“Expert si LBC and PCC sa ginagawa nya kasi kaya nya pong ipaintindi sa taong walang masyadong background”, said a participant in the closing program.
Attended by twenty-two (22) participants mostly from Department of Agriculture agencies such as the Bureau of Animal Industry, National Meat Inspection Service, RFO II, III and IV-A and graduate students from the Central Luzon State University, the build-up activity for the 19th National Biotechnology Week entitled, “Capacity Building Workshop on Molecular Biology and Modern Biotechnology Tools for Livestock Research and Development” was organized to capacitate regulators and representatives of DA agencies as a strategic initiative in leverage biotechnology as a tool for both opportunities and challenges faced by the Philippine livestock industry.
Dr. Caro B. Salces, OIC-Executive Director of the DA-Philippine Carabao Center underscored strong collaboration within DA agencies and its partners as a way to achieve progress of the livestock sector in his opening message.
Speakers Dr. Maribel Zaporteza from the Institutes of Biological Sciences of the University of Los Baños and Mr. Reimond Corona of the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines presented a lecture on introduction to gene editing techniques and current status of genetically modified (GM) animals, respectively. Dr. Marvin A. Villanueva presented the updates on current modern biotechnology in the livestock industry followed by review of basic molecular biology techniques presented by Ms. Erica R. Lapuz and for advanced molecular biology techniques, Dr. Arren Christian M. De Guia presented a lecture loop mediated isothermal amplification and Mr. Florencio I. Cacho, Jr. presented the lecture on nanotechnology-based lateral flow assay. A laboratory facility tour concluded the first day of training.
For the second day, lecture presentations on introduction on custom oligonucleotide primers and the dry laboratory sessions focused on designing of custom oligonucleotide primers led by in-house project staff of the DA-LBC. DNA sequencing analysis and trouble-shooting lecture capped off the second day.
Hands-on laboratory exercise was done for preparation of samples for DNA sequencing on the third day and samples were consequently used for actual DNA sequencing analysis on the fourth day in the laboratories of Biosafety and Environment Section and Cryobank Unit.
For his closing remarks, again Dr. Marvin A. Villanueva congratulated participants for finishing the novice level training course and expressed hope for participants to continue in the ladderized training program for next year for the intermediate, expert and cadre levels, respectively.
This activity is part of the 19th National Biotechnology Week celebration with the theme, “Empowering Innovation for a Sustainable Future with Biotechnology”.
by Marah A. Arquero