The Sharjah Research Academy plans to open an advanced laboratory to preserve native plant DNA and perform intense research about the use of the genetic material in various fields.
Founded in 2009, the Sharjah Seed Bank and Herbarium Bank succeeded in preserving about 1,500 groups of seeds from 430 plant species found in the UAE, said Dr Amr Abdul Hamid, Director of the Sharjah Research Academy. This figure accounts for more than 50% of the known plant varieties, with 15% belonging to local plant species of rare seed groups. He stressed that such efforts are especially important during this period of rapid global change. The main goal of researchers conducted at the local institution is to gather all local plants located in the UAE into one bank with particular emphasis on rare and endangered plant species.