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 Re: جريدة أنجليزية تكتب عن الباحثة السودانية ليلي زكريا (Re: أحمد أمين)
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manchester
science&innovation
Layla's work is too sweet
LAYLA: Revolutionary
THE patient work of a Sudanese tribal king's granddaughter in a Manchester laboratory is set to revolutionise the world's sugar industry - and a spin off could be a new cancer treatment.
Traditional methods of growing sugar cane from cuttings are both wasteful and costly, and the plant is difficult to grow from seed.
For years, scientists, funded by the sugar industry, have been trying to find a solution that will increase the crop yield, but without success.
But Dr Layla Zakaria Abdel Rahman, a former UMIST student, who is now working out of Manchester Science Park, refused to give up.
Although experts said her research would never come to anything, she persisted and proved them wrong.
She has discovered a radically new method of growing the cane, allowing it to be sown just as cereals are, which is more productive, and much cheaper - saving around £220 an acre in planting costs.
The method involves taking cells from the leaves, shoots or roots, growing them in a liquid culture to produce artificial seeds which will germinate.
Her startling results have received attention on a global scale.
She has already been awarded a gold medal by her own government for her achievements and the American sugar industry has tried to entice her to the US.
But, after patenting her technique in countries around the globe, Dr Layla is staying at Manchester Science Park, where she is in the process of launching a business - Agri-Biotech - which will licence her production methods to sugar companies around the world.
Dr Layla, whose husband works in Sudan for the large sugar company Kenana, where she began her own career, is especially hopeful that her work will help the economy of her own country.
She hopes it will greatly boost its present annual sugar production of around 730,000 tonnes, which is exported mainly to the Gulf and Africa.
She says she owes her success to her grandmother, who largely brought her up after her mother, a teacher, died when she was only two.
Encourage
"Although she could not read or write, my grandmother always encouraged me in my studies, and I think she would be proud of what I have been able to achieve," says Dr Layla.
"I think that what I have done will reduce the price of sugar worldwide and, particularly, help poor sugar-producing countries," she said. Now, she is working on patents for other crops which are difficult to grow from seed, such as yam and banana.
She is also seeking SMART funding from the Department of Trade and Industry to help develop her cancer research.
"I believe my technique could have applications for cancer treatment, and could be very helpful," she says.
The daughter of a cotton farmer, Dr Layla had originally wanted to study languages. However, a teacher advised her to pursue science, because she had a natural talent for the subject.
She went to Khartoum University to study agriculture.
After marrying and having two children, she had the chance to study at UMIST, when her husband was also offered a place there and she gained a Masters degree and a Phd.
Funding from the British Council and grants from the Islamic Development Bank, helped her develop her theories and put them into practice.
Jane Davies, chief executive of the Manchester Science Park said: "Layla's story is remarkable and we are pleased to have been able to support her through her research.
"Her startling results are testament to her dedication and extra-ordinary skills.
"At Manchester Science Park we aim to nurture and promote this kind of activity by providing for small businessses and individuals such as Layla an environment that allows them to focus their energy on research."
15/07/2003
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(عدل بواسطة Tumadir on 07-15-2003, 05:00 PM)
(عدل بواسطة Tumadir on 07-15-2003, 05:02 PM)
(عدل بواسطة Tumadir on 07-15-2003, 05:06 PM)
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