Habilitation lecture of dr. Mojca Milavec
Published: 30. apr. 2020
We would like to invite you to the habilitation lecture of dr. Mojca Milavec (National institute of biology) on Wednesday, 6 May 2020, at 12 PM. You can view the lecture entitled Metrology for support of nucleic acid analysis in health and food safety live via the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82583145860.
Abstract
Nucleic acid (NA) analysis represents one of the key measurements in various areas of basic life sciences including cell biology, genetics, microbiology, and molecular biology, as well as in biotechnology, medicine, veterinary medicine, food safety, and environmental monitoring. NA analysis enables detection, identification and quantification of NA from different organisms in diverse backgrounds. Accurate, precise and comparable measurements of NA are crucial for providing reliable results not only in basic research, but also to support decision makers such as doctors, inspectors and competent authorities. In a biological measurement context NA analysis includes, but is not limited to, analysis of chromosomes, DNA, RNA, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, modified DNA (e.g. DNA methylation and other epigenetic modifications), mRNA, and miRNA (and other short non-coding RNAs). Until now quantification of DNA and RNA, absolute copy number concentration (e.g. viral count) and ratios (e.g. % of genetically modified organism and mutation/wild type), have been the most studied type of analysis. However, in many areas comparability of NA quantification results is unsatisfactory among laboratories. One of the main reasons is the absence of reference materials and reference measurement procedures. Many efforts have been devoted to investigation of NA quantification methods to understand the sources of variability and measurement uncertainty and to assess their potential as reference measurement procedures and procedures for value assignment of reference materials. Examples of national and international research for support of NA measurements in different areas such as infectious diseases, precision medicine and food safety will be presented.