The human reference genome is the most important and widely exploited resource in biomedical research. The modern human being originated in Africa. Africa, the second largest and most populous continent, accounts for 25% of the global disease burden. Coupled with the environment, the African genome is under a greater pressure for adaptation, which can create new genetic variations. The reference genome therefore does not contain information specific to Africans, who have the highest genetic diversity on the planet, even though they represent less than 2% of the populations studied. Consequently, the traditional ‘one size fits all’ approach used in medicine is not appropriate for Africa. The solution is to harness the genome and biological characteristics unique to Africans to develop actionable clinical solutions that will enable healthcare professionals to provide personalized, tailor-made medical solutions. The aim is to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases in Africans more effectively.
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