NEW YORK (Nov. 12, 2012) — Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q), in association with the Biotechnology Center, Ministry of Environment (BCQ-MoE), have announced that they have mapped the genome of the oryx for the first time, helping to secure the future of the animal and prevent its extinction.
The announcement came at a joint press conference at Al Sharq Village.
The work, which was also done in collaboration with the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, took place in WCMC-Q's genomics laboratories by researchers from WCMC-Q and BCQ-MoE and took four months to complete. The findings will help captive breeding programs select the most genetically-diverse animals to ensure the viability of the species. This also raises the possibility that more animals will eventually be released back into the wild. The work was done in partnership with the Ministry of Environment.
Dr. Javaid I. Sheikh, Dean of WCMC-Q, said the research demonstrated the value of partnerships between organizations.
"This was a highly successful collaboration between Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar's Research Division and the Biotechnology Center in Ministry of Environment," he said.
"Through working together and using cutting-edge technology, we have results which could make a real, tangible difference to the survival of a species. This has huge implications and everyone involved in the research should feel justly proud of themselves."
Mr. Masoud Al Marri, Director of the Biotechnology Center at the Ministry of Environment, said: "The results gained from this project will open the door for further research programs which will help in oryx conservation in the promised future and build Qatar's capacity in this regards."
"This is the first animal to be sequenced in the State of Qatar and we should be proud of this achievement."
"Working with WCMC-Q was a great honor. One of our researchers, Ms. Amina Al-Malki, was in the project's team and that helped in BCQ's capacity building."
Dr. Joel Malek, Director of WCMC-Q's Genomics Core where the research was conducted, said the findings could aid the survival of the oryx, which is currently classed as 'vulnerable'.
Dr. Malek said: "The data we have will be the foundation of a better understanding of the wild populations of oryx and the genetic pressures they face for their survival."
"The Ministry of Environment, in association with interested partners, has wisely chosen to commit to funding ongoing genomic research to ensure these results are applied for the oryx's benefit."
A spokesman for the Ministry for the Environment, added: "This achievement will be added to Qatar's eventful record and will give Qatar the leadership in Arabian oryx conservation."
"The project was done in collaboration with WCMC-Q and that is really highly appreciated."
During the 1950s and 1960s the number of wild oryx fell to just a couple of hundred individuals, added Dr. Malek. Unfortunately this has meant that the genetic diversity of oryx alive today is small. But the data arrived at by Dr. Malek and his team will allow breeders to select the most genetically different male and female oryx thus allowing them to produce healthier specimens in the future with greater resistance to diseases.
Dr. Khaled Machaca, the Associate Dean for Research at WCMC-Q, said the work on the oryx genome was highly significant.
"This is a milestone achievement for Qatar genomics research," he said. "Qatar, through research undertaken at Qatar Foundation, is establishing an exceptional track record in terms of documenting the genetic diversity of species important for the region, starting with the date palm and now the oryx. Who knows what further excitement the future holds."
The DNA used to map the genome came from an oryx kept at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation owned by Sheikh Saoud Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Thani. Blood was taken from a young male animal and the DNA extracted using, in simple terms, soap and ethanol.
The DNA was then broken into billions of fragments using sound waves - specifically focused acoustic pressure - before being re-constructed using a super-computer. This provided the researchers with the sequence of the genome. They also discovered that the genome of the oryx is 95 percent similar to that of the cow and the sheep, meaning that WCMC-Q researchers also know the function of each gene.
At the press conference gifts were exchanged between the Minister and WCMC-Q's dean. Dr. Sheikh presented His Excellency with the map of the oryx genome. Certificates were also presented to all those who were instrumental in the research. These were: Mr. Masoud Almarri, Director of BCQ, Ministry of Environment; Dr. Joel Malek, Assistant Professor of Genetic Medicine and Director of Genomics; Dr. Benjamin Shykind, Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology; Dr. Atef Sayed, Research Associate; Dr. Tim Bouts, Lead Veterinarian Researcher at Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation; Ms. Amina Al-Malki, a Specialist at the Biotechnology Center; Mrs. Eman Al-Dous, Research Technician; Ms. Eman Al-Azwani, Research Technician; Mrs. Binu George, Bioinformatics Data Analyst; Mrs. Yasmeen Salameh, Research Technician; Mrs. Lisa Matthew, Research Specialist; and Mrs. Yasmin Mohamoud, Manager of the Genomics Core.
Weill Cornell Medical College
Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University's medical school located in New York City, is committed to excellence in research, teaching, patient care and the advancement of the art and science of medicine, locally, nationally and globally. Physicians and scientists of Weill Cornell Medical College are engaged in cutting-edge research from bench to bedside, aimed at unlocking mysteries of the human body in health and sickness and toward developing new treatments and prevention strategies. In its commitment to global health and education, Weill Cornell has a strong presence in places such as Qatar, Tanzania, Haiti, Brazil, Austria and Turkey. Through the historic Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Cornell University is the first in the U.S. to offer a M.D. degree overseas. Weill Cornell is the birthplace of many medical advances — including the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer, the synthesis of penicillin, the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S., the first clinical trial of gene therapy for Parkinson's disease, and most recently, the world's first successful use of deep brain stimulation to treat a minimally conscious brain-injured patient. Weill Cornell Medical College is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where its faculty provides comprehensive patient care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The Medical College is also affiliated with the Methodist Hospital in Houston. For more information, visit weill.cornell.edu.