We gazed dreamily at the Milky Way Galaxy and once in a while caught some shooting stars. Times like those provided me the opportunity to wonder and ask all those very basic questions. That sense of awe for the heavens started there. Kalpana Chawla
A Total Solar Eclipse observed in the narrow zones of the Pacific Ocean and South America on 2nd July 2019, that was the only total Solar Eclipse of the ongoing year. Take a look of some of the mesmerizing moments captured by the astrophotographers in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
?: The first diamond ring from the Total Solar Eclipse
Location: Chile, Atacama
Astrophotographer: Jaxson Pohlman
Diamond Ring
The World at Night (TWAN) ?: Total Solar Eclipse from Lambert, La Serena, Chile on July 2, 2019. From @Miguel_Claro: Sharing my landscape views of the last Total Solar Eclipse as seen from Lambert, 30km northeast of La Serena. Photos have been captured with Sigma 105mm.
Different Phases during Total Solar Eclipse
?: A complete cycle of total solar eclipse, 2nd July 2019
Location: La Serena, Chile
Astrophotgrapher: @startojano
A Total Solar Eclipse
?: Total Solar eclipse, a shadow of the Moon and Venus
Planet Earth is facing disastrous impacts of climate changes from the beginning of the 21st century, United Nation is taking several steps to control it including sustainable development goals 2015 agreement, which was signed by 193 countries including Pakistan. Unfortunately, the US-one of the major contributors to global warming withdraws herself from the agreement.
Pakistan is also taking several steps to achieve 17 goals of sustainable development, including success full Tree plantation and constructing new water resources. Though Pakistan has the least contribution in global carbon footprints it is affected most. Pakistan’s carbon footprint will be increased to 400 % by 2030. Youth across the globe is not very much happy with the existing scenario and they are tired of listening boring speeches made by world leaders, now they want real action against climate change.
In this manner, young souls from 24 countries including Pakistan are getting united to launch a campaign called “All in for climate action”. young people are calling each other for real climate action and for this purpose they have filed a petition on change.org, which has been signed by 250.000 people. The team is looking forward to getting it signed by one million people before September 2019, so they can put their demand in front of global leaders in the UN Climate Summit on September 23rd in New York.
The #AllinforClimateAction-Movement demonstrates the unity and power of the rising youth movements, intend on carrying their message to leaders who will meet at the UN Summit. Petitioners are calling on them to go “All in for Climate Action” and to make the UN Climate Action Summit in September a historical turning point. They demand that world leaders acknowledge and declare a Climate Emergency and focus on presenting courageous action plans to keep global warming below 1.5°C, – press release reads.
Durlabh Ashok is a Coordinator for Central and South Asia and he says, “According to scientific reports, five of the ten countries worst affected by Climate Change are in Asia. For example, Cyclone Nargis affected 2.4 Million people in Myanmar and Pakistan witnessed a catastrophic heat wave in 2015 causing the death of over 2000 people. If necessary steps are not taken, these extreme weather patterns will intensify; that is why we demand urgent action.”
Saher Rashid is an ambassador for the campaign from Pakistan and she believes that We have an age of environmental breakdown. 58000 species are lost each year mostly because of human lifestyle/activities. Are we moving back towards the age of dinosaurs extinction or is it something more dangerous than that as the earth is undergoing the 6th massive extinction in its history
In the present, the youth is not taking to the streets only for the reduction of greenhouse gases, we march because climate change adds on to the human and financial costs being historically assumed by the most vulnerable, like the people living in emergency villages whose houses are destroyed by floods, or the lands of indigenous communities being expropriated by corporations, and this is already happening now. The climate emergency crisis is a matter of human rights, says Nicki Becker, petition starter from Argentina, Latin America.
Climate activists from currently more than 20 countries are participating in #AllinforClimateAction.The petitions are all united around 10 demands. Until September, they collect signatures. Till then, they are actively looking for youth ambassadors to launch petitions and movements in every country.
This all-volunteer movement is independent of governments and political parties, international, collaborative and open to all. The climate crisis affects all of us, regardless of location, gender, race, religion, culture, age or origin, and will require all of us to pitch in to prevent its worst effects from being unleashed.
Volunteers in Pakistan are also trying to create awareness on climate change and a volunteer force -free from Government and any political influence, so they can build pressure on related institutes including government to take mandatory actions to control climate change impact.
Pakistan Science Club in collaboration with ECO Science Foundation and Pakistan Science Foundation has organized a science fair at national level named as “NATIONAL SCIENCE & INNOVATION FAIR 2019”. The purpose was to promote and search science talent to represent Pakistan at National and International level.
The top three winners of the NSIF’19 will participate in China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest (CASTIC), the biggest science contest of Asia in July 2019. Students from all over Pakistan participated and shared their ideas on a larger platform under the umbrella of Pakistan Science Club. NSIF’19 helped students to think in a rational way to explore the possibilities for the betterment of society using scientific concepts and an innovative approach.
PRE-EVENT WORKSHOPS
Prior to the event series of workshop was conducted by PSC to spread awareness about the event and to encourage talented students to participate and bring out their talent to make this world a better place. Workshops were not only conducted in schools and colleges but online sessions were also carried out by PSC for the guidance of students reside outside Karachi. Workshops were conducted in following schools and organizations:
• The Lab School
• Pop up Learning
• The SET School
• Pakistan Science Club
LOCATION & DATE
National Science & Innovation Fair 2019 was held at one of the most prestigious institutes of technology in Karachi “Usman Institute of Technology (UIT)” on Saturday, 15th June 2019.
NUMBER OF ATTENDEES
A large number of students along with their mentors, teachers and families participated and witnessed the competition among different schools. Total 30 projects were shortlisted out of 500 registrations. Shortlisted candidates were from different schools and colleges of Pakistan including:
• The City School PAF Chapter
• IBA Public School Sukkur
• IBA Community college Khairpur
• IBA Community College Naushahro feroze
• Cosmic Science Club
• Beacon Light School
• IBA Community College Daddu
• SMS AGA KHAN SCHOOL
• Bahria College N.O.R.E. I Karachi Pakistan
• NCR-CET etc.
Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro (President ECOSF) was the chief guest of the event whereas Dr. Prof. Sikander Shirwani (Professor Federal Urdu University), Parkash Lohana (Professor UIT), Bhavani Shankar (Professor MUET), Dr. Zaheer (Director UIT), Partab Shivani (President Thar Education Alliance) witnessed the competition as Special Guests of the Event.
MAIN EVENT
The event started from 09 am in the morning, tables were assigned to each student, where students set up their projects and project board. Judging was carried out from 10:00 am to 01:00 pm. Each project was judged by at least three judges of the project category. At 01 pm there was lunch arrangement for students, their parents, and mentors.
Meanwhile, results were prepared by the judges. The closing ceremony was then started at 2:30 pm with the recitation of the Holy Quran, President Pakistan Science Club, Abdul Rauf presented the welcome note to the honorable guests and participants. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro was invited to share his views about the event as keynote speaker, he appreciated all the participants and urged them to keep working on their ideas not only for competitions but for the betterment of our beloved homeland. Dr. Zaheer, director UIT and Prof. Bhavani Shankar from MUET also talked about the importance of conceptual learning and
innovative approach in the world of technology. The event was concluded after the result announcements
RESULTS
After a very tough competition, three winners were finalized by the judges by mutual consent. These are as follows:
First Position
Name: Arbaaz Mehmood Project Title: Matter-Antimatter Collisions: A way forward in Particle physics
Second Position
Name: Aamna Ahmed Project Title: Smart Aqua Lab
Third Position
Name: Hamza Ibrahim Project Title: Paralyze Assist
Other than top 3 winners that will represent Pakistan in China, three special prizes were also given to selected participants who will be representing Pakistan in Junior Einstein Competition at Stamford University, Thailand. Chief guest, special guests, and President PSC presented medals to the winner students and congratulate them. The guests were awarded honorary souvenirs and shields from the Team PSC.
SPONSORS & NETWORK PARTNERS
Team PSC is highly grateful for the generous sponsorship and cooperation of ECOSF, PSF and USMAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for this competition. It was a great honor and gratitude that such prestige organizations collaborated and joined hands for the positive change and promotion of science in our society through this worth learning, exciting and healthy activity. The contribution of the mentioned organization is not only a charitable contribution but without the support and assistance of them, it would not be possible for us to achieve our goals. Along with the PSC is highly thankful to IEEE, Khawrizmi Science Society, Ilm.e.neroon, Thar Education Alliance, Takhti Online, NAYS, Scientia, Popup learning, WEP, IFIA, Mad lab UK, NMIEL, High Star Science Club as network partners and all the other personnel involving volunteers and security persons for their assistance.
SpaceX marks a historic milestone on June 25th when its mega-rocket Falcon Heavy successfully launched more than two dozen satellites in one of the most difficult maneuvers in space exploration. It was Falcon Heavy’s first time when its engines blasted out in the night sky and carried a massive payload for universities, NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the non-profit organization The Planetary Society. The launch was a part of the US Air Force’s STP-2 (Space Test Program).
As part of the mission, three of the first stage boosters successfully landed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. However, the central core booster narrowly missed the target. Earlier, SpaceX representatives pointed it out multiple times that core booster might miss its target due to the complications in higher-than-normal speeds. Elon Musk, the SpaceX CEO, described it as the SpaceX’s “most difficult launch ever”.
The launch was also historic because this is the first time Falcon Heavy reused the boosters to fly. The two side boosters had previously been used in April to launch the first commercial flight of Falcon Heavy.
It is pertinent to mention here that Falcon Heavy is the most powerful operational rocket in the world. SpaceX has claimed that Falcon Heavy has “the ability to lift into orbit nearly 64 metric tons (141,000 lb) ―a mass greater than a 737 jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage, and fuel”.
The history of agriculture traces back to 10,000 BC when, according to archaeologists, first crops i.e. wheat was cultivated in different areas of the Middle East by humankind. Since antiquity, farmers got aware that some crops can not only produce better yields than others but some of them were naturally more resistant to insects and pests.
Later on, they learned that certain characteristics of crops can be produced by the cross-pollination of parent plants through a method which is called ‘natural selection’ or ‘classical breeding’. However, this method had various disadvantages. A sizeable number of parent plants had to be cross-bred many times to get the desired changes in the genetic makeup of the plants.
Furthermore, it was also observed that the genetic makeup of the offspring would be randomly re-assorted and while some offspring might produce the desired results, other desired genome may be lost along with transfer of undesired genome during the process. Plant breeders thus had to carry out repeated back-crossing to the desirable parent plants which was a time-consuming task.
With the exponential increase in the global population, demand for food and subsequently concerns for food security have also increased dramatically. New methods of crop cultivation have been developed to cater to the increased demands of food. Genetic engineering has provided a novel method for not only increase the production of crops but the quality of crops too.
Genetic engineering uses knowledge of the genetic makeup (DNA and genome) of the organisms and modifies them to produce specific results. Instead of using the more time consuming and more unpredictable natural selection or classical breeding methods, genetic engineering uses methods such as ‘gene technology’ or ‘recombinant gene technology’.
This technology transfers into the selected genes from one organism to another. Thus a herbicide-tolerant plant or a plant resistant to viruses, insects or droughts can be produced. Further variations such as modified flower color composition, delayed ripening or high yield crops can be carried out to create genetically modified (GM) plants.
Transgenic or GM crops have been planted in different countries around the globe from 1996 to 2015. According to a report around 179.7 million hectares planted in 2015 to GM crops with high market value, such as herbicide-tolerant soybean, maize, cotton, and canola; insect resistant maize, cotton, potato, and rice; and virus resistant squash and papaya. More than one trait can be hoarded into a plant with genetic engineering techniques. GM crops with combined traits such as herbicide tolerant and insect resistant maize, soybean and cotton, are also available commercially.
The only GM crop approved and grown in Pakistan is Bt (bacillus thuringiensis) cotton. It is grown mainly in Southern Punjab.
These commercial GM crops have proved instrumental in crop production and a couple of more such products are in the pipeline which will have a profound impact on food quality, environmental factors, pharmaceutical production, and in commercial crops.
For instance, rice has a great number compounds like iron and beta-carotene, which is an important micronutrient convert into vitamin-A in the human body); long-lasting banana ripens faster on the trees and can, therefore, be harvested earlier. Similarly, tomatoes with high levels of flavonols, which are powerful antioxidants; arsenic-tolerant plants; edible vaccines from fruit and vegetables; and low lignin trees for paper making all are examples of such products.
GM crops have not only been used to increase crop productivity but many countries have also used them to solve problems of water salinity and other environmental problems. Creating plants that are resistant and tolerant to drought or salinity (high salt content in soil) can provide solutions to the problems of food security and malnutrition in face of the increased demand for food due to increased global population, especially in developing countries.
The issue of global warming and climate change has emerged as a global challenge in the recent decades affecting the most developed to least developed nations at the same time. Genetically modified trees and plants that specifically target carbon dioxide and help in its sequestration have been demonstrated to be extremely useful in this global fight to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
However, people in certain countries are concerned about the adverse long term impacts on health and environment which due to GM crops. There is a number of risks associated with the use of biotechnology for crops with negative effects. Allergenicity in the form of serious allergic reactions is a major issue faced by consumers in the USA and Europe. Furthermore, various studies have shown that genetically modified organisms (GMO) can cause unintended harm to other organisms.
For instance, pollen from Bt corn―a GM crop― caused heavy toll of death in monarch butterfly caterpillar. Another unfavorable issue is that there could be cross-breeding between GM herbicide-resistant crops and weeds. This also results in the transfer of herbicide resistance genes to the weeds which will subsequently also become herbicide tolerant. In addition, GM crops affect entire ecosystems and the situation will eventually boil down into biodiversity reduction.
Owing to these concerns many countries have passed legislation acts to protect their consumers and industries form disastrous effects. Furthermore, some international multilateral conventions have signed and ratified by many nations to oversee the moral, ethical and environmental impacts of these genetically modified crops in particular and genetically modified organisms in general.
This includes the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and Cartagena Protocol. The goal of such efforts is to ensure safe handling, transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs), the aftermath of modern biotechnology that may have dire effects on biological diversity, taking into account high risks to human health. The protocol set the advanced agreement procedure for protection and to ensure a safe transfer of living modified organisms, including GM crops, across various countries.
Molly Troxel, a fifteen years old teen can now see everything, a feat that most of us take for granted but not for her as she was born with “Leber Congenital Amaurosis”. It is a rare genetic disease responsible for retina destruction during infancy and usually leads to blindness.
Troxel inherited the faulty genes through both parents. She is the first ever patient went through gene editing to cure her blindness, making her case experimental, uncertain and therefore dangerous. A treatment like this always considered nearly impossible in the medical field. Her story is a symbol of hope for the life-altering scientific technique known as ‘gene therapy’.
What is Gene Therapy?
Gene therapy is a technique to replace the faulty or missing gene with a healthy copy of the same gene. There are a couple of ways to perform this procedure but most of them are in the infancy phase.
For now, gene therapy can be healing but is not considered a proper cure so far and thus needs more research work, especially to distinguish long-term side effects.
Genetic engineering is a rapidly developing field
In one such technique, scientists perform gene therapy by entering DNA carrying viruses into the patient’s cells to target and replace certain genes. The new DNA usually contains a functioning gene to correct the effects of a disease-causing mutation.
But what makes gene editing so revolutionary is its ability to combat disease and disorders, which is potentially life-changing. The promising technique could provide a cure for fatal diseases and thus could change the lives of millions.
The science of gene editing
Genes are edited and replaced by scientists using a new technology known as CRISPR (clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats). CRISPR is often used alongside ‘Cas’ proteins, such as Cas9 (an enzyme) to aid in cutting and destroying DNA. The inspiration for this was derived from the natural defense mechanisms of bacteria and archaea to fend off attacks from viruses and other foreign bodies.
CRISPR-Cas9 is the new genome-editing tool, scientists prefer the most, as compared to the previous genome-editing technique Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN), discovered two years prior to CRISPR.
Therefore CRISPR has become a revolutionary tool for gene therapy
Disease and gene therapy
Here are the latest discoveries of gene therapy on rare disorders with potentially groundbreaking solutions. The following are examples of implementations of the latest gene therapy.
Gene therapy for blinds
1. Blindness
Gene Therapy offers a possible cure to genetic blindness, however, currently no final solution has been confirmed and the investigations are still in progress.
The possibility of gene-edited technology, such as CRISPR-Cas9 for blindness considered plausible because as compared to more complex diseases, it is easier to resolve and the mutation that results in most of these diseases has clearly identified by scientists.
Additionally, the immune system’s activity in the eye is limited, points out that scientists do not have to worry about some immune reactions, leading to negative side effects. All these factors make gene therapy a promising technique for blindness caused by genetic disorders.
Treating muscular dystrophy
2. Muscular dystrophy
Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy is also another disease have no cure. Patients born with this disease suffer from progressive muscular dystrophy in their childhood. However, researchers recently found that a mutation in the DMD genes – an in charge of proteins necessary for muscular contractions –is mostly responsible for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy.
As per estimation, there are around 3,000 mutations in the human body those are responsible for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy. In an attempt to edit the genes, researchers developed a new method which systematically, uses CRISPR to c 12 targeted areas of mutation hotspots, includes a wide range of possible gene mutations related to muscular dystrophy. Thus offers an innovative solution for the cure of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy.
3. Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease is a deadly illness also caused by a genetic disorder. It causes the nerve cells within the brain to break down, which results in deteriorating mental and physical abilities and currently the disease is incurable.
Huntington’s disease is caused by the irregular repetition of a specific ‘DNA sequence’ inside the Huntingtin gene.
However, treating Huntington’s offers was a difficult challenge to scientists, since any small mistake can have severely dangerous effects due to its location in the brain. Thus, scientists concluded that a more precise gene-editing tool is required to combat this fatal disease. As a result, the KamiCas9 invented, a type of CRISPR-Cas9. This was then used by a team of Polish researchers with ‘nickase’ enzyme for more specific gene editing. Thus, proving the possibility of a cure for this fatal disease.
Gene therapy in cancer treatment
4. Cancer
Cancer is one of the most complex diseases of our age. It generally includes a low survival rate and has no complete cure. However, it does have various treatments. Currently, about 86 people with different types of cancer have been treated with CRISPR in China, although their results are yet to be released.
Scientists work to target cancer through gene editing, by extracting the ‘T cells’ and modifying the genes present in it via CRISPR technology. The cells that are then ‘reinfused’ into the body, have a greater ability to fight tumor cells, further decreasing cancer.
However, these are just a few examples of the possibilities that ‘gene therapy’ offers. There is a whole world of the unknown still waiting to be explored by gene therapy. The possibilities are endless in this new and exciting field of study.
“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understandings. It is a bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your self-sick, so therefore, trust the physician and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.”
Khalil Jabran
In the course of history, Erik Erikson was the first man who unfolded the eight stages of personal growth everyone undergoes during his adolescence. At each of these stages, he faces internal conflicts that draw him to a turning edge of the life where he finds his authentic self and true identity. A crisis occurs when people feel uncertainty about who they really are and their genuine role in life.
An identity crisis in youth
Identity development is a lifelong process that starts from childhood and ends at an old age. At one time or another, we all experience identity crisis in our life when things and events seem out of control, we stuck in the past and experience trouble in moving into the future. But eventually, this crisis leads us to a positive solution to our internal conflicts and external challenges. Identity formation involves multiple factors like genetics, physical, moral, psychological, and social.
The adolescence is a period when one delves into an identity as a process of discovering his authentic self, he got confused or stuck about his personal strength, flaws, and weakness. All these interim confusions and uncertainties create doubts about oneself and his role in society. If one fails to develop the abilities or qualities that help us to build a strong sense of self and understandings of our surrounding, his entire life dominates around suffering, recklessness and extreme ego-driven behaviors.
To step outside from this self-made domination of ego, one needs to look the life and people with the eyes of presence instead of ego. Today, we are breathing in a digital age with less social norms and ethics, where people used to examine their identities on the basis of external factors like career moves, property, credits, and social circle.
We need to realize that the role we play in the society, the feature we exhibit, and the things we believe in are all matters the most in the ordinary realm of human discourse but they can never personify who we really are.
When one unable to feel his presence without the sense of these external factors he will have doubts about his beliefs, skills, and future endeavors and his entire life will dominate around mistrust, inferiority complex, isolation, and escape from reality.
This identity crisis could be severe when one fails to set up a topology for understandings that how young adults genuinely deal with the internal conflicts without bashing out on loved ones and learn to cope with external challenges of life. This is the major factor behind the overwhelming rate of divorce and breakups in our society.
Due to generation gap parents are completely unaware of the internal and psychological problems their child has been going through since the adolescence so when the one partner either in intimacy or in a relationship proves unfaithful the other questions his/her identity because they are no longer associated with that person and this emotional separation affects their abilities in future decision, values, goals, intimacy, and relationships.
In order to draw a constructive view of life with solid colors, one needs to expose his true self behind the ego that he built as a defense mechanism only to preserve himself from more hurt and pain. Our youth should be realized that suffering, uncertainties, and pain are the major factors in the process of personality development.
Consequently, the identity crisis is a sizeable resistance in the process of personality growth and sometimes the stressful events could be so overwhelming that the achieved identity may sabotage or lost entirely. The solution to this significant problem of youth lies within their own authentic self. One should never surrender to the chaos and hurtful events of life, believe that whatever is taking apart within you will eventually unfold your real identity.
Samina is a nineteen years old girl from Hunza, Pakistan. She has been facing problems in body movement those are increasing with each day and now she can no more raise arms in front of her face. Understabely, her muscles are fading slowly just like an eroding wall gradually losing its bricks. A genetic time bomb hides inside her body cells.
Around three years ago, Samina started feeling weakness in her muscles. After a couple of tests, she diagnosed with an incurable genetic disease called “Muscular Dystrophy.” Mukhtar her father, who is also a heart patient, sells snacks at a rented shop, the only work he can do due to his ailment.
Samina desperately needed highly priced drugs and medical tests on a regular basis and a fully formatted house in her steep village with easy access to things and a transformed toilet. It was nearly impossible for her family who can not even afford the medical expense of Mukhtar.
Later on, a few donors proceeded and helped the family in some expensive medical tests (worth 200 thousand rupees) to further evaluate the situation. The results revealed a bleak picture as they suggest the worst situation for this brave girl and predicted severe cardiopulmonary problems and even her death at the age of 30. But there was another challenge awaiting the family because Sarah – the younger sister of Samina – is also on the same way of Muscular Dystrophy.
Samina’s parents are close cousins and even their parents or Samina’s grandparents were also close cousins who shared the same genetic pool.
Pedigree of a rare recessive phenotype-a classical case of interfamily marriages
Pakistan – a hub of genetic disorders
Marriages among close relatives are common in Pakistan and responsible for many genetic ailments and a majority of them are still needed to be further investigated. According to a research paper, 50 percent of marriages are consanguineous or take place between common family members in Pakistan.
Recently, a new genetic mutation, responsible for eye defects leading to blindness in Pakistan, has been unearthed with the collaboration of Pakistani and Swiss scientists.
Marriages among close relatives are common in Pakistan and responsible for many genetic ailments and a majority of them are still needed to be further investigated
Geneticists from the University of Geneva Medical School (UNIGE) and the Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, have analyzed the genome of many families having mutant – changed or abnormal copies – in a new gene called MARK3.
They found mutations in the MARK3 gene in a family having three affected children. Both parents were cousins, dubbed as a consanguineous family in medical term. The infected children inherited two copies of genetic mutation, both from the mother and father.
Genetics and molecular biology of autosomal recessive disorder
The mysterious eyeball disappearance disease was unexplainable until this research. Now, we have found that the mutation is responsible for the shrinking eyeballs in children leading to the blindness. These findings published in the journal, Human Molecular Genetics.
“We found a pathogenic mutation in a new gene – that was not linked to any disease before – named as MARK3 in a Pakistani family of three affected individuals. These individuals developed progressive Phthisis bulbi (shrinkage of the eyeball),” says Muhammad Ansar, a researcher at the Department of Genetic Medicine and Development at UNIGE.
The mutation is also responsible for the disease as eyeball of a sibling was almost reduced to vanish by the time he reached the age of 30.
ADCY3 genetic defects – discovered in the UK and confirmed in Pakistan
A decade ago, the geneticist from the Imperial College London, discovered that adenylate cyclase or ADCY3 gene is responsible for abnormal obesity and other problems when it was first tested in mice when they applied deformed or mutated copies of the gene in their bodies. These animals were abnormally fat and found with a poor sense of smell.
In 2018, the mice model was confirmed by human subjects in Pakistan. Scientists found some very obese children with deformed ADCY3 gene in Punjab because of the high level of consanguinity (inter-family marriages) in its population.
“Besides being severely obese and lacking in sense of smell, subjects with ADCY3 mutations suffer from mild to moderate intellectual disability and are slow learners. There is also evidence that the affected children may predispose to have diabetes at a later stage of life,” says Sadia Saeed, a researcher in the study. A campaign is much needed to aware of the health risks of cousin marriages in Pakistan, she added
“Genetic counseling of the affected families is undoubtedly an effective way to deal with the alarmingly high rate of genetic disorders. Moreover, in cases that have a family history of genetic disorders, the couple should undergo genetic testing before getting married. Such initiatives can help reduce the number of children afflicted with severe hereditary disease. These measures are already mandatory in several inbred countries that have a high rate of consanguinity,” she further added.
In particular, Pakistan needs a mass campaign to aware the people about the problems of interfamily marriages. Electronic and print media can play a vital role to curb the interfamily marriages
National institute of genetic diseases
Geneticists from Kohat University of Science & Technology set Pakistan’s first Genetic Mutation Database, that covers 1,000 mutations of 120 disorders and syndromes. Surprisingly many of them only discovered in Pakistan. Our country urgently needs a national center for genetic disorders with clinical geneticists and state of the art research labs to ensure a healthy future of the next generation.
The policymakers should set at least 4 to 5 centers across Pakistan to find the unexplored genetic disorders in Pakistan. Also, a rural community should be made in focal areas because the consanguinity level is relatively very high there as compared to major cities and towns of Pakistan.
In particular, Pakistan needs a mass campaign to aware the people about the problems of interfamily marriages. Electronic and print media can play a vital role to curb the interfamily marriages. For a healthy and disease free generations, we need efforts a clarion call.
Note: The names and location of the characters are changed to ensure privacy.
Mohammad Naeem Qureshi is the most prominent and skilled name of environment sector in Pakistan. Currently, he is serving as the editor Energy Update magazine and President National Forum for Environment. He is an experienced managing editor with a demonstrated history of working in the oil and energy industry, renewable energy, advocacy in climate change and corporate social responsibility. Here are some excerpts of his recent talk with Muhammad Abdullah Khan, an active team member of Scientia magazine for our special environment edition. He briefly talked on his efforts for bringing environmental awareness in Pakistan.
What according to you is the biggest environmental threat today?
In my own assessment, the constant and unchecked usage of polythene bags in Pakistan poses a serious threat to the environment. This menace should be curbed at the earliest. All the measures brought about in the past to counter this problem remained unsuccessful. Take for instance the recent announcement of Sindh cabinet, a few months back to ban the use of polythene bags in Sukkur district. The Sukkur city supposed to become the first district in Sindh to implement the decision of the provincial government to ban the use of polythene bags. Later on, the ban planned to be extended to other districts of the province as well.
Meanwhile, in the last session of Sindh Assembly, Sindh Environment Minister while speaking in the question hour, conceded that no progress has made in implementing the decision of Sindh cabinet to ban the use of polythene bags in Sukkur in the first phase. He said that paper bags should not replace the polythene bags as consumption of paper bags will encourage tree cutting as instead shopping bags made of bio-degradable plastic should be introduced as an alternative which is also very suitable for the environment.
How can it be overcome?
All the concerned stakeholders should come together to discourage and disallow the use of polythene bags. A concerted strategy should be implemented to reduce or ban altogether use of polythene bags. The provincial governments, to which the subject of Environment has devolved after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, alone could not tackle this problem. The provincial environmental watchdog, civil society police, district and divisional administration, municipal organizations, local government representatives, legislators of the area, should all be collectively involved in this effort.
Mohammad Naeem Qureshi is the most prominent and skilled name of environment sector in Pakistan
The provincial assemblies should pass proper legislation in this regard. Under the provincial environmental rules and regulation, an effective ban could be implemented with the coordination of local communities and civil society. In this regard, a proper campaign should conduct to raise awareness among masses and all the concerned quarters in the society including shopkeepers and traders should make aware of the environmental hazards caused due to constant use of polythene bags. Apart from the police and district administration, the provincial environmental protection agencies should prepare a proper law-enforcement mechanism to introduce and implement this ban in a gradual manner. Such a system should contain the provision of a penal system to punish those who violate this ban.
What inspired you to become an environmentalist?
As we always used to say every challenge, every opportunity contains within it the seeds of opportunity and growth. The large scale environmental degradation in urban areas of Pakistan highly motivated me to work for this cause. I thought that the government and relevant state agencies alone could not tackle this issue. The concerned civil society should come forward to extend a helping hand towards the government instead of criticizing only. The like-minded forces in civil society should adopt a proactive approach to safeguard the environment. With this background and philosophy in mind, I used whatever resources I had at my disposal to do an organizational effort though in the non- governmental sector to safeguard the environment. And from the date of inception of my efforts, I was encouraged by my friends, family, government authorities, fellow civil society activists, the regulator, as that enabled me to continue my efforts to save the environment.
Naeem Qureshi is an active member of various environmental organizations in Pakistan
How far can technology help save the situation?
As far as our concern is Pakistan, a lot of efforts are required to extensively use the technology for the conservation of the environment. The current situation is so dismal that the provincial environmental watchdogs even lack the equipment and technology to monitor air quality to check the level of pollutants in our environment. In the modern era when information technology and digital media is extensively using in society, with the effective support of Government, startups those mainly focus on environmental safeguards could launch.
It should provide exclusive financial assistance for the purpose. With smart cellular phones are extensively using in society, special phones applications should develop and launch to make people aware of air quality and the extent of the damage being done to the ambient environment. With the advent of modern telecommunication and related technologies, the government is not required to seek any special assistance package from any of the foreign donor agencies, as the establishment of endowment funds let’s say by the Ministry of Climate Change could do wonders in this regard. Such an endowment fund to support the use of technology to safeguard the environment should be a permanent feature as proper legislation should adopt to formalize it so that the change in government should not disturb or reverse such arrangements.
What do you think a layman can do to help the environment?
I think a common citizen at least can make sure that the domestic waste generated by household should be properly disposed of. The citizens should make sure that the domestic waste does not add towards the menace of unattended municipal garbage that seen in almost every locality. Everyone should take care that the household should not cause littering or overflow of sewerage or potable water in the street or road outside their homes. In such a manner, they will contribute a lot towards safeguarding the environment. The cleanliness is a key to saving our environment and to prevent the outbreak of many infectious diseases especially among the children.
Why would you ask a student to join the environmental sector?
If a student decides to join a movement, which supports environmental activism then in such a manner he/she is trained and sensitized from the early phase of his/her life to works for the cause of environmental protection. This will be a great way to make the future generation aware of the importance of the environment in our lives.
Mr. Qureshi pictured here with Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, CEO The Indus Hospital
What future do you see for environmentalists?
Hopefully, with the advancement of the economy and development activities getting accelerated in the country, environmentalists will have to play an important role to regulate all such activities so that they should not cause harm to our environment. With infrastructure development in full swing and many development projects being implemented as part of the CPEC, hopefully, there will be several job opportunities for the environmentalists all across the country in the future. Consequently, the presence of environmentalists is necessary to make sure that the developmental activities should conform to the national and provincial environmental laws. In this regard, the provincial environmental watchdog will increase the employment of environmentalists to effectively monitor the phenomenon of environmental degradation.
What are some of the environmental projects you have taken up?
We have been engaged in an extensive tree plantation campaign in Karachi for the last many years, which conducted with the support of the provincial government, its relevant agencies, and like-minded non-governmental organizations. We have been active partners in the initiative of both the federal and provincial governments to promote greenery and urban forestry in the country. We have been an active supporter and partner in the Clean and Green Pakistan initiative of the federal government, which aims to plant 10 billion trees in the next five years. We have taken part in a number of tree plantation activities as well. We extensively do tree plantation campaigns in the city with the support of the office of Commissioner Karachi, Sindh Forest Department, Environment Department and other government agencies every year during spring and rainy season. In this regard, we lend extensive support to many relevant NGOs and other institutions willing to take part in the tree plantation campaign in the city and other areas of Pakistan.
He urges the government to step up and properly deal with environmental issues
Apart from this, we have been organizing an annual summit on the environment with regularity for the last several years. We organized seminars, symposia, workshops, and moots on every occasion, which relates to the environment like World Environment, Earth Day, and Earth Hour, etc. Our teams actively participate in almost every public hearing organized by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency regarding any upcoming mega development and construction project in the province.
Do you think the government is doing enough to deal with such issues?
No, in fact, a lot has to be done in this regard as the mere establishment of the Ministry of Climate Change, provincial Environment departments, and environmental watchdogs are not enough. The environmental degradation is getting worsened with each day passing while there is no measure in place to reverse it.
In one statement, what message do you have to the coming generation?
The new generation should be vigilant for the environment protection which relates to their own health and safety and of their loved ones.
