Who is the father? Students analyse DNA samples in the lab

Shortly after eight o'clock in the morning, there is a concentrated atmosphere in the Digital Medicine Laboratory at THI. Students in lab coats are working with pipettes, sample tubes, and agarose gels. DNA samples from the mother, child, and two possible fathers lie on the workbenches - because this morning's programme includes the simulation of a genetic paternity test.

As part of the experiment, the budding Computational Life Sciences and Medical Informatics students are analysing the genetic samples using agarose gel electrophoresis. This involves visualising DNA fragments and comparing them with each other. The characteristic patterns can then be used to determine which of the two men is the biological father of the child.

The fact that around twenty students voluntarily turn up at 8.15 a.m. for an additional laboratory session shows the great interest in practical teaching. The experiment was developed and supervised by Professor Matthias Eckert. It allows participants to apply molecular biology methods themselves and put theoretical knowledge directly into practice.

"Our Computational Life Sciences and Medical Informatics students are preparing for responsible tasks in medicine and healthcare. In addition to theoretical knowledge, they also need practical experience," explains Professor Ludwig Maximilian Lausser, Head of the Laboratory for Digital Medicine. "Such teaching formats clearly show how closely Computer Science, biology, and medical diagnostics work together today."

At the end, all teams come to the same conclusion: the simulated case has been solved. For the students, the experience of independently applying modern analytical methods and gaining a realistic insight into current methods of genetic diagnostics is the main takeaway.