DNA Isolation in Grade 8

Our eighth graders are well into their DNA study unit through Saint David's partnership with the DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Yesterday, Mrs. Lee of the DNALC was at Saint David's, leading the boys in a lab on DNA isolation. They used pipetters, highly precise tools that measure and transfer tiny quantities of liquids, and learned how to load and run a small centrifuge, and about Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)--the method used to amplify DNA segments.

In the coming weeks, the boys will work in groups on a DNA research topic of their choice, posing a question that can be answered through DNA barcoding.

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