DNA Exploration

In this lab, students will explore the role and function of DNA in living organisms. Following an introduction to DNA, students will have an opportunity to extract DNA from several different samples. They will be challenged to come with a testable hypothesis about whether a particular sample will or will not contain DNA. They will then conduct an experiment to test their hypothesis and interpret their results. As an extension activity, students will have an opportunity to perform DNA gel electrophoresis to visualize DNA fragments. For a list of the CLG's covered in this lab, click here. Middle school VSC standards coming soon! Grades 6- 12.

• Student Lab

DNA Extraction

• Student Lab

Crucial Concentration

In this lab, students will use the Lowry Assay to determine the concentration of protein in different sports drinks. A spectrophotometer will be used to generate a standard curve that students will then compare to their unknown sport drinks' protein concentration. This is a great activity to incorporate graphing skills into real world science. For a list of the CLG's covered in this lab, click here. Middle school VSC standards coming soon! Grades 8 - 12.

Mystery of the Crooked Cell

In this lab, students will investigate the ways in which biotechnology is used to diagnose disease, specifically sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease that affects the hemoglobin molecule in red blood cells. Using gel electrophoresis, students will determine whether a fictitious patient carries the gene that causes sickle cell anemia. Students will learn how sickle cell anemia is inherited as well as explore the evolution of this disease and its connection to the parasite that causes malaria. For a list of the CLG's covered in this lab, click here. Middle school VSC standards coming soon! Grades 6 - 12.

• Student Lab

Enzyme Function Lab

Students will explore and investigate the specificity of enzymes. They will act as technicians in a biotechnology industry lab that is developing a product for lactose intolerance. They will perform tests on the newly developed lactase enzyme for effectiveness on its substrate while changing the pH and temperature of its environment. Discover what you know about enzymes used in everyday products and how enzymes are used in biotechnology research. For a list of the CLG's covered in this lab, click here. Middle school VSC standards coming soon! Grades 7 -12.

• Student Lab

Natural Products

In this lab, students are introduced to biotechnology through the use of natural products. Natural products, produced from animal or plant extracts, have been used by humans for thousand of years. Students will investigate anti-microbial properties of different plants on bioluminescent bacteria. With the guidance of the SciTech staff, students will experience the process of identifying a problem, scientifically testing a hypothesis and interpreting the results of that experiment. For a list of high school CLG's, click here. Middle school VSC standards coming soon. Grades 6 - 12.

• Student Lab

Wildlife Forensics

In this lab, students will use act as wildlife forensic scientists, testing whether tissue confiscated by U.S. Customs officials comes from a protected species, the great white shark or another species of shark which is legal to possess. Using DNA gel electrophoresis, students will visualize and analyze the resulting banding pattern on an agarose gel. They will be challenged to interpret their results and provide a report to the Customs officials on the identity of the confiscated samples. This activity introduces students to one of the most powerful tools in DNA analysis, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and challenges them to identify similarities or differences among DNA molecules. For a list of the CLG's covered in this lab, click here. Middle school VSC standards coming soon! Grades9 - 12.

• Student Lab

Crazy about Chitosan

Coming soon...