Molecular Biology

The laboratory is a bridge between state-of-the-art molecular biology and the study of animal biodiversity, with a special focus on iconic species such as the stone curlew, deer, otter, gongilo, rice field mouse, island bats and endemic Italian grasshoppers. We use state-of-the-art techniques to isolate DNA from predominantly animal biological samples, such as tissue, blood or faeces, a crucial step in obtaining pure, high-quality genetic material ready for subsequent analysis. A portion of the laboratory is exclusively dedicated to RNA extraction, which requires special cleaning and attention, using a fume hood, dedicated pipettes and filter tips. The extracted nucleic acids are then used for amplification of gene fragments or for retrotranscription to obtain cDNA useful for qRT-PCR. Part of the laboratory’s activity is dedicated to the extraction from various types of matrices (sediments, freshwater and seawater filters) for environmental DNA analyses for the characterisation of invertebrate and vertebrate animal communities and for searching for the presence of target species. Given the high lability of RNA, it is important to keep a part of the laboratory as isolated as possible and as far away as possible from extremely dirty and therefore most likely RNA-rich material.

Relevant Instrumentation

• Suction hood
• Eppendorf tube centrifuge
• Falcon tube centrifuge
• QUBIT for DNA quantification
• Electrophoretic cell
• UV transilluminator