Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: October 31, 2010
Africa: the next frontier for human disease gene discovery?
Michèle Ramsay1, Caroline T Tiemessen, Ananyo Choudhury
1Division of Human Genetics, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand andNational Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa. michele.ramsay@nhls.ac.za
Abstract:
The populations of Africa harbour the greatest human genetic diversity following an evolutionary history tracing its beginnings on the continent to time before the emergence of Homo sapiens. Signatures of selection are detectable as responses to ancient environments and cultural practices, modulated by more recent events including infectious epidemics, migrations, admixture and, of course, chance. The age of high-throughput biology is not passing Africa by. African-based cohort studies and networks with an African footprint are ideal springboards for disease-related genetic and genomic studies. Initiatives like HapMap, the 1000 Genomes Project, MalariaGEN, the INDEPTH network and Human Heredity and Health in Africa are catalysts to exploring African genetic diversity and its role in the spectrum from health to disease. The challenges are abundant in dissecting biological questions in the light of linguistic, cultural, geographic and political boundaries and their respective roles in shaping health-related profiles. Will studies based on African populations lead to a new wave of discovery of genetic contributors to disease?
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
Gene Therapy
Gene Therapy

