The Genetics of African Populations in Health and Disease

A pioneering work that focuses on the unique diversity of African genetics, offering insights into human biology and genetic approaches.

Muntaser E. Ibrahim (Edited by), Charles N. Rotimi (Edited by)

9781107072022, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 December 2019

348 pages, 19 b/w illus. 10 tables
25.3 x 17.8 x 2 cm, 0.83 kg

'The scope of the contributions varies widely, from studies of single diseases (e.g., breast cancer, visceral leishmaniasis) to broad surveys (e.g., orphan diseases of North Africa, evolution of disease resistance). The first and final essays review the state and development of genetics research and medicine in Africa. Common themes include public health infrastructure, transition from agrarian to urban lifestyles, pharmacogenomics, genetic diversity, and the dearth of research on African populations.' R. M. Denome, Choice

The birthplace of modern humans, Africa, has the highest genetic diversity in the world, yet it remains vastly understudied. With biomedical research increasingly focused on human variation, studying the large population size and number of mutations in African genomes could unravel the complexity of phenotypic traits underlying the biology of our species and hold huge potential for scientific and medical advances. An initial chapter 'conceptualizes Africa', providing relevant terminology. The first section covers genetic history and population structure. The next section looks at the genetic basis of common infectious diseases, such as leishmaniasis, malaria and tuberculosis, with a final part considering common non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart disease and cancer. Gene environment interaction under globalization and the burden of diseases of lifestyle are included. For researchers and graduate students in biological anthropology, genetic anthropology, human and population genetics, and public health.

1. Reflections on conceptualizing Africa for biological studies with a historical component: a small essay Shomarka Omar Y. Keita
2. History and genetics in Africa: multidisciplinary efforts Shomarka Omar Y. Keita and Muntaser E. Ibrahim
3. Disease, selection, and evolution in the African landscape Muntaser Ibrahim and Endashaw Bekele
4. Genetic susceptibility to visceral leishmaniasis Hiba S. Mohamed, Muntaser E. Ibrahim and Jenefer M. Blackwell
5. Genetics of infection in Sub-Saharan Africa: what can the study of Mendelian immunodeficiency disorders contribute? Melanie Newport
6. Pharmacogenomics and infectious diseases in Africa: an evolutionary perspective Jennifer L. Baker, Daniel Shriner, Amy R. Bentley and Charles N. Rotimi
7. A glimpse into pharmacogenomics in Africa Collet Dandara and Alice Matimba
8. Genomics of cardiometabolic disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa Sally N. Adebamowo, Fasil Tekola-Ayele, Adebowale A. Adeyemo and Charles N. Rotimi
9. Breast cancer in African populations Konduru S. Sastry and Lotfi Chouchane
10. Socio-biological transition and cancer: prospects for Africa Sulma Mahmoud, Khalid O. Alfarouk, Ahmed M. Elhassan, Kamal Hamad and Muntaser E. Ibrahim
11. The genetic epidemiology of orphan diseases in North Africa Lilia Romdhane, Olfa Messaoud, Rym Kefi, Afaf Tiar, Ahlem Amouri, Mourad Mokni, Neji Tebib, Mohamed Zghal, Abdelhamid Barakat, Ahmed Houmeida, Mariem Bozguiya, Mohamed Othman, Ghada El Qameh and Sonia Abdelhak
12. Birth defects and genetic disease in Sub-Saharan Africa Ambroise Wonkam
13. Neurogenetic disorders in Africa: hereditary spastic paraplegia: a case study Liena E. O. Elsayed, Ammar E. M. Ahmed and Giovanni Stevanin.

Subject Areas: Human biology [PSX], Genetics [non-medical PSAK], Infectious & contagious diseases [MJCJ], Diseases & disorders [MJC], Anthropology [JHM], African history [HBJH]