Tips to top genes in space class

Abu Dhabi meeting will offer insights into how to enhance UAE proposals for a DNA experiment carried out in space.

Ezequiel Alvarez-Saavedra and Sebastian Kraves, co-founders of the miniPCR. After trials they discovered the miniPCR was robust and much cheaper than its rivals. Courtesy John Wilcox

ABU DHABI // The inventors of the first machine to carry out a DNA experiment in space have said their upcoming workshop would provide teachers and pupils a unique opportunity to become familiar with cutting-edge technology and research being used in Earth’s orbit.

The co-founders of the miniPCR – a portable DNA lab that can carry out molecular biology, genetics and biological engineering experiments – said the day-long seminar being held in the capital on August 22 for those interested in the fields of microbiology and space would give an insight to entrants to Genes in Space – a competition that offers pupils the possibility to have their ideas tested on the International Space Station.

The competition, organised by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing, gives pupils from Years 7 to 12 a chance to design an experiment that addresses real challenges in space exploration and involves conducting DNA experiments designed for micro-gravity.

“I wish I was a few decades younger so I could participate,” said Sebastian Kraves who will be one of the three seminar hosts flying in from the US.

The molecular neurobiologist from Argentina said he was fascinated by DNA as a pupil but never had such an opportunity to engage with it.

After holding a similar workshop in the US, Mr Kraves said they noticed a marked improvement in the quality of proposals they received for the second US Genes in Space contest.

“This will be a comprehensive and interactive workshop, which will give teachers and students a much more practical idea of what it means to conduct an experiment in space using the miniPCR,” he said.

Mr Kraves’ countryman Ezequiel Alvarez-Saavedra said he came up with the idea for a miniPCR during his doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

While working alongside two Nobel laureates he wondered how to make DNA experimentation more accessible and affordable.

“The work I was doing was out of reach for most, even for me as a university student in Argentina, so I thought why not simplify these complex machines.”

After teaming up with Mr Kraves, the geneticists came up with the prototype of the miniPCR, a machine that was a fraction of size, complexity, and cost – U$S650 as oppose to US$3,000 to US$8,000.

“When I put it altogether the system worked very well and was more robust than the traditional machines which were so complex they would break down,” said Mr Alvarez-Saavedra.

After introducing a conference room full of high school teachers at MIT to the miniPCR, he knew there would be demand for the device.

“We were given five minutes to present and after we were done one of the teachers jumped out the chair and said ‘I want six of those’. We didn’t have any.”

Able to fit into a small bag, powered from a wall socket, and using clear material to show the process, the machine is ideal for classroom said Mr Alvarez-Saavedra.

After partnering with Boeing they were able to send the miniPCR machine to space while promoting STEM subjects through the Genes in Space contest.

This led to a 17-year-old student’s winning proposal becoming the first Genes in Space experiment a few months ago.

With the competition being extended to the UAE, students here will get the same opportunity.

“The goal is to help them lose their fear of applying to the programme so they can have an incredible shot at being part of something ground-breaking,” said Mr Alvarez-Saavedra.

With spaces in the free workshop limited, those interested in attending are asked to email their name, position, school and city to [e-mail].

More information about the competition can be found by following

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