Objectives
This hands-on course, limited to a small number of participants, aims at those who are looking for basic molecular biology training and wish to get familiar with some of the potentialities of this technology.
The specific objectives are: This course will incorporate theoretical and practical classes, where the participants will acquire experience in RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, PCR, restriction enzyme digestion, electrophoresis, and plasmid DNA isolation, as well as sequence analysis and experimental design of a cloning project.
This course can give credits to PhD programs at FCUL or programs with partnerships from FCUL and other institutions with 6h-7h of contact hours per ECT, as a function of specific requirements. For these students, in addition to the exercises done during the week, the delivery of a written report done after the course is mandatory. For programs with fewer hours of contact per ECT (6h/ECT, getting 6 ECTs from the course) students need to do an additional assignment (summary report). If needed 1 or 2 additional hours of contact may be added. Such report(s) are also advised for other students requesting accreditation of the course in their institutions.
Minimal formation of students Graduation (bachelor degree)
Directed to: Master and PhD students, lab technicians, post-docs and medical doctors
General Plan
September 5th
10.00 – 11.00 Introductory notes. Project design
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 – 13.00 Principles of Molecular Biology I
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 Biosafety in a Molecular Biology lab
15.00 – 19.30 RNA extraction
September 6th
10.00 – 11.00 Principles of Molecular Biology II
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 – 13.00 Primer design
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.30 cDNA prep
15.30 – 19.30 RNA extraction
15.30 – 17.30 PCR
17.30 – 19.00. Run gel. Cut band (freeze)
20.00 - Welcoming dinner
September 7th
10.00 – 11.00 Updating/Troubleshooting
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 – 12.30 Gel extraction. Digest PCR
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 – 14.30 PCR clean. Measure DNA. Ligation
14.30 – 15.30 Restriction analysis
15.30 – 17.00 Transformation I. Pick colonies
17.00 – 18.00. Pizza break
18.00 – 19.00 Transformation II
September 8th
10.00 – 13.30 Minipreps. Set digestion. Gel preparation.
13.30 – 14.30 Lunch
14.30 – 15.30 Advanced cloning I (other approaches).
15.30 – 16.00 Coffee break
16.00 – 17.30 Run gel. Photo gel
17.30 – 19.00 Sequence analysis troubleshooting
September 9th
10.00 – 11.00 CRISPR
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 – 13.00 Advanced cloning II (viral vectors). Project results and wrap-up
Funding
N/A
Partners
Fee
Free for 1st year PhD students in Doctoral programmes at FCUL (e.g. Biologia), Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV UL; UP), Biology and Ecology of Global Changes (BEAG UL, UA) and Sustainability Science (UL, several institutions), when the course counts credits for their formation, in which case the delivery of a final report done after the course is mandatory; the course is also free for more advanced PhD students of the BIODIV programme (ULisboa or UPorto) – Only two students in one of these circumstances will be accepted. 400€ for all other academic/professional situations.
How to apply
The formulary you will fill in the application link (shared in due time) is strictly confidential. All the mandatory fields are required because this CE3C Advanced Course is also offered as part of the PRR program of FCUL.
For any questions referring to course credits within the PRR program of FCUL please contact the CE3C coordinator of the “CE3C Advanced courses” Margarida Matos (mmmatos@fc.ul.pt) and Rita Zilhão (rmzilhao@ciencias.ulisboa.pt) from the organizing committee.
rmzilhao@ciencias.ulisboa.pt
