YOGYAKARTA- Molecular Biology research in higher education in Indonesia is still left behind from that in foreign countries such as Japan. In fact, along the development of science and technology, research in molecular biology is quite important, for example in the application in industry, agriculture and health. In the development, according to a lecturer of UGM Faculty of Biology, Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, S.Si., M.Sc., industrial and DNA-based research improvement requires mastery of basic techniques of the Molecular Biology.
"We’re still left behind in molecular biology research, so, that needs to be improved," Yekti said on the sidelines of Basic Molecular Biology Techniques Training in cooperation of Faculty of Biology UGM and Graduate School of Biological Science Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, Thursday (15/ 3) in the Lower meeting room of the Faculty.
Yekti exemplified the development of science and technology, application of yeast is not only for industry but also health sector, for example for the detection of a disease affecting humans. This is not separated from the development of molecular biology research.
"It means that the development of science and technology research in Molecular Biology is highly necessary," Yekti explained.
Under the condition, training specifically on the basic techniques of Molecular Biology for students should be actively encouraged, such as the training coupled with the Seminar and Workshop that was held today until March 21. Yekti confirmed that this training is a follow-up of the MoU between the UGM with NAIST, Japan, recently.
The training attended by 50 students from both S2 and S3 programs and outside the Faculty of Biology presented the topic of the basic techniques of RNA and protein isolation, CDNA synthesis, and RT-PCR western blotting. Resource persons who attended the training included Prof. Masashi Kawaichi (Graduate School of Biological Science, NAIST), Prof. Hiroshi Takagi, Prof. Kazuhiro Shiozaki, and Assoc. Prof. Masahiro Akiyama.