Hands-on Genomics Techniques
(PCR, qPCR, Digital PCR, Bioinformatics and Data Analysis)
Plymouth University 23–26 June 2014
Programme
Monday 23rd June
8.45am-9am
Registration: tea/coffee (provided)
9am-9.05am
Dr Hail Rihan
 Welcome and introduction (safety logistics)
9.05am-9.45am
Dr Tracey Madgett
 DNA/RNA background detail and DNA extraction methods
9.45am-10.40am
Dr Manuela Truebano Garcia
 RNA extraction and QC
 Basic principles of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
10.40am-11.10am
Tea/Coffee break (provided)
11.10am-12pm
Dr Robert Belshaw
 Primer design
Dr Michele Kiernan
 Introduction to afternoon practical sessions
12.30pm-1.30pm
Lunch break
1.30pm-4.30pm
Dr Michele Kiernan, Dr Manuela Truebano Garcia, Dr Hail Rihan, and
Dr Tracey Madgett
 Practical application: RNA/DNA extraction, and conventional PCR
4.30pm-5pm
Summary and discussion
Tuesday 24th June
9am-10.30am
Dr Wondwossen Abate Woldie
Basic principles of real time PCR
 Overview (may include reverse transcription)
 Real time vs traditional PCR.
 Components and detection systems of real time PCR
 Controls and melt curve analysis
10.30am-11am
Tea/Coffee break (provided)
11am-12.30pm
Dr Lynn McCallum
 QPCR experimental design and quality control – (focus mainly on the strategic
planning of experiments for the gene expression)
12.30pm-1.30pm
Lunch break
1.30pm-4.30pm
Dr Lynn McCallum, Dr Michele Kiernan, Dr Wondwossen Abate Woldie,
Dr Manuela Truebano Garcia and Dr Hail Rihan
 Practical RQ-PCR
4.30pm-5pm
Summary and discussion
Wednesday 25th June
9am-10.30am
Dr Wondwossen Abate Woldie
 QPCR data analysis
10.30am-11am
Tea/Coffee break (provided)
11am-11.50am
Dr Michele Kiernan and Kelly Sillence
 Introduction to digital PCR
11.50am-12.30pm
Dr Michele Kiernan and Kelly Sillence
 Digital PCR applications and advances
12.30pm-1.30pm
Lunch break
1.30pm-4.30pm
Dr Lynn McCallum, Dr Tracey Madgett, Dr Michele Kiernan, Dr Hail Rihan and
Kelly Sillence
 Practical digital PCR
4.30pm-5pm
Summary and discussion
Thursday 26th June (Bioinformatics)
9am-10.30am
Dr Michele Kiernan
 Introduction to next generation sequencing
10.30am-11am
Tea/Coffee break (provided)
11am-12.30pm
Dr Robert Belshaw (Hands-on data analysis)
 Scoring allelic variants of blood group antigens using next generation
sequencing data (session one)
12.30pm-1.30pm
Lunch break
1.30pm-3pm
Dr Robert Belshaw, Tony Reynolds
 Scoring allelic variants of blood group antigens using next generation
sequencing data (session two)
3pm-4pm
Dr Robert Belshaw, Dr Michele Kiernan and Tony Reynolds
 Tour of the Genomics facilities in the Systems Biology Centre
5pm till late
Workshop dinner and certificate awards