By Yumna Bodiat
Edited by Imaan Moosa
Senior medical scientist Hajira Bodiat Khan speaks to us on HERstory as a Cytogeneticist.
Lancet Laboratories' senior medical scientist has worked in the field of cytogenetics over the past 33 years.
With a keen interest in biology and more specifically microbiology, Hajira Khan graduated with a BSc honours degree in genetics from the University of the Witswatersrand in 1988.
When I chose my majors for my BSc degree I chose microbiology and genetics. I majored in genetics and chose to do my honours in genetics. My thesis was actually plant genetics, but when I started working at the South African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR), I trained in human genetics, specifically cytogenetics.
According to Science Direct, cytogenetics is a branch of genetics that determines the presence of chromosomal loss, gain, or rearrangement using direct inspection of chromosomes arrested in metaphase. Khan told To EmpowHER her job as a cytogeneticist involves "prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities".
This involves setting up Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Biopsies in culture to grow the cells in special nutrient medium, harvest them when ready (approximately 14 days later) and analyse the chromosomes under the microscope. We look mainly for numerical and structural abnormalities in the unborn fetus.
In the female-dominated workplace at Lancet, a typical day for Hajira and her colleagues consist of assessing cultures for growth, harvesting cultures that are ready, staining and analysing slides under a microscope and further setting up new cultures under very strict tissue culture protocol.
Photos: Provided
When asked about the most interesting part of her work, Khan told To EmpowHER that it is the variety of her work because she says no two cases are the same. She enjoys it when she and her colleagues find unusual structural rearrangements in the chromosomes. Unfortunately, this may mean an abnormality in the unborn fetus which may result in severe birth defects.
The most challenging part of my work is that it requires 100% accuracy as the life of the fetuses dependent on our results, so fear of an error is always foremost on my mind.
A note from Hajira Khan:
Traditional cytogenetics is giving way to very new and exciting technology! I would advise studying all aspects of cytogenetics, especially molecular cytogenetics as that is where the science is advancing.
Appendix:
Metaphase: The stage of cell division in which the duplicated chromosomes become aligned along the center of the cell, called the equatorial plate or metaphase plate.
Amniocentesis: Amniocentesis is a procedure in which amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus for testing or treatment. Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds and protects a baby during pregnancy. This fluid contains fetal cells and various proteins.
Chorionic Villus Biopsy: CVB or Chorionic Villus sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that involves taking a sample of tissue from the placenta to test for chromosomal abnormalities and other genetic problems. The chorionic villi are tiny projections of placental tissue that look like fingers and contain the same genetic material as the fetus. Testing may be available for other genetic defects and disorders depending on the family history and availability of lab testing at the time of the procedure.
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