African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (2), pp. 117-122, February 2004

9TH BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY OF KENYA ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM

Perspective

Opportunities in Africa for training in genome science

Daniel K. Masiga¹* and Raphael D. Isokpehi²

¹International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, 00100-Nairobi, Kenya.

²South African Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: dmasiga@icipe.org.

Genome science is a new type of biology that unites genetics, molecular biology, computational biology and bioinformatics. The availability of the human genome sequence, as well as the genome sequences of several other organisms relevant to health, agriculture and the environment in Africa necessitates the development and delivery of several types and levels of training that will enhance the use of genome data and the associated computational resources. A survey of initiatives that provide opportunities for training in genome science is presented. Current efforts to increase the ability of African scientists to computationally process and analyse genomic and post-genomic data have the potential to produce excellent scientists who perform cutting-edge, hypothesis-based research, and who will accelerate the continent’s scientific and technological development.

Key words: Bioinformatics, collaboration, computational biology, genome science.