Organized by the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. 

Why attend the DNA workshop?
Molecular laboratory work is very important to most biologist. Yet, it is often only dealt with in theory in most schools. In this workshop, students will get hands-on experience with laboratory work involving the extraction and separation of DNA.

Lessons learnt in school will come to life as DNA is no longer an abstract word in a text book, but a substance visible and suspended in a tube. After the workshop, students will have a better understanding of molecular biology, and able to appreciate the immense work put in by scientists whose impactful discoveries are found in their textbooks.

This workshop provides an opportunity for students to experience a day as a molecular biologist in the Department of Biological Sciences. Students will be exposed to essential laboratory work involving the extraction and separation of DNA using selected model organisms. This gives students a realistic hands-on experience to augment their learning in the topic of molecular biology. Students will be guided by experienced educators and laboratory technicians to boost their competencies and confidence in performing experiments. After the workshop, students will have a better understanding of molecular biology, and be able to appreciate the culmination of molecular biology knowledge gleaned upon from decades of scientific discoveries.

What is the content of the workshop?
The table below summarizes the sequence of events in the workshop.

What do students learn in the workshop?
Students will be taught theory and practical skills, guided by our own NUS educators, postgraduates and technical staff.

Some of the relevant skills taught are listed below:

• Using an adjustable pipette to extract and dispense very small volumes of solution (as little as 2µL)
• Both traditional and modern techniques of DNA extraction (alcohol precipitation and column purification)
• Using spectrophotometer to quantitate amount and gauge purity of extracted nucleic acid
• Performing gel electrophoresis and analysing the different DNA bands
• To link theory or rationale with each step in the protocol, and use it to explain the results obtained
• If the experiment goes awry, students can learn how to analyse their results and discover for themselves where they have gone wrong.  These are important and basic skills of troubleshooting.

Relevance of the workshop to H2 Biology
Some core ideas in the H1 and H2 Biology syllabus are included in the workshop.  They are:

• Organelles and cellular structures
• Biomolecules of Life
• The Structure of Nucleic Acids
• Organization of Genomes

Who is eligible?
Pre-university students from local junior colleges or private schools. Schools are encouraged to submit group registrations for their students. 

How long will the workshop take?
One day.
Students would extract genomic and plasmid DNA before lunch. After lunch, they will run gel electrophoresis and analyze the results.

How to register?
To register, please  complete the DNA-Workshop-Registration-2025 form and submit it through email to DBS_outreach@nus.edu.sg

Registration closing date: 1 April 2025.

For enquiries, please contact:

Mr Ambert Ang
Phone: +65 65162711
Email: DBS_outreach@nus.edu.sg