Profile
Plant Molecular Biologist, Cotton Biotechnologist and Educator
Dr. Ayesha Latif is a highly ambitious and experienced researcher with expertise in plant molecular biology, gene cloning, CRISPR/Cas, plant transformation, plant tissue culture, and molecular techniques. She joined CEMB in 2005 as a Research Officer cum Lecturer and has over 18 years of research experience in biological fields.
Her primary research focuses on the production of insect- and herbicide-resistant cotton varieties with improved fiber quality traits, motivated by identifying novel cotton genes to address the low cotton production challenges affecting Pakistan's economy.
A key achievement includes developing glyphosate-resistant cotton plants; transgenic germplasm she developed is marketed as CKC technology cotton varieties. Her long-term goal is to advance cotton fiber quality research for Pakistan's textile industry.
Selected contributions
Science translated into capability
Herbicide-resistant cotton
Developed glyphosate-resistant cotton plants, contributing to CKC technology cotton varieties now marketed commercially.
Insect-resistant cotton
Works on production of insect-resistant cotton varieties combining Bt and plant lectin genes for broad-spectrum protection.
Fiber quality improvement
Researches novel cotton genes to improve fiber quality traits and address low cotton production in Pakistan.
CRISPR/Cas and gene cloning
Applies CRISPR/Cas and gene cloning techniques across plant transformation and tissue culture research.