Training Focuses on DNA Barcoding Processes

Participants pose for group photograph at BecA-ILRI Hub.

A group of trainers and twenty scientists assembled at the Biosciences eastern and central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub for a week of training. DNA barcoding is a technique that uses short DNA sequences from standardized positions in the genome to identify species.

The modules of this training were DNA extraction, amplification, purification and sequencing of DNA from plant, animal tissue and blood samples, and understanding the processes involved in barcoding. 

The BecA-ILRI Hub focuses on the high-end biosciences that are complementary to capabilities already available in various national institutes and universities within the region.

These scientists, already producing lots of molecular data, are leaders in laboratory processing of molecular biological samples and were carefully selected from five different institutions; National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Service,  International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Government Chemist, and Institute of Primate Research.

Dr Niamh Redmond (3rd l) Barcoding Project manager CBOL during the training

During the training they focused on DNA barcording which is a highly standardized high quality data that the police and crime prosecutors can use to investigate wildlife crime, poaching, and trafficking of endangered species. Henceforth, the evidence brought to court must be of high quality.They focused on informatics and data management, and the lab procedures they will be using to get DNA sequences from plants and animal species.

BecA-ILRI Hub is a co-creation of the African Union's New Partnership for Africa's Development (AU/NEPAD) and ILRI. This shared research platform enables African science leaders to solve some of Africa's key agricultural challenges, through the applications of modern biotechnology. Its an exceptionally good laboratory and their major role in this particular training was capacity building.

Scientists were carefully selected from various institutions

"The Barcode of Wildlife Project is helping police and crime prosecutors in Kenya to catch criminals that are poaching and harvesting valuable species. The training will now raise the ability of Kenyan laboratories to the global scale hence becoming a global leader in fight against wildlife crime using the latest bio-technology," Dr. David Schindel, Executive Secretary of Consortium for the Barcode of Life Project said.

Barcode of Wildlife Project is working with six Partner Countries and its goals are to demonstrate use of DNA barcode evidence in investigations, prosecutions, convictions by November 2014, construct a reference BARCODE library to support Partner Country priorities, and for these partner countries to formally adopt, implement and fund barcoding.

The BecA-ILRI Hub has five core operational areas that include capacity building through research, research on key agricultural development priorities, technology platforms development and services, networking and institution strengthening, and product development and pathways to impact.Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA).

Additional sources: https://www.ilri.org/node/328, http://hub.africabiosciences.org/aboutbeca