LABSTER

In the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) simulation, you will obtain a hair sample from an ancient man from Greenland, extract his DNA, and perform DNA sequencing. The NGS technology uses second-generation DNA sequencing, where users perform sequencing of many samples at the same time, also known as massive parallel sequencing. NGS has many real –life application scenarios. In this lab specifically, you will use SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) analysis to correlate the result with physical appearance such as hair baldness, earwax thickness and many others.

Take part in one of the four “ Genetics of Human Diseases” simulations , and you will soon master the techniques needed to work in a medical genetics lab.

Laboratories can be very dangerous, especially if you’ve never set foot in one before. So in this simulation, you’ll get the chance to make your debut in a virtual one! You will learn how to use the lab safety equipment, and how to react in case of an emergency. Detect and eliminate sources of danger and pass on your lab safety knowledge to friends.

In the FACS simulation, you will learn the basics of flow cytometry and find out how to use a flow cytometer with fluorescence detection. Your goal is to sort a pool of Escherichia coli expressing Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) at different levels after it has been previously engineered. You will set up the equipment, learn how the cytometer sorts the cells, interpret your results, and clean and shut down the equipment.

In the Biosafety simulation, you will be introduced to the concept of laboratory containment, which is a very special type of laboratory required to work with hazardous pathogens.

In the Pipetting simulation, you will determine the amount of essential amino acids in genetically modified corn. Using a micropipette, you will prepare a serial dilution, and measure the protein concentration with a Bradford assay.

In the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) simulation you will be thrown right into a crime scene where a murder has taken place. To investigate the crime scene your first task is to collect blood samples in the hope that the murderer has left traces of their DNA …

Did you know that it’s possible to count bacteria with your naked eye? In this simulation, you will learn how to quantify bacteria using the process of serial dilution.

From a single cell to billions of bacteria in just a few hours… In this simulation, you will experiment with bacterial growth and test the impact of different factors on bacterial growth. Will you be able to plot the bacterial growth and determine the different growth phases?

Does using viruses as a form of therapy sound like science fiction to you? This may come as a surprise, but it’s actually a technique on the rise used to deliver functional genes into patients. In the Viral Gene Therapy simulation, you will learn about the use of modified viruses and how to equip them with therapeutic genes. Take advantage of the recent exciting research findings in the field, and try to develop a potential cure for heart failure.

In this simulation, you will embrace the power of the titration technique. With appropriate lab apparatus, a chemical indicator and a base solution, you can determine the concentration of any acid.