Laboratory of Structural and Functional Genomics

A brief history of the Laboratory 
In 1991, on the basis of M. Aitkhozhin Institute of molecular biology and biochemistry, the Genome Laboratory was founded by Aitkhozhina Nagima Abenovna, – the first laboratory in Kazakhstan for plant and human genome study. In 2009, the Human genome group separated and became an independent Laboratory of structural and functional genomics – LSGF. From 2009 to 2016 the LSFG was headed by doctor of biology – Timur Saimovich Balmukhanov. From 2016 to 2017 the Laboratory was headed by candidate of biological sciences – Hanseitova Alexandra Kabulovna. From 2018 to the present, Ashirbekov Eldar Erlanovich is an Acting head of the Laboratory.

Ashirbekov Eldar Erlanovich

 

Eldar Ashirbekov graduated from M. Kozybaev North-Kazakhstan State University. He is a specialist in the field of molecular genetics and an author of more than 30 publications. He has more than 14 years of work experience in science.



The main directions of research activities

  • Identification of features of functionally significant human genes, their regulatory zones and expression in normal and pathological conditions, identification of risk groups and predisposition to diseases, gene diagnostics, early diagnosis and prognosis, genomic and personalized medicine, pharmacogenomics;
  • Ethnogeography and ethnogenomic studies of population of Kazakhstan;
  • Paleogenomic studies of DNA from the biological material of archaeological excavations;
  • Analysis of genetic diversity and certification of plant and animal populations, strains of microorganisms;
  • Study of the effect of low doses of radiation on human DNA.

Research projects

2022 – 2024

АР13068414 “MicroRNA as a marker of differential diagnosis of lung cancer and tuberculosis”, scientific supervisor – G. Utegenova, PhD student.

2019-2022

Project AP08857430 “Identification of a new minimally invasive biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of diabetic retinopathy based on microRNA”, scientific supervisor – K. Sharipov, doctor of biological sciences, professor.

2018-2020

AP05132207 “Study of the correlation of miRNA with target genes and the level of their expression in oncopathologies”, scientific supervisor – N. Aitkhozhina, doctor of biological sciences, professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2015-2017

GF4/4050 project “Molecular genetic characteristics of the Kazakhs of South Kazakhstan, Zhambyl and Almaty regions based on single nucleotide and microsatellite variability of the Y-chromosome”, scientific supervisor – N. Aitkhozhina, doctor of biological sciences, professor, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2012-2014

GF 0226 project “Molecular genetic study of the ethnogenetic polymorphism of the Y-chromosome of modern kazakhs and ancient people of the Desht-i-Kipchak region”, scientific supervisor – T. Balmukhanov, doctor of biological sciences.

NTP: O.0592 “Development of domestic genomic-proteomic and cellular technologies for the needs of medicine, agriculture and environmental protection in Kazakhstan”, scientific supervisor – T. Balmukhanov, doctor of biological sciences.

2009-2011

PFI: F.0479 “Regularities of functioning of biological systems – the basis for the creation of innovative technologies for medicine, agriculture and environmental protection”, scientific supervisors – T. Balmukhanov, doctor of biological sciences, N. Aitkhozhina, doctor of biological sciences, professor, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2008-2010

NTP: О.0457 “Maintenance and replenishment of collections of plants, animals, microorganisms and unique genetic banks for the conservation of the biological diversity of Kazakhstan”, scientific supervisors – T. Balmukhanov, doctor of biological sciences.

Methods of research

Study of DNA polymorphism by using various variants of polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, analysis of hypervariable microsatellite DNA loci.

Scientific achievements of the Laboratory

  • The foundations of human molecular and population genetics, gene diagnostics were laid for the first time in Kazakhstan.
  • Determination of features of the structural and functional organization of some genes involved in the development of cardiovascular (myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis), neurodegenerative (multiple sclerosis) and oncological (breast cancer, cancer of the uterine body) diseases in the Kazakh population.
  • The Kazakhs tribal structure based on the distribution of haplogroups and microsatellite variability of the Y-chromosome was studied, the analysis of intergeneric genetic linkage was carried out, the contribution of the Eurasian lines to the Kazakh gene pool was assessed, the age of the Kazakh lines was assessed, and the genetic component in the zhuz organization was assessed.
  • For the first time in Kazakhstan, DNA studies were carried out from the material of archaeological excavations, including a molecular genetic analysis of the remains of ancient nomads who lived in the territory of modern Altai 2500 years ago, preserved in permafrost and discovered during unique archaeological excavations of the steppe civilization (Berel village, Eastern Kazakhstan), in comparison with the genome of modern Kazakhs and the world GenBank.
  • The polymorphism and divergence of genomic DNA of mountain sheep of the Ovis genus, a number of medicinal and rare plants of Kazakhstan, and strains of economically valuable microorganisms were studied.
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