WORKSHOP 1: CANCER RESEARCH
1/2 – CANCER: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COPY
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research centre whose aim is to improve people’s health. One of its lines of enquiry is cancer. In this video, you’ll understand what it is, why it’s considered a genetic disease, the importance of DNA, how cells replicate and what happens when they don’t do so properly and what you can do to prevent certain types of cancer. You’ll meet Cristina Muñoz-Pinedo, an IDIBELL researcher who specialises in cell metabolism and death, and Raul Zamora, a researcher of IDIBELL and the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) who is an expert on nutrition and cancer.
Furthermore, it’s important to remember that the purpose of basic research is to apply it to the hospital setting, which is known as translational medicine. This is why you’ll also get to know Elisenda Escriche, who got breast cancer six years ago. All content will be presented by Irene Lapuente, a disseminator of scientific information of La Mandarina de Newton, who will explain this knowledge through informative experiments that will help you understand what DNA is, what structure it has and how you can detect proteins or know which foods contain fat.
2/2 – NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO EXPERIMENT
EXPERIMENT 1: Let’s grow carrots using their meristematic cells.
What is needed?
• Carrots with leaves
• A knife
• A container
• Water
Approximate duration: One week
Approximate age: From 6 years old onwards
EXPERIMENT 2: The phenotypes
What is needed?
• Yarn of different colours
• A pair of scissors
• Colour coding according to the characteristic being studied
• As an option, they can be placed in a ball to simulate the cell nucleus
Approximate duration: 10 minutes
Approximate age: From 8 years old onwards
WORKSHOP 2: NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
1/2 – NEUROSCIENCE: LET’S LEARN ABOUT PARKINSON’S DISEASE
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research centre whose aim is to improve people’s health. One of its areas of research interest is neuroscience. Neuroscience studies the physiology of the nervous system to understand diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, as well as perception and cognition. In this video, you’ll understand what Parkinson’s disease is, what neutrotransmitters such as dopamine are, what role they play in Parkinson’s disease, how neurons communicate with each other, how you are able to interpret the world and learn, and how far the current treatments for Parkinson’s disease go. You’ll meet the researchers Antonella Consiglio, who specialises in stem cells and neurodegenerative disease, and Patrícia León, a PhD student from the Cognition and Neuroplasticity group. Furthermore, it’s important to remember that regenerative medicine studies pluripotent stem cells to better understand disease mechanisms. You’ll also get to know Xavier Reinoso, who’s had Parkinson’s disease for 20 years now. All content will be presented by Irene Lapuente, a disseminator of scientific information of La Mandarina de Newton, who will explain this knowledge through informative experiments that will help you understand what the brain is like, how the connections between neurons arise, how reliable feelings are, how far cognitive skills go with regard to language and what some of the effects of drugs available over-the-counter.
2/2 – NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO EXPERIMENT
EXPERIMENT 1: Protecting the brain: cerebrospinal fluid
What is needed?
• An egg
• A hard container that can be closed in which to place the egg.
• Water
Approximate duration: 7 minutes
Approximate age: From 6 years old onwards
EXPERIMENT 2: The senses: taste
What is needed?
• White coloured yoghurt of different flavours (ideally with their labels removed)
• Food colouring
• Spoons
Approximate duration: 10 minutes
Approximate age: From 6 years old onwards