Thursday, June 16, 2005

Status of Biotechnology in Ethiopia

bio-earn.org -- Biotechnology research in Ethiopia is still at its infancy. However a number of institutions have instituted modest R&D activities. These include:

* Addis Ababa University (AAU)
* The Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research (IBCR).
* Ethiopian Health and Nutritional Research Institute (EHNRI)
* Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO)
* National Veterinary Institute (NVI),
* Institute of Pathobiology (IPB).
* National Veterinary Institute at Debre Zeit

Highlights of institutional activities are as follows:

Addis Ababa University (AAU) Biology Department

* Is working on a project on Ethiopian flora and has so far described and made an inventory covering at least 60,000 Ethiopian plants.
* Screening, isolation and characterization of key cereal crops using protoplasm fusion and somaclonal variations.
* DNA sequencing for genetic characterization and micro-propagation of indigenous plants and tree species.
* Localization on the chromosome quantitative trait loci (QTL) in teff using RFLP techniques.
* Genetic and biological approach towards producing clean and disease free Enset ventricosum.
* Micropropagation of Hagenia abyssinica with reference to rooting.
* Diagnosis and detection of viral pathogens in crops.
* Biological nitrogen removal from tannery waste water in Ethiopia.
* Development of various biological waster treatment systems, including:
* evaluation of substrate and microorganisms for biogas production.
selection of sulphur oxidizing bacteria from a tannery waste treatment system.
*efficient removal of sulphur and chromium; and co-production of biogas from a tannery wastewater, bio-manipulation in the improvement of eutrophic lake and purification of wastewater.

National Health and Nutrition Institute

*Screening of pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, Shigella, using DNA probes.

National Veterinary Institute at Debre Zeit

*Development of animal vaccines against rinderpest, sheeppox, newcastle, African horse sickness, foot and mouth disease and bovine pleuropneumonia.

The Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research (IBCRI)

*Applying cytogenetic, biochemical and tissue culture techniques in the identification and characterization of collected germplasm accessions existing in the gene bank.

The Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO)

*Using biotechnology to improve teff, coffee, fruit cultivars and forest trees for commercial purposes.


Teff growing in the fields

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am sorry to tell you that the picture that is showing teff is not teff. Teff is a type of grass and is rather compared with wheat The picture shown is crab grass or pinger grass.
Regards Erik

Unknown said...

Hi my name is venkat.Could you let us no in case there are any openings for the people who have finished their graduation in the Field of Biotechnology.I have recently finished my Education and interested in teaching profession.Please post the comments in case if there are any openings.Kindly help.

Resume Writing Service said...

This was a really quality post. In theory I'd like to write like this too - taking time and real effort to make a good article... but what can I say... I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.