CAMPUS MOMENTS JULY.2015 | Page 9

research NEW DNA TESTING CENTER AT NUST analysis expensive and as a result the Zimbabwean population remains behind in the utilisation of this ground breaking technology in its justice, medical and agricultural systems. The AGTC will focus on human identification including; individual DNA profiling and data basing, establishment of parentage and other biological relationships for immigration and medical applications as well as forensic applications including sexual assault cases. We envisage that our uniformed forces will take Prof. Z Dlamini chairman of the Department of Applied Biology advantage of this technological advancement by the Reaseach and Innovation Office which is now within reach and create databases of fulfilling our mission which is to con- their members’ DNA fingerprints for ease of identifitribute positively towards the advance- cation as is the norm the world over. Gone are the days ment of humanity through the provision of having tombs of the unknown solders, we are now of knowledge based solutions to scientific, technologi- equipped to identify any remains of our service personnel. cal, economic and social challenges, we have established the first DNA testing facility in the Zimbabwean public sector,” said Mr Z. Dhlamini from Applied Biology. “In This facility is called the Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC) and is housed in the Laboratories in the Department of Applied Biology and Biochemistry. The mandate of the AGTC is to operate a DNA analysis laboratory in Zimbabwe with state-of-theart infrastructure and using advanced molecular genetics techniques to deliver affordable high quality services in human, livestock and pathogen identification. We have already equipped the centre with state of the art DNA amplification and analysis machines as well as internationally certified reagents, all to the tune of $350000. DNA fingerprint machine In the area of human identification using DNA, the Zimbabwean public has dependent on laboratories in South Africa, the UK and USA, this scenario makes DNA JULY 2015. CM. Page 9