Last month our Y10 enjoyed the field trip to the micro-biological laboratory and conducted laboratory works on DNA restriction and transformation as part of their Biology curriculum.
The class has been learning about the cell's structure and functions, specifically about properties of DNA. The experiments, which our students fulfilled, aimed to demonstrate that DNA can be manipulated. Students used restriction enzymes, the scissors of molecular biologists, to cut DNA from the bacteriophage lambda. They analyzed the resulting DNA fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis.
Our Y10 students were absolutely fascinated by this opportunity to experience a cutting-edge practice inspired by techniques and tools in use by research scientists in the most advanced laboratories.
Here is what our students say:
Andrè K.: During the lab, we discovered how to compare the different DNA strands. We gained the knowledge of the ways that the cell must be broken up and separated to reach the important parts of the inside of the nucleus (the DNA). I really enjoyed this lab and felt that it supplemented our classroom lesson and explored deeper into our DNA learning. Some things you can only ever learn from experience!