The Institute of Genetics and Cytology offers consumers services for the use of unique DNA samples for the development and implementation of genomic biotechnologies in healthcare, sports, environmental protection, industry and agriculture under an outsourcing agreement and is looking for partners to promote the Republican DNA Bank under a distribution services agreement.

The Republican DNA Bank of Humans, Animals, Plants and Microorganisms was created for long-term storage and repeated use of unique DNA samples for the development and implementation of genomic biotechnologies in healthcare, sports, environmental protection, industry and agriculture.

The "Republican DNA Bank" was created at the Institute, which includes more than 8000 samples in the following sections:
- Human DNA Bank
- Animal DNA Bank
- Plant DNA Bank
- DNA bank of microorganisms.

Each section stores DNA and biological tissues (the original biological material from which the DNA sample was obtained). The DNA bank is represented (for each thematic section): a collection of DNA samples for long-term storage; a collection of DNA samples for scientific purposes (used by depositors for their own needs, for the exchange of DNA samples between the laboratories of the Institute, institutions of the Republic of Belarus and other countries involved in molecular genetic research); a collection of DNA samples for commercial storage (samples of biological material from individuals and various institutions are placed).

Collections of samples are systematized according to a number of parameters (DNA of indigenous Belarusians, athletes, patients with multifactorial diseases, agricultural plants, rare and endangered plants and animals, reference samples of microorganisms for the food industry). for storage DNA samples at the institute are equipped with a storage facility with low-temperature freezers and a system cryopreservation, established the procedure for depositing samples and a system for recording DNA samples. The scientific group of the bank conducts research (in particular on DNA barcoding), and develops scientific but-practical recommendations for their application, taking into account the specifics of the scientific and / or practical tasks being solved dachas in the field of biology, genetics, agricultural practice and biotechnological production, protection and sustainable use of biodiversity, medicine.

The Republican DNA Bank of Humans, Animals, Plants and Microorganisms provides long-term services
specialized storage of DNA samples and biological material of humans, animals, plants and mimicroorganism using cryopreservation technology.

The priority tasks of the DNA Bank are:
- development and implementation of coordinated and scientifically reasoned measures for long-term, high-quality storage and effective use of collections of DNA samples from humans, animals, plants and microorganisms and the original biological material from which DNA samples were obtained;
- collection, storage and systematization of information on collections of genetic material;
- organization of effective interaction with other DNA banks and collections of genetic material in order to enter the international network of DNA banks for the exchange of samples, technologies and information;
- inventory and conservation of genetic resources of rare and endangered species of plants and animals of the Republic of Belarus.

More details here and in the Catalog of the Institute of Genetics and Cytology "Applied Developments".

The Republican DNA Bank received the status of a national treasure (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 629 dated August 13, 2016). The Republican Bank has no analogues in the CIS in terms of its broad profile and multifunctionality.

Main areas of research:

– Study of the structural and functional organization of the genomes of plants, animals, humans and microorganisms;
– Studying the problems of genetic and cellular engineering;
– Development of genetic bases for breeding plants, animals and microorganisms;
– Creation of genomic technologies for agriculture, healthcare, sports, environmental protection;
– Study of biosafety issues;
– Provision of services for DNA marking and DNA certification of plants, animals, humans and microorganisms;
– Collection and preservation of unique DNA samples as sources of valuable genetic information;
– Monitoring of the genetic resources of the Republic of Belarus, promotion of access to genetic resources and benefit sharing;
– Provision of services for determining the content of genetically modified ingredients in food raw materials and food products.

International agreements on scientific partnership have been concluded with the Medical Genetic Research Center (Russia), the Estonian Biocenter (Estonia), the Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland), the National Institute of Biology of the Republic of Slovenia (Slovenia, Institute of Plant Genetic Resources “K. Malkov”, Sadovo of Agricultural Academy (Bulgaria), Ivane Beritashvili Center for Experimental Biomedicine (Georgia), Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS (Russia), etc.

Consumers interested in purchasing services for the use of unique DNA samples for the development and implementation of genomic biotechnologies in healthcare, sports, environmental protection, industry and agriculture under an outsourcing agreement.

Partners interested in promoting the Republican DNA Bank under a distribution services agreement.