Alina Luchkova, PhD Student, Department of Blood Circulation, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kiev, Ukraine

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.111.47

I am a young researcher at the Department of Blood Circulation in Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology in Kiev, Ukraine. I am writing my PhD thesis now about the influence of hydrogen sulfide on calcium homeostasis in the mitochondria of rat hearts. In my work, I mainly use physiological and biochemical methods of investigation. I was looking for training to improve my professional skills and study new molecular biology techniques. The Physiological Society’s ‘Introduction to Molecular Biology’ techniques workshop was just what I was looking for, and surpassed my expectations. I was familiar with some of the techniques we covered (DNA and RNA extraction, and PCR), but I had not done ligation, transformation or Western-blotting before. We used the improved versions of basic molecular biology techniques: kits and silica-based columns for DNA and RNA extraction, ready-made PAGE gels and safe dye for Western-blotting. It is important to learn the methods used in well-developed institutions all over the world.

I would like to express a special gratitude to The Physiological Society for organising the training and giving me the opportunity to see gorgeous London, which I dreamed of visiting from English classes in school.