Transcriptomic Analysis and Data Mining in C. elegans: UMFK, UMM & UMPI

Overview

The goal of this course is to provide students with a hands-on research training experience using the model organism C. elegans, bioinformatics, and common molecular biology techniques in the context of the biology of aging. The curriculum will introduce the central dogma of molecular biology, the biology of aging, and the basics of data mining online resources. Students will investigate a list of genes differentially expressed by pro-longevity treatments and pick a candidate to validate experimentally in the lab. Skills taught will include primer design, gel electrophoresis, RNA extraction, quantitative real time PCR, and handling of C. elegans. The course will conclude with 5-minute presentations from each student with results on the gene they picked and how it may relate to aging.

Faculty

About the Maine INBRE program

This short course is supported and organized by the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE).

Maine is one of 23 states that have been identified by the National Institutes of Health as having historically received low levels of NIH funding. The INBRE program was established to strengthen research networks in each of these states, so that they could become more competitive for federal research grants. In Maine, our network is comprised of 14 institutions, with the MDI Biological Laboratory as the lead institution. Other institutions in our network include the following: Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, College of the Atlantic, the Honors College at the University of Maine, the Jackson Laboratory, Southern Maine Community College, the University of Maine, UMaine Farmington, UMaine Fort Kent, UMaine Machias, UMaine Presque Isle, and the University of New England.

Money from Maine INBRE supports research training experiences like this short course, as well biomedical research and laboratory facilities throughout our network. Other training experiences include academic year and summer student research. Please check with the INBRE contact at each institution for the most accurate information about opportunities on your campus. At UMaine Fort Kent, that contact is Nicole Boudreau. At UMaine Machias, that contact is William Otto. At UMaine Presque Isle, that contact is Jason Johnston.

Funding

This research training opportunity is supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant number P20GM103423.

The IDeA program builds research capacities in states that historically have had low levels of NIH funding by supporting basic, clinical and translational research; faculty development; and infrastructure improvements.