St Petersburg University biologists systematise the University’s genetic collections

‘St Petersburg University’s bioresource collections represent a unique source of biodiversity for research in genetics and related disciplines. The Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University is the oldest department of genetics in Russia. It was founded over 100 years ago — in 1919. Throughout the development of genetic research at the University, the geneticists have been collecting unique forms of plants, animals and microorganisms, on which their research was based. Many of these research studies were scientific breakthroughs that provided insights into: regulation of translation termination in yeast cells; amyloid and prion proteins in various organisms; genetic mapping of morphological and biochemical traits for the construction of first rye chromosome maps; and several aspects of transcription regulation in plants, to name but a few,’ said the initiator and Principal Investigator of the project Anton Nizhnikov, Chairman of the Scientific Committee in Biological Sciences and Bioecology of St Petersburg University, Acting Head of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University, member of the Coordination Council for Youth Affairs in Science and Education under the President of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The large-scale review is published in the journal Biological Communications.

It was in the 1950-1970s that St Petersburg University’s genetic collections were actively built and steadily expanded, when new scientific directions in genetics of microorganisms, plants and animals were established and began to develop in Russia and across the globe, including innovative molecular genetic studies. The academic staff of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University made an outstanding contribution to the development of a number of these areas.

The genetic collections of St Petersburg University are actively used in the education process for teaching the University students; in a number of educational projects; and in interdisciplinary research, aimed primarily at studying transcription, translation and replication in various groups of organisms and conducted using the most modern methods of molecular genetics, bioinformatics and omics technologies.

Anton Nizhnikov, Acting Head of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University, member of the Coordination Council for Youth Affairs in Science and Education under the President of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences

‘Currently, the genetic collections of St Petersburg University consist of seven sections, including genetic collections of rye, radish, garden pea, Chlamydomonas algae, Saccharomyces yeast and plasmids, Komagataella yeast, and Drosophila fly. In our review, we described in detail and systematised the collections of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University and discusses their current state, applications and development prospects. The development of genetic collections in the Russian Federation is given special attention. This is evident from Executive Order of the President of the Russian Federation No 680 dated 28 November 2018 that is being implemented through the Russian Federal Research Programme for Genetic Technologies Development for 2019–2027. St Petersburg University is actively following the lines of development set by the country’s leadership. Thus, in 2023, the University was a co-organiser of a major scientific event dedicated to bioresource collections — the 2nd Scientific Forum "Genetic Resources of Russia",’ noted Professor Anton Nizhnikov.

The first author of the paper is Elena Andreeva, Candidate of Biology, Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St Petersburg University. She said that St Petersburg University’s genetic collections that contain unique plant lines and strains of microorganisms and animals, not only illustrate the history of the development of genetic research at the University, but also stimulate and foster the development of new directions in the field of genetics and biotechnology.

The research of St Petersburg University scientists was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (project No 23 14 00063) and a grant from the President of the Russian Federation (MD 2302.2022.5.)

As a reminder, the Federal Research Programme for Genetic Technologies Development is in effect in the Russian Federation until 2027. Its main objectives are to: comprehensively address the problems of accelerated development of genetic technologies, including gene editing technologies; create science and technology reserves for medicine, agriculture and industry; and improve prevention measures against biological emergencies and control in this area. In 2024, St Petersburg University will celebrate its 300th anniversary. More than 30 events are planned to mark the anniversary of the oldest university in Russia, some of them have already been implemented. In front of the Twelve Collegia building, the University unveiled a monument to the Minister of Education of the Russian Empire Sergey Uvarov, who revived the University in 1819. To celebrate the anniversary, the University introduced a design of a new postage stamp, bank cards, and aircraft livery for the Rossiya Airlines. The name of St Petersburg University was given to a small planet and an unnamed mountain peak of 1,724 metres on the Khamar Daban Ridge (the Republic of Buryatia). The plan of the events was approved at the meeting of the organising committee for the celebration of the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University, which was chaired by Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and a member of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University.