Ugwuomu Nike, Enugu State, Nigeria
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We plan and run five advanced bio-science workshops through the year for students and faculty from different tertiary and educational institutions plus other organizations in Nigeria. We host – World of DNA, DNA Science, Genome Science, DNA Barcoding of the Nigerian flora and fauna; and DNA Metabarcoding.
In addition to this, we also host workshops, conferences and seminars for public audience for awareness and science education.
Gene sequencing technologies have revolutionized the study of micro-organisms and enabled a new view of their ubiquity and diversity. However, the techniques still have some limitations. They tell us which microbes are present in a sample but not always what they are doing.
To study biological function, researchers instead use a technique called metagenomics. The term “metagenome” refers to the complete genome of every microbe in a sample taken from a natural habitat. Using metagenomics, researchers can sequence 10,000 microbial genomes in a single experiment. By analyzing all the genes in a sample collectively, they can learn what biological jobs these microbes perform.
For example, metagenomics has shown that the human gut microbiome is a rich source of enzymes that break down carbohydrates, helping us with digeson. In soil, this type of research is helping researchers understand how microbes capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and how they neutralize toxins. The expected skill sets to be acquired include the practical knowledge on: