Funded by a Royal Society Partnership Grant, our Barcoding for Beginners programme gives teachers, technicians, and their students the opportunity to get hands-on with molecular biology techniques and bioinformatics, and to investigate biodiversity. It also offers a real insight into what a career in genomics at a world-leading institute can look like.
Over the two-year programme, 25 UK schools are taking part, including attending teacher CPD sessions at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Guided by experts, teachers and technicians are upskilling in molecular biology and gaining practical experience of techniques covered in the syllabus.
Students are conducting authentic, novel research in their school science labs, using equipment provided by us, mirroring the groundbreaking work of the Tree of Life’s BIOSCAN project. Up to 750 young people aged 14–18 are then visiting the Institute to explore the science careers available across the Campus. They will then develop their science communication skills by creating and presenting posters that showcase their findings, to be displayed in their schools or colleges.
Watch our video to hear from some of the schools that have participated so far and discover the impact the project has already had:
Barcoding for Beginners
Hands-on with real science
Students go through every step of DNA barcoding, following the same pipeline used by scientists. This includes collecting an invertebrate sample, extracting DNA, amplifying a barcode region using PCR, visualising the product through gel electrophoresis, obtaining a DNA sequence, and using bioinformatics tools to identify the species.
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The project is fantastic - I can't fault it. We don't have the money or the equipment for them to be able to do something like this, so it was great for them to try something that is real and goes on in labs all the way around the world.
Sam Ward, Senior Science Technician, The Thomas Alleyne Academy
Seeing scientists as real and relatable people
We’re passionate about showing the diversity of people and roles in genomics and helping to build a representative future STEM workforce. Meeting real people who work at the Wellcome Sanger Institute has inspired many young visitors to see that a career in genomics could be for them.
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This was a brilliant opportunity for students to see that scientists are normal people. And they can be fun. And they don't all look like Einstein. They're not all geniuses - they’re just normal people.
Sam Highfield, Biology Teacher at Hills Road Sixth Form College
Get involved
Read more about our Barcoding for Beginners programme, including upcoming dates for each term. If you’d like to get in touch to discuss the project, or to get involved, please email our Science Engagement team.
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