The Leslie Hill Molecular Systematics Laboratory
at Kirstenbosch, in collaboration with the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, have received funding from the UK
Darwin Initiative to establish a 'DNA bank' that will house genetic
material of South African plants. The Bio-prospecting, Access and Benefit Sharing policy is relevent to all parties that participate in transfer of specimens in and out of the country.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
- Archive in a DNA bank the genetic material from at least one
species of all ca. 2200 South African flowering plant genera
- Allow researchers to have access to plant DNA extracts to be
used in applied and fundamental science
- Through collaboration with RBG Kew's CBD Unit, to implement
the necessary legal agreements for material transfer and benefit
sharing of these genetic resources
- Train South African researchers and students in high-profile
biotechnologies
- Produce a phylogenetic 'tree of life' of South African plant
genera and identify areas of endemicity and high priority for
conservation
WHAT IS A DNA BANK?
Essentially the DNA bank is simply a -80ºC freezer used to
store extracts of DNA. The DNA extraction protocol typically yields
about 1.2ml of total genomic DNA (including nuclear, mitochondrial
and plastid DNA), that is stored in 1.5ml tubes. Each accession
has a corresponding herbarium voucher so that the authenticity of
each sample can be checked at a later date if necessary.
The Darwin Initiative will provide funding for a three-year period
from June 2003 during which the facility will aim to house at least
one representative from each genus of plants indigenous to South
Africa. After the initial three years the DNA bank will continue
to be managed by SANBI as a national resource for plant genetic
material.
PROGRESS
Download .pdf file of genera collected
by Sept 2005
Download Progress Report September 2004
PARTNERS
- THE DARWIN INITIATIVE is administered by the Department for
the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK. In
partnership with developing countries it is the objective of the
DI to fund projects where a UK based institution will better enable
the developing country to adhere to and implement the Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW currently houses the world's
largest and most comprehensive DNA bank. The bank currently holds
over 12 000 DNAs representative of all plant families. The expertise
that RBG Kew has on DNA extraction, storage, and legal aspects
relating to material transfer agreements (MTAs) will assist SANBI enormously in this venture to establish a similar facility
in South Africa.
DNA Bank Manager
Keshni Gopal gopal@sanbi.org
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