<i>BLRI scientist develops DNA extraction kit </i>
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) has developed a kit that can be produced locally for reducing cost and time in extracting DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) from blood.
Masud Rana Moufti, a scientific officer at the BLRI, has developed this kit named “BLMR kit” in June this year after a year of research.
According to Wikipedia, DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms (with the exception of RNA viruses).
DNA extraction kits are used to isolate DNA from blood and diagnose many critical diseases.
Bangladesh now spends around $30 million every year to import DNA extraction kits. Each of the kits costs around Tk 30,000 to 35,000 for every 100 blood-samples, Masud Rana told The Daily Star.
With the new kit, it would be possible to produce a kit within the country spending only Tk 10,000, he claimed.
“It would reduce the cost of importing the DNA kits by two-thirds,” said Masud Rana.
Dr Khan Shahidul Huque, director general of BLRI, said the institute will distribute the kits among the scientific laboratories of different institutions, university laboratories and genetic diagnostic labs across the country free of cost.
Dr Shahidul Huque said this at the BLRI Annual Research Workshop and Technology Show at BLRI headquarters in Savar yesterday.
Speaking as the chief guest, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Ujjal Bikash Dutta said, “Our aim is to make Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2021."
The local scientists need to look for newer technologies to help agriculture, fisheries and domestic sectors, he added.
Dr Kazi Touhid Ali, director (production) of Department of Livestock Services and Dr Wais Kabir, executive chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, also spoke.
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