured if identified at an early stage.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the workshop, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Karachi, Dr Mohammad Qaiser, noted that courses of genetics were prescribed in the curricula of medicine, but medical educational institutions either skipped them entirely or touched them ostensibly.
The failure could probably be attributed to the unavailability of qualified staff or the fact that managers of medical education at colleges failed to understand the importance of genetics in the medical profession, he added.
He pointed out that in this modern era, which had witnessed accumulation of vast knowledge on various aspects of genetics, having direct applications in medicine, it was high time that due and proper attention be given to the issue.
He said that after the publication of a small article in an international publication in 1953 on the structure of DNA, the entire course of molecular genetics and biochemists was changed, which finally led to the discovery of the human genome.
He urged medical professionals to utilize not only current information, but utilize modern techniques so that the ailing mankind could be served and relief brought to its sufferings.
The six-day workshop on "Genetics for Medical Professionals", which got under way on Monday, is being organized by the Centre of Molecular Genetics (CMG), KU, and the Higher Education Commission at the KU. Representatives from various medical colleges of Sindh and hospitals are participating in the workshop, scheduled to conclude on December 11.
In her introductory remarks, the director of the varsity's CMG, Dr Nuzhat Ahmad, said the workshop was aimed at introducing molecular genetics to medical professionals, creating awareness about genetic diseases at the molecular level and discussing problems related to training about diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases.
She mentioned that genetics was playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, monitoring, treatment of diseases as well as in the manufacture of powerful drugs internationally.
Medical genetics had become an essential research and diagnostic tool for improving human health and quality of life, she added, saying that it had benefited life by the use of new tools and innovative techniques like karyo typing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, amniocentesis, chronic villus sampling, genetic counselling and a number of other techniques.
The expert of the day was Dr Sheikh Riazuddin, Director, Centre for Excellence in Molecular Biology, Lahore, who spoke on topics, including DNA repair, therapeutic potential of stem cells, and genetic and molecular basis of hearing impairment in the Pakistani population.
He briefed participants on various different types of stem cells, which were characterized by their extensive self-renewal and ability to differentiate into at least one, and usually more, mature cell types.
He said that bone marrow was a rich source of stem cells. Referring to the genetic and molecular basis of hearing impairment, Dr Sheikh said that hearing impairment was the most prevalent of sensory defects in humans.
In Pakistan, the prevalence of bilateral hearing loss was estimated at 1.6 per thousand, he remarked, saying that a large part of the world population suffered from hearing disorders due to the loss of hair cells present in the cochlea.
He pointed out that the unique cultural and social practices in Pakistan result in the appearance of many genetic diseases. Non-syndromic recessive deafness was an example of the most common cause of hereditary hearing loss in Pakistan, he added.
