Sport, Exercise and Genes: a practical introduction to genetic testing in sport and exercise science

Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 May 2010

9.00am - 6.00pm Saturday 

9.00am - 4.00pm Sunday

Oxford Brookes University

Intermediate

This is an entry level workshop designed to introduce the concepts of Molecular Exercise Physiology and associated practical skills that are used for genetic testing in sports and exercise science. Delegates will perform a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) experiment, solve "paper problems" on DNA fngerprinting and receive appropriate tuiton in such techniques.

Sport and exercise scientists, athletes, coaches, physiologists, biologists, laboratory technicians and other interested individuals. No prior knowledge or "wet lab" skills are needed.

A minimum of  6 delegates is needed for this workshop to run

Collaborative workshop between University of Aberdeen, Manchester Metropolitan University and Oxford Brookes University                            

£200 (or £150 for BASES, ACPSM, BASEM & BPS members) for 2 days. Subsistence (except lunch) and accommodation not included

Molecular exercise physiology (MEP) is now an important strand of sport and exercise science. However, molecular techniques, ‘jargon’ and lack of appropriate textbooks are barriers for traditionally trained sport and exercise science graduates. The aim of this workshop is to introduce delegates practically to DNA extraction from mouthwash samples and to subsequent gene profiling. Delegates will also be introduced to ‘Molecular Exercise Physiology’ as a subfield, gene testing in sports and exercise research and a discussion on how to teach new concepts in MEP without ‘turning students off’.

At the end of the workshop delegates should be able to:

• Obtain human genomic DNA from a mouthwash sample.
• Perform a PCR reaction aimed at detecting specific genetic variations.
• Sequence DNA and perform ‘DNA fingerprinting’.
• Understand the aims and ethics of genetic testing in sports and exercise science.
• Define ‘molecular exercise physiology’ and have ideas how to teach it to undergraduate sports science students.

Dr Alun Williams is a BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist (Physiology - Research). He received his MSc from the University of Liverpool and his PhD from the University of Birmingham.  Most recently, he has worked in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at Manchester Metropolitan University, teaching and researching Exercise Physiology.  His research interests now mainly focus on genetic, molecular and hormonal influences on muscle function, principally in vivo.  A particular research interest is the inter-individual variability in human muscle performance and training responses.

Dr Henning Wackerhage is a senior lecturer in Molecular Exercise Physiology and degree convener of an MSc in Molecular Exercise Physiology at the University of Aberdeen. He is convener of the BASES Molecular Exercise Physiology special interest group and together with Neil Spurway author of a book entitled ‘Genetics and Molecular Biology of Muscular Adaptation’ .

Dr Shirley McCready is a Reader in Cell Biology and Microbiology at Oxford Brookes University. She received her first degree at Sheffield University and her DPhil from the University of Oxford. Her research is on genome stability and DNA damage and repair, and she currently has active collaborations with colleagues in the USA and Japan.

Once workshop place is confimed by BASES, delegates should notify the organiser, Roger Ramsbottom: rramsbottom@brookes.ac.uk or 01865 483265, if they require a parking permit.

On arrival proceed to Gypsy Lane main reception for registratio. From there you will be directed to SG05.