This course has been created for people who want to make reasonable decisions related to genetics, e.g.:

• managers introducing new products using genetically modified plants
• researchers whose main area or expertise is not genetics but they need to feed the results of genetic research into their work
• computer programmers who are going to deal with data related to DNA
• forensic experts, judges, lawyers, who need to make decisions based on DNA profiling (aka DNA testing or DNA matching)

It can be helpful for people who simply want to understand how genetics works.

It is a more narrative course in terms of the story, starting from the very origin of life and explaining how our genetic code has evolved over time and how can we trace the ancestry of human evolution.

Using the story of evolution, the trainer introduces you into scientific lingo and explains the workings of genes, DNA and RNA, heredity and natural selection.

The lecture is intertwined with simple exercises, quizzes and tests to make sure you understood the concepts and facts.

This course does not cover moral, political or religious point of view of genetics, but presents confirmed facts, not theories or conjectures.

The Evolution

• History of Earth
• History of Life
• How can we be so sure about "LUCA", the last universal common ancestor.
• How to read molecular sequences
• Why evolution is an established scientific fact, not a theory
• The "Cauldron" and appearance of RNA
• How primitive forms of life exchange their genetic code
• What can we read from fossil vestiges
• Two groups of bacteria
• How organism became multicellular
• From bacteria to humans

How an organism work

• Metabolism
• How energy is extracted and used
• Reproduction
• Development
• Mutations and evolution
• Is natural selection a theory or a fact?

Brief history of homo sapiens

• How do we know that we come from Africa?
• Prehumans (2mln years ago)
• Human brain and neurons
• The price for big brain
• Modern humans
• Genes and race
• Modern evidence of evolution

Human DNA

• Genome, genetics, DNA, RNA and chromosomes explained
• Tracing maternal ancestors, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA Tests)
• Tracing male ancestors (Y Line Tests, Y chromosomal DNA test)
• How cloning works?
• DNA matching, how a genetic code of a single cell related to a person DNA
• The Gnome project
• What causes Cancer
• HIV and AIDS

Genetics and the Industry

• How can we change the DNA to improve food production
• The history of penicillin, we do not have to do it at random
• Genetics and live stock, current state and the future
• Genetics and drug production

This is a practical workshop, which will introduce basics of molecular modelling of proteins, RNA and DNA. It is well suited for people with biological background, with knowledge in molecular biology, who want to learn how to predict 3D structures of proteins, RNA and DNA molecules.

It is especially suitable for:

• Researchers working in experimental laboratories on structure determination or analysis
• Scientists whose main area of expertise is not biology, but they need to cope with the results of structural biology research
• Managers introducing new products (e.g. drugs) who want to broaden their knowledge about novel techniques and possibilities in the field of drug design, structural biology and bioinformatics
• Computer programmers who are going to write programs dealing with biomolecules.

The course is divided into theoretical and practical parts. The lecture is interwoven with simple practical exercises, quizzes and tests to make sure attendees understand the concepts.

During the training you will be taught how to use software dedicated for building 3D models. Furthermore, we will show how to improve and assess models.

During the course we will present various software and different approaches used in novel structure modelling techniques. Our aim is to facilitate your understanding of modelling principles, reasoning and structure-based conclusion making process.

By the end of the course you will be able to prepare a 3D structure model of protein, RNA or DNA molecules of reasonable standard.

Protein Modelling

• Two main approaches in 3D structure modelling de novo, homology
• Homology modelling basics background, techniques, software
• Choosing a template
• Alignment preparation
• Preparing a model
• Model assessment

RNA Modelling

• Types of modelling de novo, homology
• Homology modelling basics background, techniques, software
• Choosing a template
• Alignment preparation
• Preparing a model
• Model assessment

During this workshop participants will be familiarised with basics of scientific communication including ways of preparing presentations, short articles and posters promoting scientific results. The theoretical course is interwoven with simple practical exercises, quizzes and tests to make sure that participants understand the concepts.

During the training you will be taught how to present your results in a comprehensible and interesting way. By the end of the course you will be able to deliver a memorable speech and create a presentation that will be remembered.

The course has been designed for people who want to learn how to present their work in an interesting, clear, understandable and memorable way.

It has been designed especially for:

• Researchers presenting their scientific results at conferences and workshops
• Scientists applying for grants
• Managers who want to introduce their ideas and plans in a scientific environment
• Lecturers who want to learn how to run their courses in a professional way

• General rules of scientific communication
• Rules for preparing high quality scientific presentations
• Rules for preparing understandable and effective scientific figures and posters