Assistant Professor Dr. Zina Thamer Abdul Hussein, a faculty member at the College of Science, University of Kerbala, participated as a committee member in a PhD dissertation defense at the College of Education for Women, University of Kufa. The dissertation, titled “Molecular and Chemical Study of Some Citrus L. Species from the Rutaceae Family and Their Antibacterial Activity,” was presented by Hawraa Rashid Hassani from the Department of Biology.
The dissertation aimed to analyze the genetic variation among ten Citrus species using ISSR-PCR markers, construct a phylogenetic tree, identify bioactive compounds through GC-Mass spectrometry, and evaluate the biological activity of ethanol extracts from three selected species.
The results revealed that the studied species are rich in biologically active compounds with medicinal and nutritional value. Additionally, the study demonstrated the effectiveness of molecular techniques in analyzing genetic diversity and clarifying evolutionary relationships among species.
Dr. Zina Thamer Abdul Hussein provided valuable scientific insights, emphasizing the significance of research in genetic diversity and plant-based biological applications, particularly in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
The study recommended using complete plastid genome sequencing for species identification and further investigating the synergistic effects of phenolic extracts combined with nanomaterials against bacteria and fungi.