Biochemistry Taster Day

1 – Medical diagnosis using PCR
Students use PCR to diagnose the genetic problem underlying a group of patients who have leukaemia. Using gel electrophoresis where the students get to make their own agarose gels from scratch recommendations are made for the type of treatment based on the outcome of the PCR results.

2 – What’s in the blood?
The makes use of the University’s top of the range microscopes to examine human blood cells and predict whether the slides are from a patient with a haematological abnormality. The slides contained stained white blood cells which are easily recognised as the various cells of the immune system. Students count the various types of cells and compare the results to a normal white cell count.

3 – Making an alcoholic banana DNA smoothie
Students use bananas to extract DNA using materials available in the kitchen. Whilst doing this students get the chance to chat to lecturers and demonstrators about DNA, genetics and how all living things share common mechanisms of inheritance.