Advanced Diagnostic Molecular Laboratory Techniques

Catalog description

This course will provide hands-on opportunities to students to develop and apply their technical skills to aid in the diagnosis, prognosis and management of complex human diseases and hospital-based pathogen outbreaks. Students will conduct and interpret the outcomes of molecular diagnostic tests on archived, PHI-stripped, samples from patients, control DNAs and/or otherwise healthy individuals. Students learn, 1) to handle and process human tissues and fluids and infectious pathogens isolated from human patients and extract and purify their DNA and RNA via a variety of methods in a BSL2-safety environment; 2) to perform QA-QC tests on cellular DNA/RNA and synthetic DNA/cDNA molecules via a variety of methods including, conventional (e.g., electrophoresis) and emergent methods like Biochips; 3) to manipulate purified DNA/RNA/cDNA molecules via well-established methods such as PCR and its variations to the recently emerged and rapidly maturing applications and technologies such as MLST and whole genome sequencing using next-generation sequencing technologies; and 4) to diagnose disease, provide disease prognosis and to genotype bacterial pathogens. Students are assigned an independent project to demonstrate their aptitude and active learning skills (theoretical and Lab-based) through execution of experimental and bioinformatics workflows involved in epidemiological surveillance of bacterial and viral genome and transcriptome sequences. This course is a part of the Project-based Integrated Core Curriculum Development Initiative (PICCDIn). Course Fee: $45.00