TOMSK, May 26 – RIA Tomsk.Tomsk State University (TSU) has opened a new master's program where
students will be trained in bioinformatics and genetic engineering to
combat dangerous human and animal diseases, the university's website
reported Wednesday.
It is specified that the first
enrollment of master's students will be opened during the 2021
admissions campaign. TSU aims to train specialists who can extract data
about the genomes of living organisms, interpret them correctly and, "by
manipulating genes, create "living machines" that have properties or
perform functions that have not existed in nature until then."
"Graduate
students will be trained to analyze the genomes of living organisms and
edit them using bioinformatics and genetic engineering techniques to
address global challenges to humanity – combating dangerous human and
animal diseases, environmental pollution, preserving species diversity
and many others", – says the report.
It is added that the
central place in the program is given to the formation of practical
skills, as well as the formation of research competencies. The program
includes workshops on genomics and genetic engineering, while the
theoretical block includes such disciplines as "Genomics", "Molecular
Cytogenetics", "Genetic Engineering", "Environmental Genetics" and
others.
"Ten years ago, a complete deciphering of the
human genome cost 300 million dollars; now it costs about three thousand
dollars. Already by the end of 2021, this amount could be reduced
threefold. Obtaining new data on genes will make it possible to
effectively treat diseases and prevent many of them", – program manager
Gleb Artyomov is quoted in the message.
Graduates of the
program will be able to solve a wide range of research and applied
problems – to sequence human, animal and plant genomes, analyze
information, create new biotechnologies aimed at solving problems in
medicine, food security, environmental protection and improving the
quality of human life.