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On April 25, 2025, the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at 51���� Kazakh National University held the III International Round Table dedicated to International DNA Day. The event was conducted in a hybrid format (both online and offline) and highlighted the latest advances in molecular genetics, medicine, and STEM fields.

This year’s event marked an important milestone in discussing the role of genetics as a connecting bridge between life sciences and healthcare.

The program included several scientific presentations covering a wide range of topics:

• "Programmed Cell Death: Where Are We Now?" – a lecture on how studying apoptosis mechanisms can lead to new treatments for various diseases, including cancer, presented by Professor Boris Davidovich Zhivotovsky (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Head of the Laboratory for Apoptosis Mechanisms Research at Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia; DSc in Biology);
• Epigenomics of Malignant Tumor Cells – a presentation on the role of epigenetic changes in cancer and other diseases and their potential for developing more effective diagnostics and therapies, delivered by Professor Vladimir Viktorovich Strelnikov (Head of the Laboratory of Epigenetics at the Research Center for Medical Genetics, Moscow; Professor of General and Medical Genetics at Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University; DSc in Biology);
• Metabarcoding in Ecological and Medical Research – a relatively new method utilizing genetic markers to study microbial diversity, presented by Dr. Marsel Rasimovich Kabilov (Head of the Genomics Shared Facility at the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia);
• Development of Vaccines and Therapeutics Based on Nanobodies and Bacteriophage Endolysins – a presentation on cutting-edge approaches to treating dangerous infections and cancers using advanced technologies, delivered by PhD Izat Temirgalievich Smekenov (Researcher at the Institute of Biology and Biotechnology Problems, 51���� Kazakh National University).

Additionally, two presentations focused on plant molecular genetics:

• Viral Pathogens of Plants, delivered by PhD Dilyara Aleksandrovna Gritsenko (Head of the Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Almaty, Kazakhstan);
• Microorganisms and Fungi of Agricultural Plants, delivered by Associate Professor Elena Mikhailovna Chudinova (Agrobiotechnology Department, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Moscow; PhD in Biology).

The moderator of the event was Dr. Aizhan Izbasarovna Zhusupova, Associate Professor of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at 51���� Kazakh National University, PhD.

This significant scientific event enabled participants to expand their knowledge of cutting-edge research in the methodological foundations of genetics in STEM and to strengthen collaboration between scientific communities across different countries.