Dr. Muhammad Tariq has been serving as a Research Officer at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), Lahore since 2006. He has extensive experience in the field of Molecular Biology. Initially, he worked in the Biopharmaceutical Group at CEMB, focusing on cloning, transformation, purification, and quality control analyses of human recombinant proteins in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems. Since 2010, he has been a key member of the Seed Biotechnology Laboratory, where his research is dedicated to developing transgenic crops including cotton, potato, sugarcane and soybean with emphasis on resistance to biotic stresses such as pink bollworm and fungal pathogens. His work involves genetic transformation, molecular characterization, and functional validation of transgenes to enhance plant resistance. He specializes in vector construction, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment techniques for introducing resistance genes into crops. His research also includes the characterization and screening of the Plant Growth Promoting bacteria
Additionally, he has contributed significantly to the commercialization of genetically modified cotton varieties developed by CEMB. His efforts have played a vital role in developing four double Bt gene and five triple gene (double Bt & GTG) cotton varieties, which provide enhanced protection against insect pests and fungal infections. He is actively engaged in drafting the submission for the National Biosafety Committee, Islamabad, to pursue approval for Genetic Manipulation Lab work, field trials, and the commercialization of genetically modified crops. Additionally, he prepares drafts for the approval of cotton varieties by the Punjab Seed Corporation (PSC) and Sindh Seed Council (SSC). Furthermore, Dr. Tariq is also engaged in GMO testing of transgenic cotton varieties referred by both public and private sector organizations. He performs PCR, dipstick, and ELISA tests to evaluate genetically modified cotton varieties, including those in the National Coordinated Varietal Trial (NCVT) conducted by the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC).
Area(s) of Research:
Plant Tissue Culture, Plant Biotechnology, DNA Sequencing, Genetic transformation of the Plant, Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria and Molecular Analyses of the GM plant.
Selected Publication:
1. Ahmed, R., Awan, M. F., Askam, M. W., Tariq, M., Anjum, A., Nabeel, A., & Hassan, Z. Advanced transgenic strategies triggering enhancements of the sugar production in commercial sugarcane crop. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10579024
2. Bhatti, M. U., Tabassum, B., Berry, C., Khan, A., Qaisar, U., Ali, E., Khalid, R., Farooq, A. M., Tariq, M. & Ayaz, H. (2023). Transgenic maize inbred lines expressing high levels of Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein (Vip3Aa86) offer effective control of maize stem borer (Chilo partellus). Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 153(2), 417-427.
3. Tariq, M., Tabassum, B., Bakhsh, A., Farooq, A. M., Qamar, Z., Akram, F., … & Nasir, I. A. (2022). Heterologous expression of cry1Ia12 insecticidal gene in cotton encodes resistance against pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae); an alternate insecticidal gene for insect pest management. Molecular Biology Reports, 49(11), 10557-10564.
4. Sharif, M. N., Iqbal, M. S., Alam, R., Awan, M. F., Tariq, M., Ali, Q., & Nasir, I. A. (2022). Silencing of multiple target genes via ingestion of dsRNA and PMRi affects development and survival in Helicoverpa armigera. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 10405.
5. Awan, M. F., Ali, S., Ullah, I., Ullah, A., Tariq, M., Iqbal, M. S., … & Farid, A. (2023). Expression Studies of Synthetic Sucrose Isomerase Gene 1 (SySIG1) in Saccharum officinarum L. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 1-13.
6. Toufiq, N., Tabassum, B., Bhatti, M. U., Khan, A., Tariq, M., Shahid, N., Nasir, I., A, & Husnain, T. (2018). Improved antifungal activity of barley derived chitinase I gene that overexpress a 32 kDa recombinant chitinase in Escherichia coli host. brazilian journal of microbiology, 49(2), 414-421.
7. Tabassum, B., Khan, A., Tariq, M., Ramzan, M., Khan, M. S. I., Shahid, N., & Aaliya, K. (2017). Bottlenecks in commercialisation and future prospects of PGPR. Applied Soil Ecology, 121, 102-117.
8. Ramzan, M., Tabassum, B., Nasir, I. A., Khan, A., Tariq, M., Awan, M. F., Shahid, N., Rao, A. Q., Bhatti, M. U., Toufiq, N. & Husnain, T. (2016). Identification and application of biocontrol agents against Cotton leaf curl virus disease in Gossypium hirsutum under greenhouse conditions. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 30(3), 469-478.
9. Tariq, M., Khan, A., Tabassum, B., Toufiq, N., Bhatti, M. U., Riaz, S., Nasir, I. N. & Husnain, T. (2018). Antifungal activity of chitinase II against Colletotrichum falcatum Went. causing red rot disease in transgenic sugarcane. Turkish Journal of Biology, 42(1), 45-53.
10. Tariq, M., Ali, Q., Khan, A., Khan, G. A., Rashid, B., Rahi, M. S., Ali, A., Nasir, I. A. & Husnain, T. (2014). Yield potential study of Capsicum annuum L. under the application of PGPR. Advancements in Life Sciences, 1(4), 202-207.