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On April 7, 2026, Section 4, "Current Issues in Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Ecology," was held at 91��ý KazNU as part of the International Conference of Students and Young Scientists "Farabi Alemi." The section brought together young researchers representing a wide range of scientific fields, from molecular genetics to ecology. This event is particularly important as an effective platform for testing scientific results, developing research competencies, and forming a professional community of young scientists.

The section was chaired by Zh.K. Zhunusbaeva, PhD (Biology), Associate Professor, and Head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. Leading faculty and researchers from the department participated in the section: Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor N. Zh. Omirbekova; Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Z. G. Aytasheva; Candidate of Biological Sciences, Professor Zh. Zh. Chunetova; PhD, Senior Lecturer M. A. Suvorova. The section secretary was PhD, Senior Lecturer, and Deputy Head of the Department for Research, Innovation, and International Relations, A. Q. Kuanbai.

Interest in the section was confirmed by the high level of scientific activity: a total of 90 applications were received, of which 88 abstracts were selected and published in the conference proceedings. Participants included leading universities and research organizations in Kazakhstan, as well as international institutions, including universities in the Republic of Uzbekistan, demonstrating the expansion of international scientific collaboration.

During the meeting, 23 oral presentations and two poster presentations were presented. The presentation topics included modern approaches to genetic engineering, metagenomic analysis, molecular mechanisms of plant resistance, and biomedical and environmental aspects of research. The presented papers demonstrated the high level of training of young scientists and the relevance of the scientific problems under consideration.

Following the section's work, the committee determined the winners. A first-place diploma was awarded to fourth-year student D.B. Andakbaev for his report on the construction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast with exposed human PD-L1 protein. His supervisor was PhD student I.T. Smekenov. The winner was also awarded the M.A. Aitkhozhin scholarship in the amount of 100,000 tenge.

Second-place diplomas were awarded to student D.M. Kan for her study of the antimutagenic activity of Cichorium intybus L. (supervised by PhD student and Associate Professor A.V. Lovinskaya) and to graduate student T.T. Kerimov. For their work on the limitations of modern metagenomic classifiers (supervised by Professor A.P. Bogoyavlensky, Doctor of Biological Sciences).

Third-degree diplomas were awarded to doctoral student A.A. Amangeldieva (supervised by R.S. Erzhebaeva, Candidate of Biological Sciences), students A.A. Bakhtiyarova, A.K. Basshybay, and S.U. Kolamsaq (supervised by A.K. Bisenbayev, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, and Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan), and student A.E. Khalilaeva (supervised by D.A. Gritsenko, PhD, Associate Professor).

The work of Zh.S. Berdieva and S.-E.V. Ligay was recognized as the best poster presentation. and Rustamkyzy A. (supervised by Professor S.Zh. Kolumbaeva, PhD, Associate Professor A.V. Lovinskaya), dedicated to the phyto- and genotoxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on plant tissue.

The session is aligned with UN priorities and its SDGs, including SDG 3 (health and well-being), SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 13 (climate action). The presented research contributes to the development of scientific education, strengthening the principles of equal opportunity, and finding solutions to pressing biomedical and environmental challenges.

All winners were awarded commemorative gifts with the university's logo, and section participants received certificates and incentive souvenirs. Section No. 4 confirmed the high scientific potential of young researchers and their readiness to address the priority challenges of modern science.

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics