“Ukraine has opened its own laboratory for the analysis of biological samples brought from Antarctica. It was opened by the National Antarctic Science Center in order to no longer carry materials around various institutions and abroad. The laboratory has already been launched and is fully operational for the needs of polar science. This was reported by the National Antarctic Science Center. The National Academy of Sciences explains that biological research is carried out by Ukrainian scientists”, — write on: ua.news
Ukraine has opened its own laboratory for the analysis of biological samples brought from Antarctica. It was opened by the National Antarctic Science Center in order to no longer carry materials around various institutions and abroad. The laboratory has already been launched and is fully operational for the needs of polar science. About this informs National Antarctic Science Center.
The National Academy of Sciences explains that Ukrainian scientists conduct biological research in several places. Part of the work is carried out directly at the Antarctic station “Akademik Vernadskyi”, part – simply in the ocean aboard the research vessel “Noosphere”. But a significant part of the analyzes always required work in laboratory conditions already after returning from the expeditions.
Previously, samples from the Antarctic were brought to Kyiv and distributed among various institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and universities. Part of the materials had to be sent abroad for analysis. Over time, the volume of work of polar biologists increased so much that it became clear: it is difficult to move forward without one’s own laboratory. “The volume of biological research has become so large that the question of creating one’s own laboratory was only a matter of time,” explained the NASC.
During the war, it was not about new construction. The premises for the laboratory were provided by the Kyiv Aviation Institute, and the Antarctic Center itself provided it with the necessary equipment. “Of course, no one would spend money on construction during the war. The laboratory premises were kindly provided by the Kyiv Aviation Institute. NASC brought equipment and started work literally “from the wheels”, – said director of NASC Yevhen Dykiy.
Maria Pavlovska became the head of the laboratory. Her specialization is marine microbiology and environmental DNA analysis, the so-called eDNA method. It allows one sample of water or soil to determine all the biodiversity in the area — from bacteria and viruses to fish and even whales.
Now the laboratory already has equipment that provides a full cycle of molecular genetic research. Bioprospecting is among the main areas of work. It is a search in plants and microorganisms of the Antarctic for substances that can be useful for medicine, food industry or biotechnology. These include, in particular, potential new antibiotics, antioxidants and other compounds.
The Department of Biotechnology of the Kyiv Aviation Institute became the main partner of the National Academy of Sciences in this project. Together, scientists explore the complex relationships within polar ecosystems—from the exchange of biosynthetic products between bacteria and microalgae in the Southern Ocean to the subtle symbiotic interactions between Antarctic insects, plants, and the bacteria that live within them.
The NASC emphasizes: the appearance of its own laboratory significantly strengthens Ukraine’s position in Antarctic research and allows faster and better work with unique samples brought from one of the least explored regions of the planet.
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