Featured article fromThe Mindanao Daily Mirror
Written by Kenneth Paul Senarillos
DAVAO CITY — What are “omics” and why are they important not just in the field of research but in the future of Mindanao?
The newly coined word refers to a field of study in biology ending in “-omics,” such as genomics, proteomics, or metabolomics. These collective technologies are used to explore the roles, relationships, and actions of the various types of molecules that make up the cells of an organism.
Scientific research in Mindanao took a big leap last February as the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), a research center of the University of the Philippines (UP) System based in Diliman, Quezon City, established its first satellite facility in the island region.
Currently, the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao Satellite Facility (PGC-MSF) is temporarily located inside the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) building at the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) campus in Mintal, Davao City.
The PGC-MSF aims to utilize omics technology for Mindanao’s scientific development. According to the center, omics is an emerging field of scientific technology that involves the collective study of molecules found in humans, plants, and animals.
In an interview with the Mirror, PGC-MSF Program Director Dr. Lyre Murao shared the significance of studying these molecules.
“Every living organism is composed of what we call molecules. All of these vital things that are happening in life are being done by molecules,” she said.
“They’re the ones doing everything in the body. They’re the ones running the organism making sure that it’s growing; making sure that it’s healthy; making sure that it’s producing what it needs to produce,” she added.
The establishment of the facility will fast-track scientific research initiatives in Mindanao, according to Dr. Murao.
