Keynote Speaker

Dr. Amit Kumar

A passionate DNA Forensics Professional, Entrepreneur, Engineer, Bioinformatician and an IEEE Volunteer. In 2005 he founded first Private DNA Testing Company Bio Axis DNA Research Centre (P) Ltd in Hyderabad, India with an US Collaborator. He has vast experience of training 1000+ Crime investigation officers and helped 750+ Criminal and non-criminal cases to reach justice by offering analytical services in his laboratory. His group also works extensively on Genetic Predisposition risk studies of cancers and has been helping many cancer patients from 2012 to fight and win the battle against cancer. Amit was member of IEEE Strategy Development and Environmental Assessment committee (SDEA) of IEEEMGA. He is senior member of IEEE and has been a very active IEEE Volunteer at Section, Council, Region, Technical Societies of Computational Intelligence and Engineering in Medicine and Biology and at IEEE MGA levels in several capacities. He has driven number of IEEE Conferences, Conference leadership programs, Entrepreneurship development workshops, Innovation and Internship related events. Currently He is also a visiting Professor at SJB Research Foundation and Vice Chairman of Conferences at IEEE India Council and Vice Chairman of IEEE Hyderabad Section.

Title: DNA Hacking; the biggest threat since Cyber Attacks.!

Abstract : DNA is the source of life and has been studied since a generation, but very little is known as yet. Several sophisticated technologies of the current era have laid their foundations on the principle of DNA based mechanisms. DNA based technologies are revolutionizing Forensic Investigation, Medical Diagnosis, Paternity Disputes, Individual Identity, Health insurance, Motor Insurance sectors. Recent years have witnessed an explosive growth in biological data and gave birth to the pacemaker of biology called Bioinformatics. More than 350 fully sequenced genomes are publicly available, and more than 780 are in the pipeline. The expansion of publicly available information resulting from the Human Genome Project has justified the role for bioinformatics capabilities worldwide. With the regular increase in the Biological data scientists started focusing on challenges like-where to store the data?, how to analyse them? Do we have enough expertise and manpower to secure and manage the massive data coming out of different genome projects across the globe? If Computers are being hacked Biological data stored in computers and databases can also be hacked. Cells are compared to the hardware and DNA as the Biological software. What next??? Will bad biologists start developing bad synthetic biomolecules for disturbing the human race and making them unhealthy? DNA testing which is used to free innocents and convict the criminals may start working other way round? Can Biology be hacked? If yes, what is the way forward? We are in 1980s era if you talk of Biological hacking – a very early stage. There have been only a few Biological attacks, which were sponsored by Governments as of now (Including the white powder..,Anthrax attack), but genomics is changing with jet speed and the silence of Biological hacking may last soon in absence of corrective measures and ignorance. We may need to be prepared for listening and handling DNA Spams, DNA Spoofing and bio identify theft sometimes soon.