Central University of Punjab organizes a special lecture on Recent Advancements of Genomics in Human Diseases

Bathinda, July 8, 2023: The Department of Zoology at the Central University of Punjab organized an Invited Talk on the topic 'Recent Advancements of Genomics in Human Diseases.' The esteemed guest speaker of this event was Prof. N. Senthil Kumar from the Department of Biotechnology at Mizoram University, Aizawl.

At the outset, Prof. R. K. Wusirika, Dean Incharge Academics, welcomed the participants and introduced the invited speaker. During his talk, Prof. N. Senthil Kumar stated that the field of genomics has provided valuable insights into the genetic basis of various disorders, paving the way for personalized medicine, targeted therapies, and preventive strategies. He shed light on recent advancements in genomics research pertaining to human diseases, by elaborating on Next Generation Sequencing, Functional Genomics, Epigenomics, and other techniques. He highlighted that recent advancements in genomics have enabled us to analyze thousands of genetic markers across the entire genome of individuals and identify specific genetic variations linked to diseases such as cancer. Advanced Genomic techniques have also helped us in identification of disease-causing genetic mutations and the design of tailored treatments based on an individual's genomic profile. He further emphasized the understanding of how genes and their interactions contribute to disease development and progression.

Prof. Kumar underlined that one such genomic technique, DNA-based reconstruction of the human evolutionary tree, has helped us identify that our ancient ancestors lived in Africa roughly 2 lakh years ago. He also cited various research studies to explain the impact of culture and lifestyle on human genomics in different geographical locations. Prof. Kumar asserted that genomics will play an increasingly crucial role in unraveling the complexities of human diseases, and AI-based models will further assist in improving disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

In his presidential address, Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, the Vice-Chancellor, expressed his gratitude towards Prof. N. Senthil Kumar for enlightening the audience with his extensive knowledge and valuable insights. He stressed that adaptability to change has helped human civilization survive till now, and cutting-edge research in genomics can pave the way to combating human diseases.

Towards the end, Prof. Anil K. Mantha, Head, Department of Zoology, thanked everyone for making this program a success. Faculty, research scholars, and students from different departments of the University attended this program.

VC Prof RP Tiwari felicitating Prof. N Senthil Kumar.