Julie - University of the Free State

The UFS has been awarded a massive
R13,7-million contract to conduct research
into pre historic micro-organisms
which live under extreme conditions,
for example in mineshafts. It is one of the
biggest research contracts awarded to the
UFS in recent years.
BioPAD awarded the contract. It is a
South African biotechnology company that
brokers partnerships between researchers,
entrepreneurs, business, government and
other stakeholders to promote in novation
and create sustainable biotechnology businesses.
The project is endorsed by the Department
of Science and Technology and
the National Research Foundation (NRF),
which contributes to the bursaries of 17
postgraduate students on the programme.
The contract involves the establishment
of a Platform for Metagenomics – a
technique which allows researchers to extract
the DNA from microbes in their natural
environment and investigate it in a laboratory.
Dr Esta van Heerden, platform manager
and lecturer at the UFS Department
of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology,
says: “Through this platform
we will be able to understand deepmine
microbial populations and their potential
application in the search for life in outer
space. It is most likely that, if life were to
be found on other planets in our solar system,
it would probably resemble that which
existed millions of years ago on earth.
Apart from all this, these organisms have
unique properties one can exploit in biotechnological
application for South Africa
and its communities. ” She is assisted by
her collegues, Prof. Derek Litthauer and
Dr Lizelle Piater.
“The platform aims to tap into the
unique genetic material in South African
mines which will lead to the discovery of
new genes and their products. These new
and unique products will find application
in the medical field (anti-cancer, anti-bacte-
rial en anti-viral cures), the industrial sector
(nanotechnology, commercial washing
agents and the food industry), environmental
sector (pollution management, demolition
of harmful metals and other toxic
waste),” said Dr Van Heerden.
The Metagenomics Platforms stems
from the Life in Extreme Environments
(LExEN) programme which was started
in 1994 by Princeton University in the
United States of America in South African
mines with grants from among others
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) and the National
Centenary News
UFS receives R13,7-million
to research prehistoric organisms
Science Foundation (NSF) in the USA.
Other international collaborators on the
project include Geosynec Consultants Inc.
(USA), Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(USA), the University of Tennessee and in
South Africa the Universities of the Witwatersrand,
North West and Limpopo and
companies like BHP Billiton, MINTEK,
Harmony, Goldfields and AngloGold
Ashanti.
The research field laboratory of the
Meta genomics Platform, which was situated
in Glen Harvey, was moved to the Main
Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein.
DiMTEC kry beurse vir
meestersgraadprogram
Die Afrika Onderrigsentrum in Ramprisikobestuur (DiMTEC) aan die UV het beurse van R1,1
miljoen van die Departemente van Wetenskap en Tegnologie, Water en Bosbou en Plaaslike
Regering vir die meestersgraadprogram in Ramprisikobestuur ontvang. Dit is bo en belawe die
R2,3 miljoen wat reeds ontvang is. Vyftien studente het reeds vanjaar beurse uit die fonds, wat
deur die Wetenskaplike en Nywerheidnavorsingsraad (WNNR) bestuur word, ontvang. By die
bekendstelling van die beursfonds was, van links: mnr. Chris Swiegers (Departement Water en
Bosbou), mnr. Lance Williams (Hoof van die Nasionale Sentrum vir Ramprisikobestuur), prof.
Magda Fourie (Viserektor: Akademiese Beplanning aan die UV), me. Ramadolela Lindelani (M.
Sc.-student) en mnr. Andries Jordaan (Direkteur van DiMTEC).
July 2007 • Bult
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