17th RevUp in General Santos

After more than three years, the Philippine Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PSBMB) has again spearheaded the RevUp (REView and UPdates) seminar-workshop at the Regional Science Research Center, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the Mindanao State University - General Santos City Campus last September 28 and 29, 2017. This year’s RevUp was entitled “Continuing Education Workshop Series in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology and Ethics” where lecturers from different universities nationwide shared their knowledge and expertise to secondary and tertiary level teachers from South Cotabato and nearby provinces.

The seminar-workshop focused on the principles and applications of biochemistry and molecular biology in different fields like agriculture, forensics, health and medicine. Activities prepared by facilitators or “Movers” from the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the University of the Philippines - Diliman gave the 39 participants a hands-on experience of the different concepts of fundamental molecular biology topics. This RevUp featured a “wet lab” activity wherein the teacher-participants extracted DNA from banana using common household materials such as dishwashing liquid and salt. Several pen-and-paper activities were also done to further enhance the knowledge imparted by the speakers.

Since its conceptualization in 2004, this RevUP is the 17th installment and only the second time it was held in Mindanao. Hundreds of educators from all over the country have participated and brought their renewed knowledge in their respective institutions. The PSBMB Mindanao Chapter took pride as this was the first RevUP that they organized after their establishment a few years ago.