Creative Education, 2015, 6, 762-772 Published Online May 2015 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ce http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ce.2015.68079 How to cite this paper: Lázaro-Silva, D. N., De Mattos, J. C. P., Castro, H. C., Alves, G. G., & Amorim, L. M. F. (2015). The Use of DNA Extraction for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Training: A Practical and Alternative Approach. Creative Educa- tion, 6, 762-772. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ce.2015.68079 The Use of DNA Extraction for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Training: A Practical and Alternative Approach D. N. Lázaro-Silva 1 , J. C. P. De Mattos 2 , Helena C. Castro 1 , G. G. Alves 1 , L. M. F. Amorim 1* 1 Post-Graduation Program of Science and Biotechnology, Biology Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil 2 Biophysics and Biometry Departament, Roberto Alcantara Gomes Biolology Institute, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Email: * amorim@vm.uff.br Received 27 October 2014; accepted 17 May 2015; published 21 May 2015 Copyright © 2015 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Abstract DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction are molecular biology techniques widely used in research, diagnostics and biotechnology industry. In this work, we report a practical course de- signed for undergraduate students of health, biological sciences and biotechnology areas. The course is five days long and emphasizes basic procedures in practical activities. The students were challenged to use three different protocols for DNA isolation (one using commercial silica column and two, in-house) using no lab animals but themselves. They evaluated the DNA yield, and poten- tial amplification of the extracted DNA by PCR using their own cells genetic material. Students were stimulated to adopt a critical view during the course to develop skills including critical anal- ysis of primary results and possible errors, scientific report writing and a problem solving profile. Keywords Molecular Biology, Practical Course, DNA Extraction, Whole Blood, Polymerase Chain Reaction 1. Introduction Biological Sciences and Biotechnology are inherently complex and highly abstract. Therefore, professionals of health and biological sciences and biotechnology are challenged with techniques such blood collection and ex- traction of DNA, evaluation by spectrophotometry and agarose gel electrophoresis as well as polymerase chain * Corresponding author.