A doctoral thesis was discussed at University of Anbar - College of Science and tagged (Physiological and molecular response of Zea mays genotypes grown in soil polluted with heavy metals)

The study aims as presented by the student (Enas Fahad Naji) from the Department of Biology was conducted to find out the effect of different levels of the three heavy metals used (cadmium, lead and nickel) on different physiological parameters and gene expression of some genes Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX)  , Monoldehydroascorbate Reductase (MDHAR) . On three Iraqi varieties of maize plant, The results indicated that maize plant has the ability to accumulate heavy elements in its vegetative groups. The results also showed that the variety Fajr-1 was distinguished in the highest levels of gene expression of antioxidant enzymes especially SOD and MDHAR genes.