Why Teach Molecular Biology in Africa?

3 Short courses at Université de Lomé in Togo

FundingFrom WISC(NSF/AAAS)& TWAS/UNESCO

Togo is an LDC (Least Developed Country)

1993--EU and US aid suspended (and PCR becomes common)1994-- Devaluation of CFA2003--Presidential Elections

EconomyPhosphatesCoffee CacaoCottonPort

AgricultureCornYams and other tuberculesMillet

21000 students600 Researchers and Professors5 Facultes (Divisions), 5 Ecoles de formation (Professional Schools)--organization is shown below.The University of Lomé was founded in 1972 and enrollment has expanded very rapidly in recent years.To enter, students must pass the Baccalaureate Examination. The University is based on the French system and awards the equivalent of Associate, Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees.

Facultes: Droit Lettre Medecine Economie Sciences Ecoles: Secretariat, Agronomie, ENSI, IUT Gestion

Faculté des SciencesFaculté des Sciences800 Etudiants (8 % women)82 Researchers & Professors (7 women)7 Departments

Science DepartmentsChimie Maths Physiques Geologie Biologie animale Physiologie Animale Botanique

BotaniqueBotanique15 Researchers15 Researchers & Professors& Professors3 Labs3 Labs

Botany Sub-divisionsBiologie Cellulaire Botanique & Ecologie Physiologie et Biotechnologie Vegatales

Laboratoire de Physiologie et Biotechnologie VégétalesLaboratoire de Physiologie et Biotechnologie Végétales

4 Graduate Students4 Graduate Students5 Professors5 Professors- Atsou AIDAM, Ph D- Atsou AIDAM, Ph D- Koffi TOZO, Ph D- Koffi TOZO, Ph D- Yezoumi AKOGO, Ph D- Yezoumi AKOGO, Ph D- Komi ODAH- Komi ODAH- Madje Quashie- Madje Quashie

Brief Description of Professor Tozo ’s University- Brief Description of Professor Tozo ’s University- Université de Lomé--Université de Lomé--www.ub.tg/swintro.htmwww.ub.tg/swintro.htm

We plan to collaborate with Professor KoumagloIn the chemistry department who runs the liquid chromatography systems and is anexpert on purification and identification ofplant natural products.

The Botany department houses a laboratory thatincludes facilities for plant cultures,an autoclave,incubators,and a common work area for professors and a teaching laboratory for students.

The landscaped campus includes many interestingplant species.

U. Lomé

Campus

What/how do I teach?

Lecture & HW

Bioinformatics

Lots of questions

Journal Clubs--in English

Practical Experimental with labs

But not--independent projects, oral reportsCollaborative teaching

What’s good?

• 1 credit is--50 hrs lecture, 50 hours problem sessions, and 50 hours lab

• Support personnel and lab helpers

• Student attitudes

What’s missing?• Libraries, books

• Lab equipment

• Bathrooms, lunch

• Fast computers

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What kinds of research programs are of interest?

Plant biodiversityBiotechnologyMedicinal Plants

Malaria

Sickle Cell Anemia

Nutrition and Genetics

Environmental Surveys/ Local product development

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1- Dodoenea viscosa

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1- Dodoenea viscosa

: Only one D. viscosa tree in Lome maybe in Togo…

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Where do the students go?

• Many don’t pass Year 1 or 2

• To teaching

• To Europe, US, and elsewhere

• Ph. D. in Lomé

• Home

• BTS

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Is Molecular Biology tooexpensive?

How many US drugs havebeen found “rationally”?

Can Africans afford NOTto study diseases and agriculture issues that affect them?

What do people ask me for?

ComputersMoney TAQ Polymersase and pure waterJournal articlesPen palsCell phonesTo come to US/BMCPen palsSports Equipment

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Who gets to do science?• Does it matter?

• Students/teachers in developing countries?

• Students/teachers in Liberal Arts Colleges?

PS. President Gnassingbe EYADEMA12/26/1936-2/5/2005President since 1967Died of a heart attack in office.

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