Genetic diversity in plants is the key factor that contributes to various sources of food, pharmaceuticals, and important industrial raw material, said Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to the Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei, addressing the 2nd International and 14th National Genetics Congress on Saturday. “Due to Iran’s biodiversity there are more than 7,500 plant species, making the country a valuable genetic reserve,” he said at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University, Mehr News Agency reported. Stressing the need to protect this biodiversity, Velayati censured opposition to genome engineering in some quarters through what he said was misleading information. “This science has given man the upper hand in various areas including medicine and agriculture. Creating accurate genetic maps, accelerated diagnosis of diseases and their timely treatment, DNA fingerprinting, and recombinant vaccines are only part of the revolutionizing impact of this science,” on humanity, the former foreign minister told the meeting.
