Programme Parameters
Foundation
3 Days (4.5 Hrs)
Online (e-LMS)
β’ No prior experience required β basic computer literacy is sufficient.
β’ A laptop or desktop with a stable internet connection.
β’ Willingness to complete assignments and the capstone project.
About This Course
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a cornerstone technique in molecular biology, widely used for DNA amplification, gene expression studies, pathogen detection, and genetic analysis. Over time, advanced PCR technologies such as qPCR, RT-PCR, multiplex PCR, and digital PCR (dPCR) have expanded its applications in research and clinical diagnostics. However, successful PCR depends heavily on optimal primer design, reaction conditions, and troubleshooting strategies. Across 4 Weeks, you will go deep on multiplex PCR and clinical diagnostics, then consolidate everything in a capstone project. Every participant receives a verified e-Certificate and e-Marksheet from the Deep Science & Technology Consortium.
π― Program Aim
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a cornerstone technique in molecular biology, widely used for DNA amplification, gene expression studies, pathogen detection, and genetic analysis. Over time, advanced PCR technologies such as qPCR, RT-PCR, multiplex PCR, and digital PCR (dPCR) have expanded its applications in research and clinical diagnostics. However, successful PCR depends heavily on optimal primer design, reaction conditions, and troubleshooting strategies.
π Course Objectives
1. Develop hands-on skill in multiplex PCR.
2. Master the fundamentals of clinical diagnostics.
3. Apply biotechnology methods to authentic research and industry problems.
4. Produce a reproducible, portfolio-ready project you can cite in a thesis, paper, or job application.
π₯ Who Should Enroll?
β’ Master's and senior undergraduate students specializing in biotechnology
β’ R&D engineers and working professionals applying biotechnology in industry
β’ Academics and educators building research or teaching capacity in biotechnology
β’ Data and computational scientists moving into multiplex PCR
π Key Learning Outcomes
β’ Confidence to apply multiplex PCR in real projects.
β’ Confidence to implement clinical diagnostics in real projects.
β’ Tangible, reproducible biotechnology work to show supervisors or employers.
β’ A verified e-Certificate of competency and e-Marksheet from the Deep Science & Technology Consortium.
π What You'll Gain
Live & Recorded Sessions
Lifetime access to class recordingse-Certificate on Completion
Cryptographically verified credentialPost-Programme Support
Direct access to mentors & councilHands-On Experience
Notebooks, real-world code & datasetsCurriculum Outline
Amplification Chemistry and Thermodynamics
β’ Polymerase selection: hot-start, high-fidelity and fast chemistries, and when each is wrong
β’ Buffer composition, MgΒ²βΊ titration and dNTP balance as failure sources
β’ Nearest-neighbour Tm calculation and why calculated and empirical Tm diverge
Primer and Probe Design for Specificity
β’ Primer3 and Primer-BLAST workflows; specificity screening against the target genome
β’ Secondary structure: hairpins, self-dimers and cross-dimers in multiplex panels
β’ Hydrolysis probe versus intercalating dye chemistry; reporter and quencher selection
β’ Balancing multiplex reactions and designing internal amplification controls
qPCR Standard Curves and Relative Quantification
β’ Amplification efficiency, the 90β110% acceptance window, and what falls outside it
β’ Cq determination, baseline and threshold setting, and their effect on results
β’ ΞΞCq relative quantification and reference-gene validation with geNorm or NormFinder
β’ Establishing limit of detection and limit of quantification defensibly
Absolute Quantification by Partitioning
β’ Partitioning and Poisson statistics: absolute counts without a standard curve
β’ Choosing dPCR over qPCR for low-abundance targets and inhibited matrices
β’ Rare-variant detection, copy-number assessment and residual disease monitoring
Analytical Validation for Diagnostic Use
β’ Analytical sensitivity and specificity; in-silico inclusivity and exclusivity
β’ Cross-reactivity panels and interference testing against the intended matrix
β’ Control strategy: no-template, positive, extraction and internal controls
β’ Contamination control: dUTP/UNG carryover prevention and workflow zoning
β’ MIQE-compliant documentation and the verification versus validation distinction
Troubleshooting and Run Quality
β’ Diagnosing no amplification, late Cq, and non-sigmoidal curves from the trace
β’ Detecting inhibition with spike-in controls and dilution series
β’ Melt-curve interpretation and distinguishing true product from primer-dimer
β’ Plate-level QC, run acceptance criteria and reporting for an accredited lab
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Covered Tool / Platform | RStudio |
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