Conveners
BioInformatics: I
- Fourie Joubert (University of Pretoria)
BioInformatics: II
- Nicola Mulder (University of Cape Town)
Prof.
Nicola Mulder
(University of Cape Town)
06/12/2017, 11:00
Bioinformatics and Biological Sciences
Invited talk (plenary/keynote)
Bioinformatics, or computational biology, is the application of computing to the analysis and interpretation of biological data. With the emergence and reducing cost of new laboratory technologies for high throughput data generation, African scientists are increasingly generating bigger and more complex datasets. This has led to significant challenges in all aspects of data management,...
Dr
Morne Du Plessis
(National Zoological Gardens of South Africa)
06/12/2017, 11:30
Bioinformatics and Biological Sciences
Talk
The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG) has a strong research component focused on conservation of Wildlife. This is achieved via the Research and Scientific Services Department. In keeping with the times, and considering ongoing advances in newer research technologies, the NZG has moved toward greater implementation of aspects such as Next Generation Sequencing and the...
Ms
Priscilla Masamba
(University of Zululand)
06/12/2017, 12:00
Bioinformatics and Biological Sciences
Talk
Schistosomiasis, despite several eradication and elimination attempts, still represents one of the most debilitating parasitic diseases of poverty amongst all the Neglected Tropical Diseases. Economically challenged countries bear the full brunt of the disease, coupled with those of other diseases of public health importance such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Praziquantel (PZQ), a...
Prof.
Fourie Joubert
(University of Pretoria)
06/12/2017, 13:30
Bioinformatics and Biological Sciences
Invited talk (plenary/keynote)
Classic biological research where individual molecules or organisms are studied in isolation, is rapidly being complemented by high-throughput highly-parallel research approaches. The implications are profound for established researchers, but even more so for new post-graduate students entering nearly all fields of biology.
This is particularly true for the high impact that massive scale...
Ms
Robyn Jacob
(South African Sugarcane Research Institute)
06/12/2017, 14:00
Bioinformatics and Biological Sciences
Talk
The sugarcane industry is a substantial agricultural activity in South Africa, which contributes significantly to the country’s gross domestic product and positively impacts on the lives of over a million people. Economic loss due to *Eldana saccharina*, a lepidopteran stem-borer, is estimated to be R900 million per annum. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in...
Mr
Raphael Taiwo Aruleba
(University of Zululand)
06/12/2017, 14:20
Bioinformatics and Biological Sciences
Talk
Schistosomiasis is a debilitating disease caused by a parasitic flatworm found in freshwater. After malaria, this disease is the second most prevalent disease in Africa and is endemic in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Morbidity and mortality attributed to this infection are very high with about 240 million people infected, 800 million persons at risk of the infection and at...
