A love for science and a taste for challenge has been the fuel behind Dr. Tan Chon Seng’s career. Paired with his dislike for routine work and an innate curiosity, Dr. Tan has forged out a name for himself as a researcher as well as a science educator of note. He himself is a PhD holder in Plant Molecular Biology (Plant Antibody Engineering) from Leicester University, and has a MSc in Protein/Enzyme Biochemistry from University of Malaya and a BSc in Biochemistry from University of Malaya.

Currently with the Biotechnology Research Centre in MARDI, Dr. Tan is well-noted among his peers as an innovator. His recent triumph at the ITEX 2006, where his invention of a halal transglutaminase production method not only looks set to revolutionise the halal food industry, but has the potential to bring the Malaysian halal food industry into the global forefront.

Transglutaminase is an enzyme, which is used to improve the texture and quality of food products like jellies, yogurt, cheeses and meat products. It is found in abundance in animal blood, and common protein purification processes of the enzyme would involve deriving it from animal blood. However, this cause a dilemma especially for those of the Muslim faith as blood derived products are known to be forbidden, or “non-halal”. Therefore, the halal transglutaminase production method, involving recombinant production of the enzyme using genetically modified microorganisms would be a solution to this problem.

Dr. Tan Chon Seng

The potential economic impact of such an innovation has not been lost to industry players as well as fellow researchers. Dr. Tan has been approached by many of the food industry upon the possibility to adapt such technology for commercial production. Whereas, the invention was also awarded the Gold Medal prize for the exhibition this year.

As a science educator, Dr. Tan has been active in his collaboration with the National Biotechnology Directorate of MOSTI and his fellow researchers in disseminating biotechnology knowledge among secondary school children across the country. Headed by UKM lecturer, Professor Dr. Rahmah Mohamed, the committee is aimed at explaining biotechnology as well as relating it to our country’s young minds through activities and experiments. They have been successful in reaching out to 10-20 schools every year, and has published an introductory book on biotechnology which has been translated in English and Bahasa Malaysia, entitled “Let’s Talk About Biotechnology”

In terms of experiments, school children have been allowed to observe the process of DNA extraction from onions to understand the physical shape and structure of our life’s code. Then, the DNA would be excised by restriction enzymes for the running of a gel to observe banding patterns. These are all an exercise in stimulating the curiosity and interest of the younger generation and allow it to be nurtured into a lifelong commitment in science.

“I believe that interest is the foremost reason for a lifetime in science - interest and curiosity, as science is a discipline based in curiosity. When you have both of these working for you, it becomes the momentum to sustain you throughout your life,” commented Dr. Tan.