H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry
Dr. Saifullah Khan
PERSONAL DETAILS
Citizenship: Pakistani
Present Address: Off: Incharge Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology Labs.
H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry
University of Karachi Karachi 75270: Fax (92-21) 4824930,34,901 Ext. 188. Telephone (92-21) 4819017
E-mail: drsaif@super.net.pk
ACADEMIC PROFILE
QUALIFICATIONS |
MARKS / CGPA / %age |
DISTINCTIONS |
INSTITUTION AND SUBJECTS |
Ph.D. |
--------- |
Merit Scholarship |
University of Edinburgh UK . Plant Biotechnology |
M.Sc.(Hons)* Agriculture |
3.69/4.00 (77.20%) |
Merit Scholarship |
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Plant Breeding & Genetics |
B.Sc. (Hons)** Agriculture |
3.60/4.00 (75.39%) |
Merit Scholarship |
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Plant Breeding & Genetics |
F.Sc (Pre-Medical) HSC |
(59.9%) |
---------- |
Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Bahawalpur (Pre-Medical) |
Matriculation (SSC) |
75.76% |
Merit Scholarship |
Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Multan |
* Two year degree
** Four year degree
DISSERTATION TITLE
Ph.D. Variation arising through tissue culture in Soft fruits.
M. Sc.Hons. Gene action studies of some morphological and other important traits in cotton .
(Gossypium hirsutum L)
WORK EXPERIENCE
I am working as an Assistant Professor and in-charge plant tissue culture and biotechnology Division at International Center for Chemical Sciences H.E.J. Research Institute University of Karachi.
- I established an efficient, effective and most economical plant tissue culture lab. starting from scraches
- I also initiated and established cultures of many plants including eleven different varieties of Orchids, thirteen varieties of Bananas, six varieties of Ixora sp. seven varieties of Croton Pineapple. Dracaena, Lilly, African violet, ferns Chrysanthemum Jack fruit
- We are the only commercial supplier of virus free invitro grown banana, pineapple, ixora, african violet, and other ornamental plant in the country
- My lab has already started production of cut flower Tube roses, Roses Jasmin and other.
- My students are working on Hydroponics and off-season production of economically important horticultural crops.
Teaching Experience
- Feb. 1998-present I am also involve in teaching a number of postgraduate courses in the department of Biotechnology University of Karachi, such as “Plant tissue culture and regeneration” “Agriculture Biotechnology”, Fresh water fish farming, Hydroponics and Nutrients film techniques.
- Five Research students are working with me enrolled for their Ph.D. degree
RESEARCH TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS
I used the molecular techniques in routine to study the somaclonal variation and cultivar identification during my Ph.D. study in Edinburgh University. These includes
- DNA extraction from different parts of plants using different protocols and "mini prep" kits including "CTAB" method
- PCR (Polymerase Chain Reactions), RAPD PCR, (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA).
- AFLP (Amplified Fragments Length Polymorphism).
- SDS-PAGE and starch gel electrophoresis for Protein and isoenzyme electrophoresis
- I also got training on the following molecular techniques DNA cloning, DNA fingerprinting, DNA sequencing, Recombinant DNA technology including transformation using biolistic gun, electroporation.
- We are using ELISA in routine in our plant Tissue culture lab
- All kind of media solutions nutrients solution scalling up of tissue culture protocols developing cost effective protocols for commercialistaion
- Software used included Microsoft Office (Word 6, Excel 5.0) Statistical packages (Statgraph, Minitab). Image storing and analysis (IS-500, IS-1000), Corel photo-paint, Paint shop pro. Molecular data analysis programs, RAPDistance, Phylip 3.5. Internet explorer, Pegasus and other Internet e-mail system
- ADMINSTRATIVE EXPERIENCE.
- Provost post graduate hostel, Incharge Airconditioning and Carpentery work of the Institute
- Member purchase committee of the H.E.J. Research Institute University of Karachi.
- Member organizing committee of various International Workshops, Symposiums and Conferences and have been conducted more than 20 international events in the Institute.
- Incharge Cut Flower Production Unit, Green houses and nurseries production.
PROJECTS EXECUTED.
Period |
Name of the Project |
Total funds
|
Status |
1998-99 |
Commercial production of ornamental plants using tissue culture technology |
Rs.1.40 Million COMSTECH |
Completed |
2002-03 |
Mass scale production of pineapple plants using tissue culture technology |
Rs. 0.30 Million MOST |
Completed |
2002-04 |
Mass multiplication of virus and disease free banana and orchids plants using tissue culture technology |
Rs. 6.85 Million MOST |
Completed |
2003-05 |
The use of DNA fingerprinting to evaluate the genetic stability of banana plants produced via in-vitro culture |
Rs. 0.8 Million PSF |
Executing |
2003-04 |
Establishment of model hydroponics culture systems for the cultivation of Pineapples and some other important cut flowers. |
Rs. 0.20 Million TWAS |
Completed |
2004-06 |
Establishment of Tissue Culture Technology Park in the University of Karachi |
Rs. 14.90 Million HEC |
Approved and executing |
2004-05 |
Establishment of Medicinal Plant Collection and Processing Facility at Khanuspur |
Rs. 14.4 Milion HEC |
Approved and executing |
2005-2008 |
Establishment of research and development facilities for exotic cut flower and value added products. |
Rs. 31.556 Million HEC |
Approved and executing CDWP |
2005-2006 |
Application of the Biotransformation techniques to produce value added compounds using plant cell cultures. |
US$7,250/- EMRO |
Approved and executing
|
2005-2007 |
Isolation of structurally novel and pharmacologically potent compounds from plant cell suspension cultures. |
Rs. 5.071 Million HEC |
Approved and executing |
2005-2007 |
Development of economical protocols for the pilot scale production of elite date palm cultivars using plant tissue culture technology. |
Rs. 1.648 Million HEC |
Approved and executing |
MEMBERSHIP OF SCIENTIFIC ORGANISATIONS AWARDS, HONORS
- Chawala Kissan time award for best Tissue Culturist
- Member of the Society for in-vitro biology USA.
- Member of the Genetical Society UK.
- Member of the International Society for Horticulture Sciences (ISHS).
- Member Horticultural Society Pakistan.
MEMBER BOARD OF STUDIES
- Board of Advance Studies, Center for Advance Studies in Biotechnology at Sindh University, Jamshoro .
- Board of Studies of the Department of Biotechnology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam.
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
CHOUDHARY, M. I., SIDDIQUE, Z. A., KHAN, S., SAIFULLAH, MUSHARRAF , S.G. and ATTA-UR-RAHMAN. Biotransformation of (-)-caryoptyllene oxide by Plant Cell Culture of Catharanthus roseus. Z. natureforsch. B, (accepted).
KHAN, S., BADAR, Z., MUSARRAF , S.G. and CHOUDHARY, M. I. Evaluation of the Effect of Light and Plant Growth Regulators on Callus Induction, Plant Regeneration and Study of Biotransformation ability in Aloe barbadensis Mill. Phytochemistry, (submitted).
MUSHARRAF , S.G., NASIB, A., HUSSAIN, S., KHAN, S., ANJUM, S., ATTA-UR-RAHMAN and CHOUDHARY, M. I. Biotransformation of (-)-Amrox by Cell Suspension Culture of Actinidia deliciosa. Journal of Natural Products, (accepted).
KHAN, S., A. NASIB AND BUSHRA. S., (2005). Large scale production of Pineapples (Annanas Comosus) employing tissue culture technology. Pineapples News (12), Interntional Society for Horticultural Science.
KHAN, S. and SPOOR, W. (2004). A study of an invitro callus culture and regeneration system from leaf disc explants in strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) CV Tango International journal of Biology and Biotechnology1 (3): 423-428.
KHAN, S., A. Nasib and BUSHRA. S., (2004). Large scale production of Pineapples (Annanas Comosus) employing tissue culture technology.. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 80(4), 1038-1045
KHAN, S., M. Iftikhar and BUSHRA. S., (2004). An economical and efficient method for mass propagation of Ixora Ccccinea.. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 36(4)
KHAN, S. and SPOOR, W. (2001). “Use of molecular and morphological markers as a quality control in plant tissue culture” Pakistan Journal of Biological Science 4 (4):479-482.
KHAN, S. and SPOOR, W. (2001). Evaluation of Genetic stability in the Black currant plants regenerated via micropropagation using RAPD-PCR techniques. Pakistan Journal of Botany 33(4):411-417.
KHAN.,S., Zafar, Y., YASMEN A., and BUSHRA, S, (2001). An efficient and economical method of mass multiplication of virus and disease free banana using plant tissue culture techniques. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 4(5) 562-563
KHAN, S. and SPOOR, W. (2000). Evaluation of different explant sources and growth regulators on callus culture and regeneration in strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 3 (12): 2249-2250.
KHAN, S., S. Naz and BUSHRA. S., (2004). Invitro production of cordylines terminalis for commercialization. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 36(4) 757-761.
AYOUB, R., ZAREEN, A., ZAKI, M. J., and KHAN, S.(1999). Female parasitisim of Aspergillus species and their effect on root penetration by root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology. 12(2): 115-117.