Title: The progress, challenges and future prospects of synthetic biology and biotechnology in Africa

Biography:

Otim Geoffrey is a Molecular biologist with a strong passion for synthetic biology which he developed after attending his first synthetic biology conference (SB.7) in Singapore as a Biosecurity fellow,sponsored by Johns Hopkins center for Health security. There, he met, interacted, and created network with many thought leaders and pioneers of synthetic biology who have continued to play a bigger role in mentoring and supporting his synbio initiatives. He founded IGEM Makerere University team in 2018, the first IGEM team from East Africa to participate and represent at the IGEM Giant Jamboree in Boston. He later Founded Synbio Africa as an After IGEM initiative to promote and spread the gospel of synthetic biology across Africa.

Abstract

Synthetic biology which is a part of Biotechnology is broadly classified as the deliberate design of novel biological systems and organisms that draws on principles elucidated by biologists, chemists, physicists and engineers, in essence it is about redesigning life. The main aim of this work was to review the state of synthetic biology in Africa in contrast with the trends of both traditional and modern biotechnologies and to give highlights on the future novelty of biotechnology and synthetic biology. The research showed that synthetic biology in Africa has not yet fully come of age, and that plant biotechnology has been extensively adopted in the continent. The potentials which can be achieved with this technology are unimaginable and can bring about great progress in developing nations. Moreover, larger political initiatives and government policies needs to be instigated if the advantages of this technology are to be fully felt in Africa, this thus calls for further research and investments into the field of Biotechnology.