Genome sequence: a game-changer in the fight against diseases and hunger
I love science unreservedly, and so must everyone. I gleefully speak about science to young students aspiring to become future scientists. And I always get filled with unspeakable joy anytime science makes the news or saves the day! In the past weeks, UG scientists at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) made the news. As it was proudly announced, these scientists “successfully sequenced genomes of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic”. Alas, many a Ghanaian did not appreciate the significance of the work of these scientists, let alone its implications. However, as a scientist who applies similar knowledge in agricultural research, I immediately recognized the importance of their work, even by reading the first statement of the communique. Most importantly, I began fantasizing about the impetus this timely feat will give to scientific research in this