Africa has the world’s greatest genetic diversity, yet it’s missing from research: we’re filling the gap

Historically, genomic research has predominantly focused on DNA data from people of European ancestry, while African populations, representing the deepest branches of human genetic history, remain underrepresented in genomic databases.
Existing genomic databases are incomplete without including the vast genetic diversity present in African populations, which could provide insights into previously unknown genetic variants and health-related biological pathways.
The Assessing Genetic Diversity in Africa (AGenDA) project aims to address these gaps by sequencing the genomes of under-represented African groups, including hunter-gatherers, Nilo-Saharan communities, and Bantu-speaking populations.
The addition of African genomic data to global databases will enhance disease research, including conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and mental health, thereby improving medical outcomes for African and global populations.
Expanding African genomic representation is crucial for global biomedical science, ensuring that genomic tools and medical technologies are more inclusive and accurate, and that benefits of genomic medicine are equitably shared.

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