HYDERABAD, April 30: Scientific research needs an environment which encourages free and open inquiry, said Dr Nasir Z. Jamali.

He was delivering a lecture on the `importance of basic research in genetic and biomedical engineering’ at the Mehran University of Engineering & Technology Jamshoror on Monday. Dr Jamali is a research associate at SUNY Downstate Hospital, New York, US.

This education provides us with deeper knowledge of research, increasing possibilities to make choices in biomedical fields, and to establish national and international contacts, he said.

Every aspect of health and disease from molecular mechanism of gene to global illnesses contribute in understanding the cause, treatment and prevention of many disorders, he added.

He said researchers, educators and clinicians can help each other in improving health and alleviating suffering from a disease.

The Vice Chancellor MUET, Dr A.Q.K Rajput said molecular biology is one of the new and most challenging fields of scientific medicine which includes the study of DNA and its components.

He said, the DNA is basic information (genetic material) for any given cell and it is now becoming one of the most important requirements for isolation needed in disease diagnosis or personal identification.

It is what encodes the identity, and no two DNAs are alike. It is the most complex structure. Its analysis requires knowledge of basic science, chemistry, physics and medicine, he said.

Professor Dr B.S. Chowdhry, Chairman Department of Biomedical Engineering emphasised on the need for collaborative research and said that links with basic science research provide building blocks to clinical and human problems.

One can not only take interest in scientific problems but can also know how to apply these solutions and methodologies to the community, he said.

Dr Aijaz Patoli of the Pakistan Medical Association also spoke on the occasion. The seminar was attended by doctors, biomedical engineers, professionals and students.