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| Dagmar Honsbein, General Manager: Agra Professional Services Division (middle) with Dr Gladys Kahaka and Dr Erold Naomab, showing the GeneChip® |
On
Friday, on 24 May 2013, Agra Professional Services Division hosted an
interactive breakfast session to discuss and investigate the potential of genetic
mapping of Namibian animal species. The session was well attended by
representatives from various sectors, ranging from the Agronomic Board of
Namibia to Standard Bank. The event was held at the Agra Ring at the Windhoek
Show grounds.
Under
the theme; “The Value of genetic mapping
of Namibian species,” the guest speaker, Dr Erold Naomab gave an thorough
insight into the principles of genetics, gene mapping (using the Affymetrix
GeneChip®), the value of mapping the genome of a species and the possibilities
that arise from that, i.e. the theoretical possibilities of manipulating the
genome of an animal to achieve higher production yields and, with that,
economic advantages.
The
value of gene mapping in the protection of our national (Namibian) heritage and
Intellectual Property has been heavily underlined during Dr Naomab’s
presentation and the ensuing discussion. Furthermore, through mapping – the
genome of a species will know which gene would be responsible for which trait
in a species; one could enhance the breeding selection process and make it more
efficient. Dr Naomab also presented the genetic mapping of Namibian livestock species (e.g. using
sheep or cattle species) which has been made possible through Affymetrix
GeneChip®
technology locally. In explaining these chips to the audience, he said; “every chip holds the entire genomic code of
a species. The genomic code of Namibian sheep is so vast that it could, if
written out, cover about 100 000 A4 pages with pure code. The chip is 1.7cm2
and can store more than 5 GB, or 3 million pieces of biochemical test
information about a species.”
Agra’s
Professional Services Division, as part of their research efforts in the
Swakara industry, has looked into the opportunities that GeneChip® technology offers. The GM of Agra Professional Services Division,
Mrs Dagmar Honsbein, had to say this: “the
genetic mapping of Swakara, indigenous (optimally to be endemic) to Namibia
would be the first step in a process to register the species as uniquely
Namibian. We need to prove however, that Swakara has genetically evolved
extensively over more than 100 years; away from the original species Karakul
making it a de facto different sheep species altogether.” She continued by
saying, “this will allow us to protect
them from being claimed by other countries as their own, as has happened with
the Boran cattle breed and Acacia plant species that have been
officially declared indigenous to Australia. Also, by claiming
commercially/economically valuable species as uniquely Namibian one creates a
possible niche product (‘Proudly Namibian’) with a higher trading value and
thus income for the producers.”
The
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Namibia has the
capacity to genetically map species, with the aim to understand the genetic
sequences of the species that have adapted to the Namibian environment and to
explore which gene is responsible for the expression of which trait. The next
step in the research being conducted at UNAM is to identify those genes that
express traits that are of economic advantage and to possibly find a way to
enhance or select for these traits. In theory it should be possible, through
genetic engineering, to splice out a gene that diminishes the production
potential of a species or to enhance the expression of or even insert a gene
that is of productive advantage. To date, genetic modification is not allowed
under Namibia jurisdiction; therefore no further discussions to this end took
place.
Dr.
Naomab was accompanied by his colleague, Dr Gladys Kahaka, who will be taking
over as Head of Department (HOD) of Biochemistry and Chemistry from Dr Naomab
at the University of Namibia, Windhoek. Dr Naomab is now in charge of setting
up the UNAM Southern Campus.
This
Interactive Breakfast session served the purpose of informing representatives
and stakeholders about the principles of genetics and gene mapping and the
value it holds with regard to mapping the genome of commercially/economically
valuable species, with the aim of registering these valuable species
(nationally and internationally) as uniquely Namibian.
The
Agra Professional Services Division offers Interactive Breakfast Sessions every
2-3 months to facilitate networking and brainstorming on current affairs and
among individuals from various sectors in the government and private industry
on topics regarding the agricultural industry in the broadest sense. These
Interactive Breakfast Sessions are open for invited guests only, but members of
the public are welcome to declare their interest to participate at such events.
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AGRA
established its Professional Services Division (PSD) in 2009 with the main
objective of providing a structured framework for rendering various specialised
services to the Namibian agricultural sector. To learn more about Agra
Professional Services Division contact Marieta Grobler @ 061 290 9208 or email
to advice@agra.com.na .
Issued By: Albé Snyman
Officer:
Communications
Agra
(Co-operative) Limited
Tel: (061) 290 9273
Fax: (061) 290 9250
Email: albes@agra.com.na
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