Nigerian scientists identify seven lineages of SARS-CoV-2
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE first coronavirus infection in Nigeria was recorded on February 27, 2020. Samples were sent to the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control for genome sequencing. As a result, the first SARS-CoV-2 sequence data on the African continent was published on March 6, 2020. Now, scientists at ACEGID in […]
Check in for the 3rd Asian Short Course on Agri-biotech, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE potential of agri-biotechnology to contribute to sustainable agriculture depends on R&D as well as on the integration of other factors such as effective communication, science-based national regulatory frameworks, and adequate understanding of international legal instruments. To foster strong collaboration and enrich knowledge among key players in the agri-biotech and biosafety arena, ISAAA launches the 3rd […]
FAO reports lack of progress in achieving SDG
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE world is lagging in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030, and the COVID-19 pandemic is making it even harder, according to the report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “We need better data to better understand the path we need to take to get to our destination,” said FAO Chief Economist […]
The Philippines grants GM corn seeds, farm input to farmers association’s model farm
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Regional Office 9 turned over farm inputs to a farmer’s association in Zamboanga del Norte in Southern Philippines. The inputs, which included seeds of genetically modified (GM) yellow corn, were given as part of the Plant, Plant, Plant Program of DA Secretary William Dar. The San Isidro Farmers Association of Sergio Osmeña […]
Kenyan scientists embark on synthetic biology research
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE first-ever government-funded research project on Synthetic Biology in Kenya has been launched. The project, funded under the country’s National Research Fund, will employ synthetic biology innovations in addressing intractable challenges in food security and healthcare. Led by a multidisciplinary team of local researchers, the project titled Developing low-cost diagnostic tools and biosensors for rapid detection […]
Two women win Nobel in chemistry for developing molecular scissors
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTWO women have been awarded the 2020 Nobel prize in chemistry for the discovery of the CRISPR genetic scissors used to edit the DNA of animals, plants and microorganisms with extremely high precision. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A Doudna will share the 10m Swedish kronor (£870,000) prize announced on Wednesday by the Royal Swedish Academy […]