Biohacker Boot Camp

In-person 3 part class:

Saturday, June 8 from 2-6 PM EDT

Sunday, June 9 from 2-6 PM EDT

Sunday, June 15 from 2-6 PM EDT

Did you know that you can now get your whole genome sequenced for less than the cost of an iPhone? And that an organism with specific genes removed isn't considered a genetically modified organism (GMO)? Biotechnology touches many aspects of our lives and is changing with blinding speed. This introductory course covers the major characteristics of the molecular heart of the modern biology era: DNA. Learn the techniques that facilitated the biotechnology revolution, get hands-on experience, and find out where the future is going in our Biohacker Boot Camp (Weekend Edition).

Learn about the fundamental characteristics of DNA and how we can take advantage of these to cut and paste DNA, making lots of copies of specific DNA sequences, or assembling new DNA sequences into a new genetic program. You will perform some of the foundational techniques of the biotech revolution, including DNA purification, polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis, and bacterial transformation. Lecture and discussion is coupled with two hands-on projects: participants will purify and sequence a portion of their DNA to analyze for ancestry, and will generate their own GMO using bacteria and green fluorescent protein (the same protein that won the 2008 Nobel Prize!). The course assumes no prior knowledge other than high-school biology (and even that is negotiable). If you’re new to the lab, this is a great first course.

COVID-19 Safety Notice:

If you are feeling unwell, suspect that you have been exposed to COVID-19 or test positive, please do not attend and let us know ASAP (info@genspace.org). If you cancel after our 7-day policy, we cannot refund your ticket, but we can exchange and offer credits toward future classes. If you have signed up for Biohacker Boot Camp, we will automatically transfer your registration to the next month’s dates unless you tell us otherwise.

Meet the Instructor

Arden Feil (she/her) is a researcher and educator at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center in Downtown Brooklyn. She has a MA in Biology from Wesleyan University and was a Research Specialist at the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on using molecular and genetic tools to understand fundamental life processes, specializing in meiotic cell division and tissue growth. Arden believes that the power of science comes from sharing it with others and is dedicated to making hands-on science education accessible and relatable to everyone.