UMBI DNA Day Fosters Interest in Science


By Nadia Sapuan
Pictures by Shahiddan Saidi

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 May 2017 – UKM’s Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI) recently organized a DNA Day in conjunction with World DNA Day with an aim to foster interest in science, especially about the importance of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

UKM Pro Vice-Chancellor of Strategy and Corporate Development, Prof Dato’ Ir Dr Mohd Marzuki Mustafa said the program plans to show that science is fun and interesting.

“This is also a way for UKM to be close to the communities around us,” he said in his opening speech at DNA Day, which took place recently.

He added, the DNA day is held every year and this is the sixth time UMBI has organized the programme.

A total of four schools participated in the program including SMK Bandar Tun Razak, SM Sains Selangor, SMK Seri Bintang Utara and SM Sains Alam Shah.

A Biology Teacher of SMK Bandar Tun Razak, Suzilawani Hussain said through the programme, she hopes her students can try, see and understand more clearly about DNA.

“Through this program, there is a lot of knowledge that students can acquire, especially with the opportunity to utilise the state-of-the-art laboratory in UKM,” she said.

Muhammad Firdaus Abed Rahman a form four student at Sekolah Menengah Sains Alam Shah,  said the program was good because it encouraged him to continue his studies in science and become a doctor in the future.

Also present at the programme were UMBI Director, Prof Datuk Dr A Rahman A Jamal and DNA DAY Chairperson, Dr Nadiah Abu.