These Laboratory Investigations are designed for groups of students accompanied by their teacher and are targeted towards students in grades 9-12.

5 Medical Mystery: The Case of the Ailing Infant
Cost: $12.00 per student

A newborn infant is fighting for his life - how could his problem be diagnosed and treated? Students will take on the role of laboratory technicians as they perform different tests to diagnose what is actually a genetic disease. Students will learn about genetic testing and how changes in DNA lead to changes in the structure and function of proteins. Based on a real case, this unit provides a starting point for discussion on genetic diseases, genetic testing, gene therapy and bioethics.

Laboratory techniques include:
  • Differential diagnosis: Testing for ammonia, glucose and drugs
  • Paper chromatography
  • Use of restriction enzymes in analysis of DNA
  • Agarose gel electrophoresis

    • Learning Objectives & NYS Science Standards | Glossary of Terms |

    4

    		 Cholera: An Evolving Pathogen (New Class!)
    Cost: $12.00 per student

    In the 1830's Rochester, New York was the location of an outbreak of Asiatic Cholera, a disease that causes violent and often, in the absence of prompt treatment, fatal diarrhea. In the past 100 years, modern industrial nations have been free of cholera due to advanced water and sanitation systems. However, cholera continues to plague developing regions of Africa, Latin America and Asia. In the 1900's a new strain of cholera emerged, and persons who were exposed to cholera before and thought to be immune were again threatened by this new strain of bacteria. In this session, students engage in a case study that follows the emergence of this new strain of cholera, and the study of its evolution using microbiology and molecular genetic laboratory investigation. (Recommended for high school students only)

    Laboratory techniques include:
  • Examination of osmosis
  • Gram staining and microscopy
  • Simulated antibody agglutination assay
    •
  • Simulated DNA microarray

    Learning Objectives & NYS Science Standards | Glossary of Terms |
    		•
    Stem Cells: Delivering Us From Cancer? (New Class!)
    Cost: $12.00 per student

    Admist the controversy surrounding stem cells are scientific studies that examine the nature and potential of these special cells. While this session includes a discussion of stem cells, differentiating between adult versus embryonic stem cells, the bulk of this session engages students in a case study that describes the work of researchers studying how neural stem cells could be used to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs to brain tumors. Students design and carry out experiments to identify stem cells and test the affinity of stem cells for tumors. (No human cells are used). Students identify plant stem cells through plant tissue culture and use live roundworms to simulate chemotaxis of cells. Students will also carry out transformation of bacteria to understand how cells can be altered to produce chemicals. (Recommended for high school students only).

    Laboratory techniques include:
  • Experimental design, graphing and analysis of experimental results
  • Manipulation and observation of roundworms (C. elegans) in an experimental assay
  • Bacterial transformation

    • Learning Objectives & NYS Science Standards | Glossary of Terms

    2 DNA Fingerprinting
    Cost: $12.00 per student

    Only 0.1% of your DNA sequence is different from any random person you might meet today. How are those differences detected? Students will learn about the technology used to see those differences in the context of solving a mock crime.

    Laboratory techniques include:
  • Gel electrophoresis
  • Use of restriction enzymes in analysis of DNA
  • Identification based on DNA technology

    • Learning Objectives & NYS Science Standards | Glossary of Terms |
    1 Investigate your own DNA
    Cost: $15.00 per student

    Every student is familiar with the DNA found in the nucleus, but how many can say they understand the functions and uses of DNA found in the mitochondria? In an approach that integrates science and history, students will isolate their own mitochondrial DNA and learn how it is used for identification in times of war, tragedy and mysterious circumstances…

    Laboratory techniques include:
  • Isolation of student’s own mitochondrial DNA from cheek cells
  • Use of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to amplify a region of each student’s DNA
  • Gel electrophoresis


    • Learning Objectives & NYS Science Standards | Glossary of Terms |

    7

    		 Molecular Evolution
    Cost: $15.00 per student

    Scientists compare proteins across species to determine evolutionary relationships, develop novel drugs, and understand population dynamics. In this class, students will extract proteins from fish and mollusk muscle. Gel electrophoresis will be used to compare the relative similarities and differences between the proteins found in the different species. Information from the gels can then be used to estimate evolutionary relationships between these samples.

    Laboratory techniques include:
  • Extraction of protein from fish muscle
  • SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis (protein gels)

    • Learning Objectives & NYS Science Standards | Glossary of Terms |

    3 Genetic Engineering
    Cost: $12.00 per student

    Genetic Engineering describes the alteration of genetic material in a living organism. This procedure has many applications – from the design of gene therapy vectors to the production of proteins like insulin and growth hormones. In this session, students engage in a case study to learn how to engineer DNA to make a helpful strain of bacteria which is resistant to antibiotics.

    Laboratory techniques include:
  • Restriction enzyme digest
  • Gel electrophoresis
  • Ligation of DNA
  • Bacterial transformation

    • Learning Objectives & NYS Science Standards | Glossary of Terms |