Young scientist studies Latvian pine genetics / Article / LSM.lv

Vilnis Šķipars is a geneticist who, after graduating, turned to tuberculosis research, but now comes to pine genetics. He is currently researching protein trees in the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava” together with his colleagues, which inhibit the growth of various pests.

The researcher says that he came to science because from childhood he was interested in everything related to wildlife: “At the age when children ask a lot of questions, I also asked, and my parents diligently explained them. Maybe that’s why I realized that it makes sense to ask such questions, and I continued to do so at school. ”

After high school, Šķipars entered the Faculty of Biology of the University of Latvia and focused on genetics. Started with tuberculosis research, but has now reached forests. The acquired education of a geneticist allows him to work both in medicine, in the field of food safety, and in the institute “Silava”.

“Forests are very important in Latvia, so I thought it would be interesting to study the genetics of pine, how pine resists diseases, so that our forests are more productive and give more money,” says the researcher.

Through research, Skipper and colleagues have managed to obtain a protein that inhibits the growth of pests. He hopes that it can be introduced into the breeding program in the future, thus improving the genetic material of trees grown by the forest industry and ensuring that pines are more resistant to various diseases, including root rot. At present, the protein needs to be studied in more depth to ensure that it does not harm, for example, the growth of good and necessary mushrooms.

“What seems interesting to me in science is that every scientist can find something that no other person has found. It’s a bit of a gamble. Especially if a person manages to do it a few times, then it becomes even more interesting, ”the researcher points out.

Asked why it is worth working in the field of science in Latvia, Šķipars says that the main thing is the people around you: “If a person starts working in Latvia in science, he also gets to know other scientists in various institutes. In Latvia, scientists are very friendly with each other. They help each other both with advice and in case one of the devices breaks, then he can go to the other scientist. Science has a very pleasant atmosphere. ”

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