Establishing African genomics and bioinformatics programs through annual regional workshops.

The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics aims to overcome barriers to capacity building through its distributed African regional workshops and prioritizes the exchange of grassroots knowledge and innovation in biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics. In 2023, we implemented 28 workshops on biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics, covering 11 African countries across the 5 African geographical regions. These regional workshops trained 408 African scientists in hands-on molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics techniques as well as the ethical, legal and social issues associated with acquiring genetic resources.

Genetic diversity and population structure of farmed and wild Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Uganda: The potential for aquaculture selection and breeding programs.

Nile tilapia is one of the most important aquaculture species globally, providing high-quality animal protein for human nutrition and a source of income to sustain the livelihoods of many people in low- and middle-income countries. This species is native to Africa and nowadays farmed throughout the world. However, the genetic makeup of its native populations remains poorly characterized.

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of threadfin breams ( spp.) from the Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean Sea.

The present work utilized partial sequences of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) to study Red Sea populations of threadfin breams (Nemipteridae), and compare their genetic diversity to that of Mediterranean Sea ( only) and Indo-Pacific populations. A Maximum Likelihood tree separated four fish species - , , , and - into four clades. Haplotype analyses revealed a strong case of the founder effect for the Lessepsian migrant : Three haplotypes represented all sampled geographical ranges in the Mediterranean Sea and only one haplotype was shared with a Red Sea individual, presenting evidence that the colonizing population was founded by a small number of migrants.