Have you ever marveled at Hong Kong's rich Biodiversity? Do you know you can also use DNA Barcoding to identify species just like scanning a product barcode in the supermarket?

DNA Barcoding can be applied to various fields such as to identify exotic or endangered food products in markets, to monitoring disease vectors and to detect food mislabeling. This is not rocket science, you can also learn how to do DNA Barcoding!

Generate DNA Barcodes for the bugs you have collected!

In this 2 sessions hands-on workshop you will generate DNA Barcodes of insects!

On the first session you will learn: (9:00 AM - 3:00 pm)

1) Exactly what DNA Barcoding is

2) How to extract DNA from insects

3) How PCR work and how to use it to make copies from genes

4) How to do DNA Gel Electrophoresis

On the second session you will learn: (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

1) How DNA sequencing works

2) How to analyze DNA sequences

3) Basic bioinformatics

4) How to identify species on DNA level

5) How to draw evolutionary trees using the DNA sequence that you have generated

Please note that you will have to collect 2 different insects that you will use for the workshop before you arrive. Please follow the guidelines in the Bug Hunters' Handbook to collect your bugs responsibly.

Dates and Time:

Session 1 - Aug 9 or Aug 11 | 9AM - 3PM

Session 2 - Aug 18 or Aug 21 | 9AM - 12PM