Molecular Biology Laboratories
The molecular biology laboratories provide a wide range of testing and analysis services based mainly on PCR and qPCR. Molecular diagnostics which is a rapidly developing area of laboratory medicine that investigates human, animals, plants, vectors, environment and microbial genomes and the products they encode is also an important service that is offered in the laboratory.
The
molecular biology laboratories is composed of the general molecular laboratory
and the central molecular diagnostic laboratory. These laboratories are centers
for robust research in all aspects of environmental health, plant health, food
security and safety, animal and plant health. Various diseases are studied
ranging from viral infections, bacterial to parasitic infections in plants,
animals and humans. Profiling the genetic makeup of these disease-causing
agents and genetical resistant patterns to drugs. All these are aimed at
advancing scientific knowledge in developing and adapting suitable control measures
like biocontrol against food contaminates and diseases.
The
laboratories are fully equipped with modern and accurate equipment such as
basic thermocycler, Realtime PCR machines, spectrophotometer, gel
electrophoresis system, gel imaging system, biosafety cabinets and laminar flow
hood, vortex mixer, freezers and fridge, centrifuge, water bath and incubators,
all required for smooth operation.
In
addition are well trained personnels with up-to-date knowledge, skills and
experience in carrying out molecular biology techniques, data interpretation
and application to solve health problems at the very root.
Services
that the molecular laboratory can offer include;
- PCR-based assays
- Paternity testing
- SARS COV-2 testing
- Metagenomic sequencing studies
- Insecticide resistance genotyping
- Mosquito species and other insects genotyping
- Population genetics microsatellites and SNPs genotyping
- Evolutionary biology genomic sequencing
- Electrochemical detection of nucleic acids and proteins
- Proteomic assays
- DNA profiling
- DNA and RNA extraction
- Restriction enzyme
- Reverse transcription technology
- Northern and Southern blottings
- SDS-PAGE
- Drug resistance profiling in parasites and bacteria
