07 AUG 2023 Melbourne University Unit 4 Biology

On July 13th, earlier this term, the Unit 4 Biology students attended a workshop at Melbourne University, run by the School of Biosciences. They participated in a 2-hour workshop run and led by volunteer students of Melbourne University, all of whom were at various stages in their different PhDs across the Biosciences branch.

The Kolbe students worked in one of the School of Biosciences main laboratories where they first investigated the change in frequency of a particular allele (form of a gene) across 20 generations of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Students were shown how to anesthetise the flies, then identify males from females and those with the gene under investigation. Students collated their data as a group to determine how the number of flies with the gene changed over time.

The students were then directed through a series of steps involving building skills in the use of a micropipette. Here, they prepared and ran an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the presence and concentration of influenza antibodies in the serums of various patients with varying degrees of influenza immunity.

By the conclusion of the workshop, the students had gained invaluable experience in laboratory techniques and knowledge that will contribute to their Unit 4 coursework. The staff at Melbourne University were amazing in their explanations and demonstrations and the students performed their investigations with keen interest and diligence.

In 2024, the College will look to rebook the excursion for the Unit 4 Biology students again.  So, to the Unit 2 students, keep working hard this year!

Ms Emily McKibbin and Ms Veronica Burton.