On 14 January 2026, the Department of Reproductive Biotechnology and Cryoconservation of the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Balice held the first classes of the 2026 practical workshop season, attended by students from the Agricultural Education Centre School Complex in Nowosielce. The aim of the meeting was to familiarize participants with modern biotechnological techniques used in research practice.
The workshops were entirely practical and were divided into two thematic blocks, during which participants performed laboratory tasks independently under the supervision of experienced researchers.
The first block, entitled “How much protein is in the sample? Determining protein levels using the Bradford method in laboratory practice”, was devoted to protein analysis. The students determined protein concentration using the Bradford method and then learned the basics of preparing samples for electrophoresis. The use of the Western blot method, including protein visualization using chemiluminescence, was also discussed.
The second block concerned the application of biotechnological techniques in animal reproduction, using the example of boar and bull semen. In this part of the workshop, students learned about methods of semen quality assessment using the CASA system, performed morphological preparations, and prepared samples for analysis.
Particular attention was paid to the cryopreservation process – from preparing diluents, through packaging biological material in straws using a modern freezing line, to freezing in a freezer and banking samples in liquid nitrogen.
The classes were conducted in an atmosphere of great commitment and scientific curiosity. The students demonstrated precision, independence, and genuine interest in laboratory work, which perfectly illustrates the importance of combining theory with practice already at the stage of school education.
