Seminar at ACS on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Electrophoresis for Identification and Detection of Bacteria

ACS Saturdays during the school year can be very interesting and enriching. On October 8, 11th graders from the Natural Sciences Profile participated in a seminar led by ACS Biology and Health Studies Teacher Dr. Ganka Dineva and guest lecturer Dr. Yordan Manasiev. The topic of the workshop was "Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Electrophoresis for Identification and Detection of Bacteria."

During the 6-hour seminar, ACS students gained hands-on experience on proper and safe handling of equipment to separate а DNA molecule in an electric field, as well as on amplifying the number of specific DNA molecules by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

The PCR was invented in 1983 by American biochemist Kary Mullis, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993, along with Michael Smith. In addition to the medical application of the method, PCR has been successfully used in forensics, the study of ancient DNA, and as part of other biomolecular processes for scientific research.

We strongly believe that students who participated in the workshop have deepened their interest in biochemistry and molecular biology.