[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ fb_built=”1″ _i=”0″ _address=”0″][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”DNA BARCODING PAKISTAN’S BIODIVERSITY: SCIENTISTS LAUNCH PakBOL” subhead=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@” _builder_version=”3.22.7″ _dynamic_attributes=”subhead” title_font=”Noto Serif|||on|||||” title_font_size=”20px” content_font=”Oswald||||||||” content_font_size=”31px” content_line_height=”1.2em” subhead_font=”|||||on|||” subhead_font_size=”17px” background_color=”rgba(20,20,24,0.78)” background_image=”https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/church-03.jpg” background_blend=”multiply” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22.6″ custom_padding=”44px|0px|54px|0px|false|false” fb_built=”1″ _i=”1″ _address=”1″][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”0|0px|49px|0px|false|false” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0″ column_structure=”3_5,2_5″][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.6″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size_tablet=”16px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0.0″]<\/p>\n
25 April 2019<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Pakistan\u2019s DNA barcoding community launched the Pakistan Barcode of Life (PakBOL) Network on April 25th\u00a0 <\/sup>in Islamabad at the 3rd <\/sup>International Conference on \u201cEmpowering Nation through Sciences\u201d, organized by the Women University Mardan<\/a><\/p>\n With its launch, Pakistan\u2019s DNA barcode research community joins the International Barcode of Life Consortium (iBOL)<\/a>, a long-established international network of organizations working to better understand biodiversity on Earth.<\/p>\n “It’s really thrilling that Pakistan will now officially join the consortium,” said Margaux McDonald, Canada’s Senior Trade Commissioner in Pakistan<\/a>, who spoke at the conference.<\/p>\n “It’s a really impressive initiative to DNA barcode Pakistan’s biodiversity. I know we will all be anxiously watching as the project progresses,” said McDonald.<\/p>\n While Pakistan has informally participated in iBOL activities since 2010, PakBOL will formalize the nation’s partnership with the consortium. It will also encourage scientific collaboration and promote new research.<\/p>\n \u201cPakBOL will offer a platform to the barcoding community in Pakistan for working together to document and understand the country\u2019s biodiversity,” said Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq, who gave a keynote speech at the conference and has been involved in DNA barcoding in Pakistan since 2010.<\/p>\n A research scientist at the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph where iBOL’s secretariat is located, Dr. Ashfaq has offered training to many scientists interested in working with DNA barcoding.<\/p>\n To date, Pakistan\u2019s research community has generated around 50,000 barcode records from animals and 1,600 from plants. The country has also been actively participating in iBOL\u2019s Global Malaise Program \u2013 with sampling at nine sites already completed and at 11 ongoing.<\/p>\n Leading PakBOL\u2019s efforts in Pakistan is Dr. Nazeer Ahmed, Professor and Dean for graduate studies at Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences in Quetta. Dr. Ahmed, a member of iBOL’s Scientific Steering Committee, has been actively using DNA barcoding for years, focusing his research on developing DNA-based biodiversity inventories of the different ecosystems in Pakistan\u2019s largest province, Balochistan.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the launch of PakBOL, we aim to barcode every species in the country,\u201d said Dr. Ahmed.<\/p>\n Adopting this new technology will improve and accelerate our ability to understand agricultural pests and disease vectors, he added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are optimistic that this seemingly small step today will set the foundation for a giant leap toward future scientific endeavours in the areas of climatic change, public health, our understanding of ecosystem functions, biodiversity studies, and beyond,\u201d said Dr. Ahmed.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#ff9200″ divider_position=”center” _builder_version=”3.22.2″ _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.0.1″][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.2″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” _i=”2″ _address=”1.0.0.2″]<\/p>\n DNA Barcoding Wild Flora in Pakistan\u2019s Forests<\/a><\/p>\n University of Sindh Jamshoro Barcodes Grasshoppers in Pakistan\u2019s Thar Desert<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#ff9200″ divider_position=”center” _builder_version=”3.22.2″ _i=”3″ _address=”1.0.0.3″][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/iBOL-PR-PakBOL.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Download PDF” disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”3.22.6″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#003254″ button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”||||||||” button_icon=”%%30%%” button_icon_color=”#003254″ button_on_hover=”off” disabled=”on” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#ff9200″ button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#003254″ button_icon_color__hover_enabled=”on” _i=”4″ _address=”1.0.0.4″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_main_element=”margin:auto;” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”8812,8833,8835,8832,8834″ fullwidth=”on” module_class=”custom_gallery ” _builder_version=”3.22.6″ _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.1.0″][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_testimonial author=”Dr. Nazeer Ahmed” job_title=”iBOL Scientific Steering Committee” company_name=”Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Pakistan” _builder_version=”3.22.6″ body_font=”||on||||||” body_font_size=”16px” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1.1″]<\/p>\n We are optimistic that this seemingly small step today will set the foundation for a giant leap toward future scientific endeavours in the areas of climatic change, public health, our understanding of ecosystem functions, biodiversity studies, and beyond.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_divider divider_position=”center” _builder_version=”3.22.6″ _i=”2″ _address=”1.0.1.2″][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”8940″ fullwidth=”on” module_class=”custom_gallery ” _builder_version=”3.22.6″ _i=”3″ _address=”1.0.1.3″][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”8950,8938″ fullwidth=”on” module_class=”custom_gallery ” _builder_version=”3.22.6″ _i=”4″ _address=”1.0.1.4″][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_testimonial author=”Dr. Ghazala Yasmeen” job_title=”Vice Chancellor” company_name=”Women University Mardan, Pakistan” _builder_version=”3.22.6″ body_font=”||on||||||” body_font_size=”16px” _i=”5″ _address=”1.0.1.5″]<\/p>\n “With the launch of PakBOL, we are looking forward to seeking help to better understand biodiversity in Pakistan, especially pest and disease complexities.”<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_color=”#a8d367″ border_style_top=”double” custom_padding=”67px|0px|0|0px|false|false” _i=”1″ _address=”1.1″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”1.1.0″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.2″ text_font=”||||||||” text_orientation=”center” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” _i=”0″ _address=”1.1.0.0″]<\/p>\n For more information or to request an interview, please contact:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_color=”#a8d367″ custom_padding=”0px||” custom_padding_tablet=”8px|||0px” custom_padding_phone=”0px|||0px” _i=”2″ _address=”1.2″ column_structure=”1_2,1_2″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”1.2.0″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.2″ text_font=”Abel||||||||” link_font=”||||||||” link_text_color=”#646564″ header_font=”||||||||” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”right” custom_padding_phone=”20px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _i=”0″ _address=”1.2.0.0″]<\/p>\n Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”1″ _address=”1.2.1″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.2″ text_font=”Abel||||||||” link_font=”||||||||” link_text_color=”#646564″ text_orientation=”center” _i=”0″ _address=”1.2.1.0″]<\/p>\n iBOL Consortium<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_color=”#a8d367″ module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”0|50px|67px|50px|false|false” _i=”3″ _address=”1.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”1.3.0″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21″ text_font=”||||||||” text_orientation=”center” text_font_size_phone=”15px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” _i=”0″ _address=”1.3.0.0″]<\/p>\n The International Barcode of Life (iBOL) Consortium is a research alliance with a mission to develop and apply a globally accessible, DNA-based system for the discovery and identification of all multicellular life. Our vision is to illuminate biodiversity for the benefit\u00a0of our living planet.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” padding_top_1=”40px” padding_top_2=”14px” _builder_version=”3.19.4″ background_color=”#3c3d41″ custom_margin=”0px||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_module=”3909″ saved_tabs=”all” fb_built=”1″ _i=”2″ _address=”2″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” padding_top__hover=”40px” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”2.0″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/iBOL-logo-vertical-small-copy.png” url=”https:\/\/ibol.org\/” align=”center” admin_label=”iBOL logo” _builder_version=”3.23″ max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”30%” max_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”|||0px” custom_margin_phone=”||-67px|-2px” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”||50px|” custom_padding_tablet=”||0px|0px” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” always_center_on_mobile=”off” _i=”0″ _address=”2.0.0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” padding_top__hover=”14px” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”1″ _address=”2.1″][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”3.25″ max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”-64px|0px||0px” custom_margin_phone=”0px|||0px” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”|0px||0px” _i=”0″ _address=”2.1.0″][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”2.1.0.0″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Footer Links” _builder_version=”3.19.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|500||on|||||” text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”2.2em” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” text_font_size_phone=”10px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” _i=”0″ _address=”2.1.0.0.0″]<\/p>\n HOME<\/a><\/span> DNA BARCODING<\/a><\/span>BIOSCAN<\/a><\/span> JOIN<\/a><\/span> CONTACT<\/a><\/span>SITEMAP<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#666666″ color_phone=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” color_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.24″ height=”0px” custom_margin_phone=”||-26px” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” hide_on_mobile=”off” _i=”1″ _address=”2.1.0.0.1″][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Copyright” _builder_version=”3.19.7″ text_font=”Source Sans Pro||||” text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” text_font_size=”16″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”560px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||30px|” custom_margin_tablet=”||10px|” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”30px|||” custom_padding_phone=”14px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_phone=”13px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” _i=”2″ _address=”2.1.0.0.2″]<\/p>\n \u00a9 Copyright 2019 International Barcode of Life Consortium. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pakistan launches PakBOL Network on April 25th at the 3rd International Conference on \u201cEmpowering Nation through Sciences\u201d organized by the Women University Mardan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8812,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8810"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10102,"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8810\/revisions\/10102"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibol.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Read more about Pakistan\u2019s DNA barcoding work:<\/h5>\n
Research Scientist
mashfaq@uoguelph.ca<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Media Relations
media@ibol.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n