LAHORE: CBG Canada research scientist Dr Ashfaq says that we cannot conserve the species until we have accurate data on the biodiversity in Pakistan.

“Earth has already faced five major mass extinctions and 90pc of species, once existed, have become extinct. He said the sixth extinction is likely to be different as human intervention in nature has posed a threat to existence of animals, birds and plants. If we don’t know about any of these species of animals or plants, we could not do much protect them,” he said in a ceremony at the Government College University (GCU) to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the university and the University of Guelph Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday. The agreement was signed to establish a reference library of DNA barcodes of animals, plants and fungi for research and documentation of biodiversity in Pakistan.

GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Hassan Amir Shah and University of Guelph Center for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG) Director Dr Paul Hebert, through his representative Dr Muhammad Ashfaq, signed a 26-point MoU.

Dr Ashfaq further said Europe had reference libraries which had documented and research on more than eight million species but unfortunately none of Muslim countries had taken any major initiative in this regard. He added that the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG), Canada was a global leader in the field of DNA barcoding and occupied 50,000 sq ft facility at the University of Guelph and its research capacity reflected the coupling of one of the Canada’s largest genomics platforms with a workforce that included world class expertise in biodiversity science, DNA sequencing and informatics.

“At present, researchers all over the world are utilising this powerful tool for investigating biodiversity, differentiating cryptic species, testing food authenticity, identifying parasites, vectors, insects and predators, monitoring of illegal trade of animals and their products and identifying forensically important insects,” Dr Ashfaq said.

GCU Zoology Department Chairperson Dr Muhammad Tahir said Pakistani waters had a rich biodiversity and DNA barcoding effectively worked in water bodies.

VC Prof Hassan Shah laid a stress on expanding research collaboration in Pakistan among foreign and national universities, saying that higher education had become complex and multidisciplinary, and no university in the world could progress in isolation any more.

According the MoU, both the universities also agreed to exchange faculty, researchers and students besides initiating joint research projects to develop global partnerships in the area of biodiversity genomics, biodiversity science, DNA sequencing and bioinformatics.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2017