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The beginning of this joint research project dates back to 2020, when the head of the Mongolian research team contacted Gábor Sramkó, Assistant Professor at the Department of Botany, Institute of Biology and Ecology, FST, UD. The first chapter of collaboration on evolutionary genetics research ended this past December but, owing to a successful application for a new grant, the two parties are now working together again. Their current research will focus on the Mongolian big game species called saigas and mouflons, which are also important for the economy.
Gábor Sramkó took a research trip to Mongolia's Gobi-Altai province in the summer, the main objective of which expedition was to sample the saigas for the planned genetic studies. This antelope species, which are the national symbol of Mongolia, has become extremely endangered. Through their project, researchers will apply state-of-the-art methods of genomics to understand the genetic status of saiga antelopes in order to contribute to international and Mongolian conservation efforts to prevent the complete disappearance of Mongolian antelope populations over time.
A basic step in the research effort is to obtain tissue samples required for genomic testing. However, this is not simple at all, and UD’s researcher explained exactly why.
“The process of collecting samples was exciting and adventurous, as the general practice is basically to look for newborn calves in the field, with the stump of their umbilical cord still attached. If you get too close to one of these newborns, their mother will instinctively run away, not risking her life. So we took advantage of this by cutting a piece off the umbilical cord for our sample. There was also one time when a golden eagle killed a newborn saiga calf right in front of us. By the time we drove to the spot immediately, the eagle fled, leaving behind the remains of the freshly killed animal. Although we managed to get to the scene in just a few minutes, by then the predator had already removed most of the internal organs. Nevertheless, I was still able to collect an ample amount of samples from the carcass. Our expedition was also special because a professional photographer from one of the Hungarian online news portals joined us and captured the most exciting moments of the trip, which is now made available on the internet together with a written account of the experience,” said Gábor Sramkó, who then flew from Mongolia to Almaty, Kazakhstan, to meet with researchers from the Institute of Zoology. There, the institute's senior mammalogist gave him local samples, which will also provide genetic information during the course of conducting the research on the native range of this endangered species in Kazakhstan.
Although there is a striking difference in the appearance of these animals, based on previous genetic research, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) treats the Mongolian and Kazakh saigas as the same. The number of the latter is much larger than that of the former and they can even be hunted. However, what works in Kazakhstan may not work in Mongolia, where the local population remains endangered. Mongolian researchers are not too keen to accept that the two species of saigas are completely lumped together even at the international level, and are therefore using evolutionary genomics to test and prove that the two populations are truly distinct, in the context of the current joint research.
The samples that had been collected in Mongolia this past summer were transported to Debrecen in early September by Tserendulam Batsukh, the head of the Mongolian research team, and his colleague, a young pre-doctor named Ulziisaikhan Tumendemberel. Also involved in the research is Sod-Erdene Bayambadash, who, like Tserendulam Batsukh, also collaborated with the Evolutionary Genomics Research Group two years ago as well. Currently she is a first-year PhD student in Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School at the University of Debrecen.
In the laboratory, a genomic library is to be created after processing the samples. During the course of their roughly month-long stay in Debrecen, the Mongolian biologists would be able to carry out tests that they do not have the necessary technical facilities to conduct in their home country.
“In order for you to become a good researcher, you need international experience by all means. I also had the opportunity to participate in a joint project with the University of Debrecen two years ago, and I am glad that a young researcher could also join me this time, just like then. I really appreciate the international aura of this university and I am happy to be involved in an important research project for our professional development,” said Tserendulam Batsukh.
As for Ulziisaikhan Tumendemberel, he also considers the joint work with the Debrecen researchers as a step forward, as part of his first visit to Europe.
“This is I ndeed a great opportunity for me to build my career and to advance professionally. What is more, I can also contribute to the success of a cause that is so important in my home country. I can only say good things about my experience in Debrecen, where we can complete tests in the labs that we cannot perform at home,” said Ulziisaikhan Tumendemberel.
According to the most recent plans, the Hungarian-Mongolian research project, which is supported by an MTA mobility grant, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
Press Centre
Photography on location by Gábor Sramkó
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