PuntSeq (https://www.puntseq.co.uk/about) are a local Cambridge organisation with a mission to monitor the water quality of the Cam. By utilising a small and portable real-time DNA analyzer, Oxford Nanopore’s MinION, the project tracks bacterial communities at nine different spots along the Cam trajectory within, upstream and downstream of Cambridge. This exciting work was recently covered by the BBC and Cambridge 105 FM (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-47426790). By working together with Biomakespace, Cambridge's public community biology lab, we are offering 18 participants the unique opportunity to join us for field sampling, followed by a participatory demonstration of DNA extraction and sequencing. In a second session, we will then amplify the extracted DNA and prepare it for sequencing. The results and species identifications will be analysed and publicly presented by the PuntSeq team.
See our linked Meetup event for more details about the session contents, timings and locations.
Application Form
To attend this event, you must fill out this application form (https://forms.gle/DUPR1W843oS4Cj9K7) by Sunday 14th July.
Requirements
- You must be aged 18 or over, or be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- You must be able to attend both workshops (Sunday 28th July, Sunday 11th August.)
If we receive more than 18 applications, participants will be selected by the PuntSeq/Biomakespace team based on your application form.
Cost
We are asking for a participant contribution of £48 per person, to be paid in advance either by bank transfer or by direct debit via GoCardless.
This is to cover the cost of the sequencer flow cell (£720) and bacterial community standard (£150) consummables; we are providing all other lab reagents, equipment and demonstrator time free of charge. If this is an insurmountable barrier to attendance, we are looking to offer a small number of concessions places (if possible), so please do indicate this on your application form.
