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Polygence Lab Bootcamp

Foundations of Genetic Engineering Bootcamp (CRISPR Edition)

Learn the fundamentals of genetic engineering, conduct real experiments, and work with a UC Berkeley Molecular Biologist to get the Wet Lab experience you need for a future in biology.

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Students participating at the Lab Bootcamp

Who is the Bootcamp for?

  • Open to ages 15 and up

  • Beginner-friendly

  • For students considering majors in Biomed, Agricultural Science, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Biomedical Engineering.

  • 9th grade Biology completion recommended, but not a must

What you’ll learn

In this hands-on bootcamp, we’ll break down the fundamentals of genetic engineering—like cell culture, DNA extraction, and real lab techniques. You’ll get to work with real tools, real experiments, and real mentors who started out just as curious as you are, and you'll earn a Certificate of Completion at the end of the Lab Bootcamp.

Lab tools

Day 1: Microbial Culture

Learn how to prepare bacterial culture media in petri dishes and grow an E. coli strain for precision gene edits.

Day 3: DNA Fundamentals

Extract DNA from non-edited cells and Cas9-knockout cells and then amplify & visualize DNA segments to confirm genotypes.

Day 5: Capstone Project - Plant Genetic Engineering

Genetically engineer your own bioluminescent plant using the skills you’ve learned.

Day 2: Genetic Transformation

Harvest, measure, and then transform bacteria with guide-RNA and CRISPR-Cas9 for a targeted gene knockout.

Day 4: CRISPR Design and Project Ideation

Practice using digital tools to design your own precision gene edits with CRISPR-Cas9. Learn advanced techniques & brainstorm future project ideas.

Curriculum

Things you'll learn during the one-week lab bootcamp onsite at a local biology lab at the Bay Area to get hands-on in bioscience.

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Meet Your Instructor

The bootcamp is taught by Anthony Tan, UC Berkeley Trained Bioengineer, former researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is an expert in Microbiology, Genetic Engineering, Horticulture and a great advocate for STEM Education.

Anthony Tan, UC Berkeley Bioengineer and Bootcamp Instructor

How It Works

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Bootcamp Cohorts

The bootcamp is a 1-week commuter program held at a local BSL-1 lab in Santa Clara, CA. No dates currently available. Join wait list to be notified of next opening.

Workshop hours

Workshop Hours

The bootcamp takes place daily from 10 am to 4:30 pm. Break for lunch is at noon till 12:30 pm.

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Tuition includes

One week of training by a UC Berkeley Molecular Biologist instructor, 1 month of lab membership so you can continue your lab work, and a Certificate of Completion.

No upcoming cohorts available.

Fill out this interest form to get notified when the next cohort opens!

Students participating at the Lab Bootcamp