Lab-It Is Taking Molecular Genetics to School

The Molecular Genetics Mobile Lab or “Laboratório itinerante de Genética Molecular” (Lab-it) was funded in 2008 by Leonor Cancela to promote the learning of molecular genetics which had been introduced at that time into high school biology programms. The project aimed to introduce hands-on laboratory activities in molecular genetics to complement the theoretical concepts taught in school. These included the development of experimental protocols based on theoretical scenarios focusing on themes of forensics sciences, biomedical applications, diagnostic methods, and ecological research using basic molecular biology techniques, such as DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), electrophoresis, and restriction enzyme application. In these scenarios, the students execute all the procedures with the help of the Lab-it instructor and using the Lab-it equipment, followed by a discussion of the results with all the participants and the school teacher. These approaches help the students to consolidate the concepts of molecular biology and simultaneously promote discussions on new advances in the area and choices for university careers. In addition to practical sessions, Lab-it also promotes seminars on topics of interest to the students and teachers. Since 2008, 18 high schools have participated in the region of Algarve, averaging each year about 400 students participating in practical activities. In 2021, despite the COVID pandemic, 9 schools and 379 students were involved in Lab-it practical sessions and 99% of them considered the activity to contribute to better understanding the molecular biology methods approached in theoretical classes and expressed high interest in those sessions.