The IITA Bioscience Center recently organized a five-day hands-on training in Ibadan to strengthen the capacity of laboratory scientists, research technicians, graduate students, and lecturers in Molecular Biology.
Selected participants from universities in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire were taught the fundamentals of research techniques, including real-time PCR/gene expression studies, DNA sequencing analysis, introduction to DArTseq and its applications, and Molecular Biology.
Speaking on the first day of the training, IITA West Africa Hub Director and Head of the Genetic Resources Center Michael Abberton said immense opportunities and possibilities exist in Molecular Biology and encouraged them to take advantage of the training to learn as much as they can during the five days.
During the “Advanced Molecular Biology Techniques” session, IITA Molecular Geneticist Ranjana Bhattacharjee exposed participants to the latest developments in the field and its potential applications.
The training, which aimed to equip participants with field experience, created the avenue for practicals on Micro Pipetting and DNA Extraction from plants and microbes.
IITA Molecular Breeder Agre Paterne, while exploring the role of bioinformatics in molecular biology and plant breeding, took participants through the importance of leveraging bioinformatics to save time and ensure food security through breeding efforts. He added that advancements in bioinformatics are contributing significantly to research progress and innovation.
The participants from Babcock University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), University of Ibadan, the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), and Côte d’Ivoire, were given a tour of the Bioscience laboratory, the ongoing projects at the Center, and a guide on safety procedures by Yemi Fajire, the Laboratory Manager.
Speaking on sequencing, Victoria Iwu delved into the detailed molecular technique, exposing participants to the key areas of the field.
Commending the Bioscience Center, Precious Uhunwa, a Research Fellow at the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), commended the organizers for creating a learning opportunity with practical experience with access to equipment. She said the training gave her insight into using molecular biology to classify plants based on families or species. “As a plant taxonomist, I would use the knowledge acquired in Bioinformatics to draw phylogenetic trees to classify plant species,” she stated.
The training concluded with a session on “Application of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in plant breeding” by Oluyinka Ilesanmi and a certificate award ceremony by Abberton. Participants toured the IITA campus, including stops at the Aflasafe factory and the Genetic Resources Center.
Reflecting on the training experience, one excited participant stated that it was an incredible five-day journey that opened her eyes to the future she envisions.
Over the years, IITA Bioscience Center has contributed to advancing agricultural research on biotechnology and molecular biology, expanding research frontiers, and improving food security in Africa.
Contributed by Anita Akinyomade and Timilehin Osunde
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