Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Ogundipe, Oluwatoyin [1], Odofin, Wasiu [2], Onyia, Christie [3], Aladele, Sunday [2], ONUMINYA, TEMITOPE [1], Ogunkanmi, Liasu [4], Kadiri, Akeem [1], Lyam, Paul [2].

Conservation and Identification of Arid Plants in Nigeria using DNA techniques.

Africa's biodiversity is one of the most extraordinary in the world, but also one of the most threatened by human activities (population growth, over-exploitation, logging) and global change (desertification, climatic warming). While biodiversity is disappearing alarmingly fast, there have also been fantastic technological developments that can help reverse biodiversity loss – but the problem is that these novel technologies are not easily accessible by countries rich in biodiversity but constrained in resources. This research is a CARGS project awarded to the University of Lagos, Nigeria in collaboration with the National Center for Genetic Research and Biotechnology (NACGRAB). It focuses on the application of DNA barcoding technique to solve the problems of species identification, desertification and inter-boundary migration of species, genetic erosion of valuable resources and the problem of ever changing climatic condition with particular emphasis on preservation of the plant samples as well as generation of DNA barcodes for identification purposes. Extracted DNA samples were deposited at the DNA Bank of the University of Lagos, Nigeria and voucher specimens were deposited at the University of Lagos Herbarium, Lagos, Nigeria. A hundred and forty DNA barcodes were generated using the coding matK and rbcL genes. These were deposited together with their voucher information in the Barcode of Life database. This research is a great contribution to the taxonomy of arid plants especially in Nigeria.

1 - University of Lagos, Department of Botany, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Lagos, 23401, Nigeria
2 - National Center for Genetic Reseaerch and Biotechnology, Moore Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo, Oyo, 23401, Nigeria
3 - National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Abuja, Abuja, 23401, Nigeria
4 - University of Lagos, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Lagos, 23401, Nigeria

Keywords:
Arid plants
Biorepositories
Endangered species.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 4
Location: Payette/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 11:30 AM
Number: 4014
Abstract ID:108
Candidate for Awards:None