Dèdéou Tchokponhoué and Carlos Houdegbe from GBioS attending the second hands-on Molecular Laboratory training Workshop at the University of Cambridge, UK
From 03rd to 12th September 2018, Dèdéou Tchokponhoué and Carlos Houdegbe, two PhD students of the Laboratory of Genetics, Horticulture, and Seed Sciences (GBioS) and fifteen other PhD students from six African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Benin Republic) participated in the Word Class Molecular Laboratory Training Workshop organized by the JR Biotek Foundation and the University of Cambridge. The workshop hold at the Department of Plant Sciences of the University of Cambridge combined lectures and practical. During the two-week intense course, the students were exposed to several Laboratory techniques which allow them to get hands-on skills in molecular detection of plant viruses, DNA cloning / Loop Assembly and Marker trait association technics. The techniques learnt include DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, reverse transcription, loop assembly, plant transformation (Agrobacterium transformation, infiltration of Agrobacterium in tobacco leaves, and fluorescence and confocal microscopes-Assisted view of infiltrated tobacco leaves). In addition, they had had bioinformatics, scientific writing and professional development sessions. Dedeou and Carlos end-up the training workshop with a participation to the UK-Africa Food security Symposium where they successfully pitched the “Ecoseed” bio-innovation as members of the Seed Services start-up. They have had a pleasant stay in Cambridge and are very grateful to the JR Biotek Foundation, the University of Cambridge for this opportunity and acknowledge the partners who supported the Workshop.
