title: Random amplified polymorphic DNA PCR in the teaching of molecular epidemiology.
abstract: In this article, we describe a basic practical laboratory designed for fifth-year undergraduate students of Microbiology as part of the Epidemiology course. This practice provides the students with the tools for molecular epidemiological analysis of pathogenic microorganisms using a rapid and simple PCR technique. The aim of this work was to assay RAPD-PCR technique in order to infer possible epidemiological relationships. The activity gives students an appreciation of the value of applying a simple molecular biological method as RAPD-PCR to a discipline-specific question. It comprises a three-session laboratory module to genetically assay DNAs from strains isolated from a food outbreak. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 44(4):391-396, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Departamento De Microbiología E Inmunología, Facultad De Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas Y Naturales, Universidad Nacional De Río Cuarto, Ruta 36 Km 601, X5804ZAB, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, República Argentina.
authors.forename: Elina B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Reinoso
authors.affiliation: Departamento De Microbiología E Inmunología, Facultad De Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas Y Naturales, Universidad Nacional De Río Cuarto, Ruta 36 Km 601, X5804ZAB, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, República Argentina.
authors.forename: Susana G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Bettera
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology / Q000193:education*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique / Q000379:methods*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: RAPD-PCR; laboratory exercises; molecular epidemiology