Profile
Plant Biotechnologist, GMO Regulatory Scientist and Researcher
Dr. Muhammad Tariq has served as a Research Officer at CEMB since 2006, initially in the Biopharmaceutical Group on cloning, transformation and quality control of human recombinant proteins. Since 2010 he has been a key member of the Seed Biotechnology Laboratory, developing transgenic crops — cotton, potato, sugarcane and soybean — resistant to biotic stresses such as pink bollworm and fungal pathogens.
He specialises in vector construction, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment for introducing resistance genes into crops, and has contributed to the commercialisation of CEMB's genetically modified cotton varieties, including four double-Bt-gene and five triple-gene cotton varieties.
He drafts submissions for the National Biosafety Committee, the Punjab Seed Corporation and the Sindh Seed Council for genetic manipulation lab work, field trials and variety approval, and performs PCR, dipstick and ELISA GMO testing for public and private organisations, including the National Coordinated Varietal Trial run by the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee.
Selected contributions
Science translated into capability
Transgenic crop development
Develops biotic stress-resistant transgenic cotton, potato, sugarcane and soybean.
Cotton variety commercialisation
Contributed to four double-Bt-gene and five triple-gene commercialised cotton varieties.
Regulatory & GMO testing
Prepares National Biosafety Committee, PSC and SSC submissions, and performs PCR/dipstick/ELISA GMO testing for PCCC varietal trials.