Lecturer in Plant Biotechnology
BSc (Unimas), MSc (2008, UKM)

Tel: +6082582998

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Research activities
My early research work focused on the isolation and characterization of novel promoter.  Three Agrobacterium-based transformation methods for the T-DNA insertional mutagenesis that has the potential in generating transgenic tissues of tomato for novel promoter isolation were carried out.  The methods employed were tissue co-cultivation based transformation, direct seed transformation and agro-infiltration.  Transformation into plants was done with the agro-infiltration method which involves directly forcing A. tumefaciens into the plant leaf by using pressure on wounded leaves.  The aim of this research project is to tag any novel promoter and it is hoped that the promoters obtained will be useful in driving the expression of genes and can be further manipulated for the purpose of regulated and improved expression through genetic manipulation. Apart from that, it is hoped that the newly isolated, novel promoters will be useful in genetic manipulation strategies for controlling flowering and also disease resistance in crop.  

Another research interest is in establishing the transformation protocol for several plants, including Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Andrographis paniculata (hempedu bumi) and transient expression of transgenes to look at integration and expression of foreign genes into plants. Our research group is also involved in profiling of total fatty acid from Jatropha. Besides, research activities also include the identification and isolation of genes from Jatropha curcas (buah jarak), Bario rice and Metroxylan sago.

Selected publications - Refereed Journals

Safarina, A., Ismanizan, I. & Zamri, Z. 2009. Activation of Reporter Gene in Transgenic Tomato by Agroinfiltration of the Promoterless Tagging Vector, Sains Malaysiana, 38(6)(2009: 921-928

Selected publications - Proceedings

Safarina, A., Dinesh, N., Zamri, Z., Shahrul Hisham, Z.A. & Ismanizan, I. 2005. The effect of acetosyringone on Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated transformation and T-DNA expression in transgenic tomato. Proceedings of the 8th Applied Biology Symposium. Putrajaya, Malaysia,22-23June2005.

Dinesh, N, , Safarina, A., Zamri, Z., Shahrul Hisham, Z.A., & Ismanizan, I. 2005. Comparative study of promoter acivity containing tandem of 35s and AMV sequences to drive marker gene expression in transgenic tissues of Capsicuum annuum. Proceedings of the 8th Applied Biology Symposium 2005. Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Dinesh, N., Safarina, A., Zamri, Z., Nik Marzuki, S., Abdul Munir, A.M., Shahrul Hisham, Z.A. and Ismanizan, I. 2005. Transient gene expression by agro-infiltration method for non-destructive assay in T-DNA tagging of Capsicum annuum dan Lycopersicon esculentum.  Proceedings of the 8th Applied Biology Symposium . Putrajaya, Malaysia. 22-23 June 2005.

Dinesh, N., Ismanizan, I., Zamri, Z. and Safarina, A. 2004. Construction of the promoterless vector for T-DNA tagging: An approach for isolation and characterisation of Capsicum annuum L. specific promoter.  Prosiding Simposium Biologi Kebangsaan Ke-7, Genting Highland Resort, Malaysia.

PAST AND PRESENT RESEARCH

Research project title: Generation of transgenic plant for promoter trapping and gene function studies.
Name of researcher(s): Leader: Hairul Azman Roslan; Co-researchers: Safarina binti Ahmad
Year(s) of start and completion: 2007-2009
Quantum & sources of fund: RM 69 500, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (MOHE) FRGS/01(07)/648/2007(13)

Research project title: National Jatropha Pilot Project on Biodiesel.
Name of researcher(s): Leader: Dr Baharum Ismail ; Co-researchers: Safarina binti Ahmad
Year(s) of start and completion: 2007-2009
Quantum and sources of fund: 1.8 million, IRPA

Research project title: Isolation of Differentially Expressed Genes  of Selected Bario Rice in Different Growing Conditions.
Name of researcher(s): Leader: Safarina binti Ahmad; Co-researchers: Assoc Prof Dr Hairul Azman Roslan, Assoc Prof Dr Suhaimi Napis
Year(s) of start and completion: 2011-2013
Quantum & sources of fund: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (MOHE) – In process

Research project title: Profilling and Characterization of Differentially Expressed Genes  of Sago Palm from Different Geograpical Condition
Name of researcher(s): Leader: Safarina binti Ahmad; Co-researchers: Assoc Prof Dr Awang Ahmad Sallehin Awang Husaini, Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Hasnain Md Hussain, Assoc Prof Dr Zainab Ngaini
Year(s) of start and completion: 2011-2013
Quantum & sources of fund: Tun Openg Sago Chair – In process