Around 50 advanced biology students from Assif Misgav School visited the faculty for an inspiring day packed with science!
📚 We started with a lecture by Prof. Oded Béjà
Prof. Béjà introduced the students to the fascinating world of environmental genomics (Metagenomics), a field that studies how microorganisms’ function in their natural environments – including those that cannot be cultivated in the lab. His research opens a window into a deeper understanding of ecology and the biochemical properties of organisms. Excitingly, Prof. Béjà was recently elected to the prestigious EMBO organization, which includes leading scientists from 30 countries, among them Nobel laureates. A source of great pride!
🔬 In Dr. Noga Ron-Harel’s lab
The students participated in an engaging tour led by the brilliant Dr. Orna Atar, the lab manager. They learned about how our immune system works, ways to enhance its function as we age, and how to better address autoimmune diseases.
🤖 In Dr. Assaf Bester’s lab
Students explored molecular biology experiments with cutting-edge robots. Tahalil, a PhD student in the lab, demonstrated how technology and science come together in daily research. They also discovered the hidden world of non-coding DNA – the 98% of our genome that, while previously overlooked, holds crucial information for understanding complex biological processes and developing groundbreaking treatments.
🌊 At the Structural Biology Center with Dr. Yael Paz at Nehar
The students delved into the 3D world of proteins, learning how to crystallize proteins using robots, observe lysozyme crystals under a microscope, and freeze them in liquid nitrogen. They followed the journey of these crystals from the Technion to the particle accelerator and back, where electron density maps reveal protein structures. These insights not only help us understand protein function but also aid in designing new drugs.
Thank you to all the staff who made this day unforgettable and to the students for their curiosity and excellent questions!
#Technion #ScienceInAction #Education #Biology
