Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry will be organising a six-day national workshop on “Basic techniques in molecular biology and bio-informatics in pharmacogenomics” from August 6-11, 2012 at Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, JIPMER.

The seminar will be co-organised by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Centre for Advance Research in Pharmacogenomics. Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry and Pondicherry University are also part of the organisers of the seminar.

The seminar is focussed on how to provide training in basic molecular biology techniques required in pharmacogenetic studies, to impart web-based training in basic concepts of bio-informatics, to impart theoretical knowledge on some of the recently developed molecular biology tools and to create a knowledge base of elementary medical genetics towards carrying out pharmacogenetic and related research.

This workshop is intended for beginners in molecular biology and bio-informatics, with a focus on ‘Pharmacogenomics’. The students with a sound knowledge of pharmacology will be preferred.

The seminar will include practical demonstrations and hands -on training in molecular biology techniques such as DNA and RNA extraction, quality check and quantification of DNA and RNA, the polymerase chain reaction -restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR - RFLP), gel electrophoresis: horizontal and vertical. There will be the demonstrations of real time-PCR and DNA sequencer. Bioinformatics will include locating the gene sequence of interest, identification of the PCR product, primer design, and selection of the restriction endonucleases; lectures will be held on the elements of medical genetics, real time PCR, DNA sequencing, high throughput screening for detection of mutations, introduction to haplo analysis etc.