Staff Directory


Zarina Bt. Zainuddin

Academic Qualification

  • Doctor of Philosophy - Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge
  • Science - Masters Degree, Universiti Malaya (UM)
  • Botany - Bachelor Degree, Universiti Malaya (UM)

Zarina Bt. Zainuddin (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)

Associate Professor
IIUM Kuantan Campus

KULLIYYAH OF SCIENCE

Other's position:

Dean, Kulliyyah of Science


zzarina@iium.edu.my
5053


Expert Profile


Zarina Zainuddin obtained her Bsc First Class Honours from University of Malaya in Botany. Her final year project was in plant reproductive biology. She then worked on her MSc also at University of Malaya in Plant Biotechnology, sponsored by MOSTI under the National Science Foundation Scholarship. Her Msc project was on the development of transgenic chilli resistance towards virus.
Upon completion of her MSc, she joined Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia in June 2003 as an Assistant Lecturer. In 2007, she pursued her Ph.D in Plant Metabolism at the University of Cambridge. After completing her Ph.D, she came back to IIUM and was appointed as an Assistant Professor in 2011.


Area of Specialisation


  • Natural Science ~ Biological Sciences ~ Genetics ~ Molecular Genetics - Plant metabolic engineering
  • Natural Science ~ Biological Sciences ~ Genetics ~ Recombinant DNA Techniques - Molecular cloning and transformation
  • Biotechnology ~ Biotechnology ~ Plant Biotechnology ~ Tissue Culture - Plant tissue culture
  • Biotechnology ~ Biotechnology ~ Plant Biotechnology ~ Other Plant Biotechnology n.e.c. - Plant and algal biotechnology
  • Biotechnology ~ Biotechnology ~ Plant Biotechnology ~ Transgenic Plant (Including Transgenic Crops from the Aspects of Pest and Disease Resistance, Increase Shelf Life, Colour and Nutritional Enhancement, Drought, Salinity and Flooding Resistance) - Transgenic crop and algae


Teaching Responsibilities


ADVANCES IN PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY 2019/2020
APPLIED MOLECULAR GENETICS 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014 2012/2013 2011/2012
BASIC GENETIC ENGINEERING 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014 2012/2013 2011/2012
FINAL YEAR PROJECT 2 2020/2021
FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY 2012/2013 2011/2012 2005/2006
GENETICS 2023/2024 2015/2016 2014/2015 2012/2013
INSTRUMENTATION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH 2011/2012 2006/2007 2005/2006
MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY 2005/2006
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2016/2017
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 2014/2015
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017
PLANT GENETICS 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016
PLANT TISSUE CULTURE 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016
PRINCIPLES OF CELL AND TISSUE CULTURE 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014 2012/2013 2011/2012
PROJECT SEMINAR 2006/2007 2005/2006


Supervision


Drought Stress Memory Of Primed Seeds And The Dynamics And Resilient Of Anthesis Quality Traits In Drought Stress Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) .
Ph.D Completed 2020 Co-supervisor
Induced Mutagenesis In Varietal Development Of Stevia.
Ph.D Completed 2019 Main Supervisor
Field Performance And Molecular Analysis Of 14 Vegetable Soybean [Glycine Max (L.) Merrill] Accessions.
Ph.D Completed 2019 Co-supervisor
Diversity And Genetic Study Of Stevia Populations In Malaysia.
Ph.D Completed 2018 Main Supervisor
Agronomy, Breeding And Cytogenetic Factors Affecting Growth Of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni.
Ph.D Completed 2013 Main Supervisor
Establishment Of Zingiber Officinale Var. Bentong Cell Suspension Culture For Production Of Secondary Metabolites.
Ph.D In Progress Main Supervisor
Characterization Of Ossce1 And Ghd2 Genes Involved In Drought Stress Response Of Oryza Sativa Via Crispr/Cas9 System.
Ph.D In Progress Co-supervisor
Nutritive Composition Of Antarctic Microalgae And Enhancement Of Lipid Production Via Temperature, Nitrate And Phosphate Stress.
Ph.D In Progress Co-supervisor
Functional Characterisation Of Salinity Tolerance Gene(S) In Oryza Sativa Subsp. Indica Via Crispr/Cas9 System.
Ph.D In Progress Co-supervisor
Development Of Crispr/Cas9 - Targeted Mutagenesis Of Ossce1 Gene In Rice (Oryza Sativa Subsp. Indica).
Master Completed 2023 Co-supervisor
Bioprospecting Of Actinorhodin And Undecylprodigiosin In Mangrove Streptomyces.
Master Completed 2020 Co-supervisor
Clinical, Radiographic And Genetic Evaluation Of Malaysian Non-Syndromic Hypodontia Patients.
Master Completed 2019 Co-supervisor
Rhizospheric Cymbopogon Citratus-Staphylococcus Succinus Interactions For Phytoremediation Of Dibenzofuran-Contaminated Soil.
Master Completed 2018 Co-supervisor
Comparison Of Stevioside And Rebaudioside A Content And The Transcript Level Of Genes Involved In Their Biosynthesis In Different Accessions Of Stevia Rebaudiana (Bertoni) .
Master Completed 2017 Main Supervisor
An Efficient Method For In Vitro Clonal Propagation Of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni Accession Ms007.
Master Completed 2016 Main Supervisor
Bioprospecting Of Mangrove Actinomycetes And Their Antimicrobial Potentials.
Master Completed 2016 Co-supervisor
Analysis Of Trunscriptime Induced By Ectomycorrhizal Fungi In Jatropha Cureas Grown On Bauxite-Mined Soil And Topsoil.
Master In Progress Main Supervisor
Establishment Of Zingiber Officinale Var Bentong (Bentong Ginger) In Vitro Culture.
Master In Progress Co-supervisor
Genome Sequencing And Analysis Of Mitragyna Speciosa (Kratom) Isolated From Malaysia.
Master In Progress Co-supervisor
Induction Of Variation Through Callus Formation And Screening Of Potential Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria For Biohardening Of Tissue Culture Plantlets’ S Etlingera Elatior.
Master In Progress Co-supervisor
Structural And Functional Studies Of Kaurene Synthase In Stevia Rebaudiana Ms007 Via In Silico Approach.
Master In Progress Co-supervisor


Research Projects


Completed
2021 - 2023 Establishment of horticultural therapy towards the healing of special needs children suffering from autism due to Covid-19 pandemic
2019 - 2020 Bengkel: Kaedah Pengurusan Tanah Untuk Penanaman Halia Bentong
2019 - 2022 In vitro propagation of Etlingera elatior J. (Torch ginger) via indirect regeneration
2018 - 2022 Metabolic engineering of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (cyanobacteria) for biosynthesis of selected steviol precursors
2018 - 2023 Morphological and molecular characterisation of gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng)
2018 - 2020 Empowerment of fisherman-communities in Segari, Perak through participation in mangrove conservation and reforestation initiatives
2017 - 2020 Transcriptomic profiling of genes involved in flowering of Stevia rebaudiana
2016 - 2019 Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of genes involved in flowering of Stevia rebaudiana
2015 - 2018 Over expression of Actinomcyete relA and rshA genes to enhance secondary metabolite production
2015 - 2018 Understanding the Contributions and Mechanisms of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) for Production of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A in Stevia Rebaudiana Accession Bertam
2013 - 2017 Production of Halal Insulin in Photosynthetic Microalgae
2013 - 2016 Screening of Mangrove Actinomycetes and Their Antimicrobial Potentials
2013 - 2017 Understanding rhizospheric plant-microbe interactions for phytoremediation of dioxin contaminated soil
2013 - 2016 Screening of Chloroplast Promoters for Hevea Chloroplast Transformation
2012 - 2016 Comparison Of Stevioside and Reboudioside a Content and the Transcript Levels of Genes Involved in their Biosynthesis in Different Accessions of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni
2011 - 2018 RU 2011 -Identification of bacteria associated with severe early childhood caries.
2011 - 2015 Expression of Vitamin B12 Enzymes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Chloroplast
2006 - 2012 Studies on Mangrove in Pulau Toba, Langkawi
- ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EFFICIENT CHILLI REGENERATION PROTOCOL AFTER TRANSFORMATION OF CHILLI SHOOT TIPS THROUGH AGROBACTERIUM MEDICATION
On-Going
2022 - Present Volatile Organic Compound Analysis of Durian Infected by Phytophthora Palmivora as Early Detecting Method Approach
2022 - Present Characterization on the Properties of Mitragyna Speciosa, Deletion of Toxicity Genes, Development of Kratom-Based Medicinal Products and It's Legal Implication
2020 - Present Kaedah Pengurusan Pembajaan dan Tanah untuk Peningkatan Hasil Halia Bentong
2019 - Present In Vitro (Tissue Culture) Propagation of Bentong Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Var. Bentong)
2019 - Present Characterization of OsSCE1 and Ghd2 genes involved in drought stress response of Oryza sativa via CRISPR-Cas9 systems
2017 - Present Characterizing phytoremediation capacity of Jatropha curcas and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for remediating bauxite mining sites
2016 - Present Induction of hairy roots by various strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes in leaves explants of selected medicinal plant species in Malaysia
2011 - Present Clonal Propagation of Kacip Fatimah
2004 - Present Functional Food and Nutraceuticals Research Unit (FFNRU)
- Profiling fatty acids and mineral composition of Antarctic microalgae and their potential application in fish nutrition


Publications


Article

2023 Agrobacterium‑mediated in planta transformation of cut coleoptile: a new, simplified, and tissue culture‑independent method to deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 system in rice. Molecular Biology Reports, 50 (11) pp. 9353-9366
2023 Development of CRISPR/CAS9 construct in rice (Oryza Sativa subsp. Indica) using golden gate cloning method towards drought tolerance. Journal of Tropical Life Science, 13 (2) pp. 257-276
2023 Diffusible pigment of actinomycete as a source of textile dye. Revelation and Science, 13 (2) pp. 1-6
2023 Fatty acids profiling from an antarctic microalga, pseudococcomyxa sp. Revelation and Science, 13 (2) pp. 76-83
2023 Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of kaurene synthase protein in Stevia rebaudiana MS007. Asia Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 31 (1) pp. 1-13
2022 Current status and biotechnological development of etlingera elatior, a promising horticultural and medicinal plant. The Journal of Horticultural Science And Biotechnology, () pp.
2022 Development of stevia rebaudiana hybrids through trigona-assisted pollination (pembangunan hibrid stevia rebaudiana melalui pendebungaan berbantukan trigona). Sains Malaysiana, 51 (7) pp. 2013-2023
2022 Drought-induced changes in the flowering capacity, anthesis quality and seed set in rice (Oryza Sativa L.). Tropical Life Sciences Research, 33 (2) pp.
2022 Drought-induced changes in the flowering capacity, anthesis quality and seed set in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Tropical Life Sciences Research, () pp.
2022 Genetic diversity and proteomic analysis of vegetable soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) accessions grown in mineral and BRIS soils. Czech Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding, () pp. 1-9
2022 In silico analysis and 3d structure prediction of putative UDP-Glycosyltransfer-ase 76G1 protein in stevia Rebaudiana MS007. Journal of Tropical Life Science, 3 (12) pp. 377-387
2022 In Silico analysis and 3D structure prediction of putative UDP-Glycosyltransferase 76G1 protein in Stevia rebaudiana MS007. Journal of Tropical Life Science, 12 (3) pp. 377-387
2022 Isolation of microalgae from antarctic soil. Science Heritage Journal (GWS), 6 (2) pp. 34-36
2022 Microalgae from Antarctic soil. Revelation and Science, 12 (2) pp. 71-78
2021 Biological control of cyanobacterial bloom by leaf biomass. Desalination and Water Treatment, 219 () pp. 157-163
2021 Commercial potentials and agronomic status of etlingera elatior, a promising horticulture plant from zingiberaceae family. AGRIVITA, Journal of Agricultural Science, 43 (3) pp. 665-678
2021 Genome editing for the development of rice resistance against stresses: a review. Tropical Agricultural Science, () pp. 599-616
2021 Growth optimization of mangrove Streptomyces for enhancement of actinorhodin production. Desalination and Water Treatment, 219 () pp. 217-222
2021 Growth optimization of mangrove Streptomyces for enhancement of actinorhodin production. Desalination and Water Treatment, 219 () pp. 217-222
2021 In silico characterization of UGT74G1 protein in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni Accession MS007. Journal of Tropical Life Science, 11 (3) pp. 323-330
2021 Response of primed rice (oryza sativa l.) seeds towards reproductive stage drought stress. Sains Malaysiana, 50 (10) pp. 2913-2921
2021 The 3rdWorld Congress on the Integration and Islamicisation of Acquired Human Knowledge. Revelation and Science, 11 (1) pp. 1-5
2021 Transcriptome profiling of Stevia rebaudiana MS007 revealed genes involved in flower development. Turkish Journal of Biology, 45 () pp. 1-10
2020 Callus induction from leaf explant of ficus deltoidea varkunstleri. Science Heritage Journal (GWS), 4 (1) pp. 6-8
2020 De novo transcriptome dataset of Stevia rebaudiana accession MS007. Data in Brief, 28 () pp. 1-3
2020 DNA barcoding: a tool to detect fraud in seafood products. Big Data in Agriculture, 2 (1) pp. 20-22
2020 Fatty acid profiles of Antarctic cyanobacteria Leptolyngbya. Journal of Environmental Biology, 41 (4) pp. 687-694
2020 Identification of genes involved in flowering in Stevia rebaudiana using expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Asian Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 28 (2) pp. 105-112
2020 Micropropagation of Labisia pumila using embryo culture. Acta Scientifica Malaysia, 4 (1) pp. 1-3
2020 PAX9 polymorphism in non-syndromic hypodontia in the Malaysian population. Journal of International Dental and Medical Research, 13 (3) pp. 1130-1135
2020 Phytoremediation for rehabilitating bauxite-mined sites. Desalination and Water Treatment, 188 () pp. 444-449
2019 A Review of approaches in steviol glycosides synthesis. International Journal of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, 2 (3) pp. 145-157
2019 Effects of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea on seed germitantion of Stevia rebaudiana = Kesan N-Metil-N-Nitrosourea pada percambahan biji benih stevia rebaudiana. Sains Malaysiana, 48 (2) pp. 301-307
2019 In-vitro regeneration of orthosiphon stamineus (misai kucing) using axillary bud. Science Heritage Journal (GWS), 3 (1) pp. 8-10
2018 A review on non-syndromic tooth agenesis associated with PAX9 mutations. Japanese Dental Science Review, 54 (1) pp. 30-36
2018 Diversity, antimicrobial capabilities, and biosynthetic potential of mangrove actinomycetes from coastal waters in Pahang, Malaysia. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 82 Fall () pp. 174-179
2018 Effects of pre-anthesis drought stress on yield components and seed quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Malaysian Applied Biology Journal, 47 (5) pp. 149-155
2018 Effects of pre-anthesis drought stress on yield components and seed quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Malaysian Applied Biology Journal, 47 (5) pp. 149-155
2018 Enhancement of cyanobacterial control by fungi degraded palm oil trunk. Malaysian Journal of Microbiology, 14 (Special Issue ( no. 3 )) pp. 172-179
2018 First report of anatoxin-a encoding gene in isolated cyanobacterial strains from Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Microbiology, 14 (2 (Special issue)) pp. 202-207
2018 Genetic variabilities of stevia rebaudiana bertoni cultivated in Malaysia as revealed by morphological, chemical and molecular characterisations. AGRIVITA Journal of Agricultural Science, 40 (2) pp. 267-283
2018 Sequencing-based analysis for the identification of bacteria associated with severe early childhood caries (SECC). International Medical Journal Malaysia, 17 (Special Issue 2) pp. 131-135
2017 Cyanobacteria characteristics and methods for isolation and accurate identification of cyanotoxins: A review article. Avicenna J Environ Health Eng, 4 (1) pp. 1-11
2017 Evaluation of genetic homogeneity of Jatropha curcas L. hybrid at an early stage of shoot bud formation from petioles using ISSR marker. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 31 (1) pp. 45-50
2017 Evaluation on field performance of vegetable soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) varieties grown at two locations in Malaysia. Malaysian Applied Biology, 46 (1) pp. 125-129
2017 Rhizospheric cymbopogon citratus-staphylococcus succinus interactions for phytoremediation of dibenzofuran contaminated soil. Asia Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 25 (1) pp. 1-5
2016 Biotechnological potential of Kuantan mangrove actinomycete, Micromonospora K3-13. The International Medical Journal Malaysia, 15 (Supplement Issue) pp. 108-108
2016 Selective isolation and antagonistic activity of actinomycetes from mangrove forest of Pahang, Malaysia. Frontiers in Life Science, Vol. 9 (1) pp. 24-31
2015 Acclimatized apparatus enhanced seed germination in stevia rebaudiana bertoni. International Journal of Biology, 7 (2) pp. 28-34
2015 Diversity and antimicrobial activity of mangrove soil actinomycetes isolated from Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan. Jurnal Teknologi, 77 (25) pp. 37-43
2015 Screening of chloroplast promoters for Hevea brasiliensis chloroplast transformation. Jurnal Teknologi, 77 (24) pp. 165-170
2015 Standardization of surface sterilization protocol of field grown stevia rebaudiana prior to in vitro clonal propagation. Jurnal Teknologi, 77 (24) pp. 141-146
Conference or Workshop Item

2023 Callus induction and identification of DNA variation in callus derived from Etlingera elatior in vitro culture using ISSR marker. In: IIUM Postgraduate Colloquium 2023,
2023 Development and assessment of CRISP/Cas9- construct towards drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa subsp. indica). In: 5th International Conference on Biosciences and Medical Engineering (ICBME 2023),
2023 In silico analysis of OSRR22 isolated from MR 219 rice and the strategy for developing CRISPR/CAS9 construct for genome editing. In: 15th Malaysia International Genetics Congress 2023,
2022 Strategies for developing and evaluating CRISPR/CAS9 construct towards drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa ssp. Indica). In: International Applied Biology Conference 2022,
2021 Genome-wide comparative analysis of drought tolerant genes in rice, maize, date palm and arabidopsis. In: 7th International Conference on Advancement in Science and Technology (iCAST2021),
2021 In silico CHARACTERIZATION OF UGT76G1 PROTEIN IN Stevia rebaudiana BERTONI ACCESSIONS MS007. In: 4th International Conference on Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (4th ICMBB2021), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
2021 In silico development of CRISPR/Cas9 construct for oryza sativa subsp. indica. In: 7th International Conference on Advancement in Science and Technology (iCAST2021).,
2021 In Silico development of CRISPR/Cas9 Construct for Oryza sativa subsp. indica. In: 7th International Conference on Advancement in Science and Technology (iCAST2021).,
2021 Plant Growth-Promoting Features of Bacterial Endophytes Isolated from Etlingera Elatior. In: International Congress of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology 2021 (ICMSM2021),
2020 Genome-scale compositional comparisons towards drought tolerant genes in rice, date palm, maize and thale cress. In: Malaysian Applied Biology Society Virtual Seminar 2020,
2019 Jatropha curcas as a potential plant for bauxite phytoremediation. In: "International Symposium on Bioremediation, Biomaterial, Revegetation, and Conservation 2018, IS BIOREV 2018",
2019 Plant tissue culture as a tool for sustainable production of bentong ginger (Zingiber officinale var. Bentong) plantlets. In: Kuantan Research Day 2019,
2016 Antimicrobial activities of actinomycetes isolated from Malaysian tropical mangrove forest of Kuantan, Pahang. In: 5th International Conference on Environment, Energy and Biotechnology 2016,
2016 Understanding of rhizospheric Cymbopogon citratus-Saphylococcus succinus interactions for phytoremediation of dibenzofuran contaminated soil. In: 4th International Conference on Biotechnology Engineering 2016 (ICBioE 2016),
2015 Diversity and antimicrobial activities of mangrove actinomycetes isolated from Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan. In: 5th International Conference of Advancement in Science And Technology (iCAST 2015),
2014 Selective isolation of actinomycetes from mangrove forest of Pahang, Malaysia. In: International Conference on Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences (ICABES-14),
Book

2011 Biotechnologies towards sustainable development in Malaysia . IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674182007
Book Section

2016 Assessment of genetic diversity and hybrid identification in stevia using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. In: Genetic Society of Malaysia, ISBN: 9789832408475, pp. 157-162
2016 Assessment of genetic diversity and hybrid identification in stevia using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. In: Genetic Society of Malaysia, ISBN: 9789832408475, pp. 157-162
2011 Bioethics and biotechnology: A holistic approach in Islamic perspectives . In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674182007, pp. 1-15
2011 Optimisation of transformation system for chilli embryo (Capsicum annuum variety Kulai) using particle bombardment . In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674182007, pp. 268-274
2011 Screening of mangrove plants for gram negative antibacterial activity . In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674182007, pp. 275-283
2006 Biodiversity and marine biotechnology: a new era for the development of biotechnology industry. In: Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, ISBN: 9834301006, pp. 67-74
Monograph

2022 Healing garden: Modul aktiviti dan pelaksanaan. In: ,