Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, Director International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi University (KU), disclosed on Thursday that former Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rehman is the first Pakistani whose genome has been mapped by Pakistani scientists at a cost of $40,000 in just 10 months.
China has contributed $20,000 in the total cost of the genome project. Pakistani and Indian genomes have similarities compared to others, he said, while speaking at a press conference, held on Thursday at Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine & Drug Research (PCMD), Karachi University (KU).
…
“Dr Atta has become the first Muslim man with this distinction, while he is the third one among a list of renowned people in the world whose genomes have been mapped by scientists. The names of the first two persons are Prof Watson and Dr Ventor (2007), while others are unnamed.
First, yes, it’s not accurate that Dr. Choudhary is the third person with a full sequence done. In fact poking around it looks like that the total is high enough, > 100, that it isn’t easy to find a nearly-comprehensive list anymore. What I found really amusing is that the piece emphasizes that this individual is the first Muslim to be sequenced. Does that really matter? I suppose to Muslims it does, but it just goes to show how real science can be driven by idiosyncratic ideological concerns. As Hume said, reason is the slave of passions.
Also, I think it is interesting that the article admitted that there were striking similarities between the genomes of Pakistanis and Indians. I’m one who is generally wary of trying to draw too many lessons from raw data, but over the years my posts have been used and abused by nationalists of various stripes. One set are Pakistani racists who argue strenuously for the biological distinction of Pakistanis from Indians (usually they’re misunderstanding my posts on lactase persistence) to reinforce their religious-nationalist prejudices. If the similarities of “Pakistani” and “Indian” genomes dampens this unpleasant line of thinking I won’t yammer on about the is-ought distinction for once.
“Does that really matter? I suppose to Muslims it does, but it just goes to show how real science can be driven by idiosyncratic ideological concerns”
No it does not matter to us muslims. Coming from the same country as this idi*t (Dr. Atta) and knowing him well, I can assure you this self-serving b@stard would try anything to get attention. Do you know he claims to have 840 publications to his credit (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atta_ur_Rahman). Remember even Richard Feynman had only 37). This pseudo scientist is a joke and should not even be labeled human.
BTW: You’d be glad to know this joker is also “First MUSLIM scientist to receive the UNESCO Science Prize” and “was elected as Fellow of Royal Society (London) in July 2006 thereby becoming the one of the 4 scientists from the MUSLIM world to have ever won this honour” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atta_ur_Rahman
P.S. My first thought on seeing your headline was (“They already have!” and I had this Dr Atta in mind)
One last thing regarding “I think it is interesting that the article admitted that there were striking similarities between the genomes of Pakistanis and Indians.” Now should that be a surprise? Do we even need genetic sequencing to come up with that conclusion? In fact knowing he is of Indian origin (a ‘Muhajir’ — see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Muhajir_people) I am surprised that the article just says “there are striking similarities between the genomes of Pakistanis and Indians”. THEY IN FAT MUST BE SIMILAR for they are one and the same. Let’s also not forget — not that it matters — all Pakistanis and all Indians are NOT similar — there are many races in both countries. Now it would have been news if “there are striking similarities between the genomes of Pakistanis and Indians” had Dr Atta been a Pakhtoon or a Baloch and the Indian one from Kerala…
Sandgroper
How about Serena Williams?
bob sykes
Now there’s an interesting theological question. Does the ban on transfusions (an extension of Acts 15:29) extend to blood samples. I don’t think it does, but ask them.
http://www.dannyhaszard.com Danny Haszard
Within the Jehovah’s Witnesses doctrine on blood there are major inconsistencies. For instance, a Witness cannot except red blood cells but they can except hemoglobin which constitutes 97% of a red blood cell.
They cannot except a minor blood component like platelets, which constitutes .17% of blood volume, but can except albumin, which constitutes a larger 2.2% of blood volume. I challenge any of Jehovah’s Witness to show me from the Bible why accepting platelets is a sin against God but taking albumin is acceptable for a Christian. If you cannot show this from the Bible you have to admit that you are not following the Bible but rather the shifting opinion of men, namely the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
* HEMOPURE *
Reg;Bovine Cow blood derived HEMOPURE
The Watchtower has approved the use of Hemopure® (bovine hgg – 250/HBOC -201). This is directly in opposition to the Watchtower’s abstaining from blood as taught by them.
–
Danny Haszard
omar
This has been a leading news item on pakistani tv channels for the last 24 hours and commentators are taking much delight in the fact that Pakistan is now the “6th power in the world” to do this. But it seems the actual sequencing was done at Beijing Genomics (http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/01/genome-mapping-of-first-pakistani-completed.html) so I am not sure what great scientific advance has been made in Pakistan. Incidentally, I happened to catch one newscaster highlighting the fact that “Dr Atta’s genes appear to be from Europe”. I am not sure what he meant, but I am not kidding. Trying to find a unique “Pakistani genetic signature” appears to be the main thrust of the coverage right now, but if that was the intention then they picked the wrong guy, since he is from North India and not from currently constituted parts of Pakistan.
It is interesting that in true Indian fashion, the first person picked for this “honor” was the minister of science and technology. Unfortunately, by the time the work got done, he has been replaced. Still, Karachi University is milking the news for all its worth and hoping this will get them a sequencer…I hope they succeed.
Apache
I loved the anology in the headline! But I do see the great results happening in the wake of this project, that we are of on KIND no matter what the differences of our skin or backgoung. Though we call oursevelves races (or whatever divisional lines you wish to draw) we ALL come from a common ancester.
Danny Hazrerd uses this for his foolishness and hatred, but, as the project is showing, and science proves, who and what we should be beyond our outward differences.
May this project continue and help the world come to a better understanding of ourselves, from both where we came from and to where we are going as a species!
Apache
Side note for the two who went off subject:
Jehovah’s Witnesses take blood tests and if asked would be part of this project. Danny needs to learn about blood,
Hemoglobin and platelets is what is given during transfusion, thus JWs do not except them. Fractions are parts of the blood and are passed from mother to child in the womb. Interesting your condeming them for excepting what GOD allows to pass from one human to another and for not excepting what he doesn’t.
As for Hemopure or any blood replacement product that substatutes red/white blood cells from an animal for a humans–there is nothing anywhere that states JWs find this acceptable from the JWs themselves.
But, as usual DH just finds mention of JWs to spread his hate when THIS DISCUSSION is about a scientific study on the genetic map of the human race. If you can’t bring helpful thoughts to the subject at hand just keep quiet!
http://www.dannyhaszard.com Danny Haszard
Whoa whoa whoa Jehovah’s Witnesses trolls follow (stalk) me Danny Haszard around the blogs, trash and revile me and then go denounce me as a hate monger.
My post on Jehovah’s Witnesses twisted stand on blood transfusion is factual.
Don’t knock on my door if you are going to be like that!
Graham Mewburn
G’day Danny
I agree with “Apache”
your comments are not relevant to this issue
you discredit yourself
go to Google video
and Google
bloodless hospitals
there are hundreds of them
bloodless surgery is now the ‘gold standard’ in medicine
the American military are now having their medical teams trained to perform bloodless surgery
you are kicking a worn out ball and bringing no benefit to yourself or any matter you seek to promote
please get the help of a psychologist Danny, ’cause you need help mate
cheers
Gray
Graham Mewburn
Australia
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Gene Expression
Human evolution, genetics, genomics and their interstices.
About Razib Khan
I have degrees in biology and biochemistry, a passion for genetics, history, and philosophy, and shrimp is my favorite food. In relation to nationality I'm a American Northwesterner, in politics I'm a reactionary, and as for religion I have none (I'm an atheist). If you want to know more, see the links at http://www.razib.com
