We love to teach members of our community about science! It would be our pleasure to work with you to create a classroom or group activity to learn all about the scientific method, biological molecules, or molecular techniques. We're even available to bring our science to you.
Just a Few Ideas to Bring Molecular Biology to your Group or Class
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The Scientific Method
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What Color Next?
Learn about the scientific method and statistics using a bag of multi-colored chocolate candies. Students will gather information about the average number of each color candy in a bag and then make and test hypotheses about what color they expect will be drawn from a bag of unknowns. They will then compare their data to the expected results using the same statistical methods as our scientists.
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 6+-
Color Mixing
Learn about the scientific method using a bag of multi-colored fruit candies. Participants will make and test hypotheses about what will happen when the colors from several candies are mixed. It's rare for a participant to expect the results, so this project is excellent for teaching about test-refine-retest nature of scientific discovery. Older participants will learn literature research methods to reveal the underlying science.
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 6+
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DNA Structure
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Delicious DNA Extractions
Participants will isolate DNA from produce- strawberries, bananas, onions, and more while learning about cellular and nucleic acid structure.
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 6+-
Edible DNA Models
Hear the exciting story of how the structure of DNA was discovered and make a tasty model of the famous double helix using candy (we love candy).
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 6+-
Genes in a Bottle
Isolate your own DNA from cells on the inside of your cheek and show them off in a wearable momento.
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 8+
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Central Dogma
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Make a Secret Message Bracelet or Key Chain
Learn how the genetic information encoded in the As, Ts, C, and Gs of our DNA gets turned into the proteins that make us who we are. Choose a secret message and assemble a bracelet or key chain with a code that only a molecular biologist can crack.
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 8+-
Lost in Translation
See how a few typos in the genetic code can make a big impact. Decode directions to make a bee from pipe cleaners and compare your new pollinator friend to others in your group. Find the mutation that led to each difference.
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 12+-
Glow Bugs
Use advanced molecular biology techniques to make E. coli glow in the dark using a gene from the bioluminescent jellyfish Aequorea victoria.
Time: Two 1 hour sessions on consecutive days
Ages: 12+
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Genetics
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Punnett Squares
Gregor Mendel recognized mathematical patterns in the characteristics of his garden peas from one generation to the next. He grew over 10,000 plants in the course of eight years as he used these patterns to formulate his three laws of heredity. Learn more about his laws of segregation, independent assortment, and dominance as you solve the puzzle of genetic inheritance.
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 12+-
Whodunit?
Put on your detective hat and solve a crime using DNA fingerprinting, a forensics technique that generates evidence admissable in real court cases. Our most popular case is "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" (Yes, we have a sweet tooth!)
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 12+-
Out of the Blue
Use real CRISPR gene editing technology to disrupt the lacZ gene in E.coli and visualize the phenotypic results.
Time: Three 90 minute sessions or five 1 hour sessions on consecutive days
Ages: 14+-
Science of Opioid Dependence
Play doctor as you explore the links between opioid dependence, genetic predisposition, the neurobiology of reward pathways, and environmental factors.
Time: Two to five 1 hour sessions on consecutive days
Ages: 14+
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Molecular Techniques
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Pipetting Practice
Try your hand at one of the lab techniques we use daily while developing your understanding of metric conversions and decimals. Compete to see if you can pipet with greater accuracy or precision than the pros (we'll use statistics to find out!)
Time: 1 hour+
Ages: 8+-
Gel Electrophoresis
Separate the colors hidden within food dyes in this assay that we use to separate DNA fragments.
Time: 1 hour
Ages: 8+
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Ask a Scientist
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Real Live Scientists
Yes, we are real live scientists! With puppies, chocolate addictions, and a love for sharing our scientific expertise. We even love it when we don't know the answers and get to learn new things with you. Contact us to set up an in-person or virtual event in which participants can ask us anything about molecular biology, medical research, or the life of a scientist. If we don't know the answers, we'll show you how the experts find out.
Time: Any
Ages: All-
Quick Question
Did a documentary on NetFlix leave you wanting to know more? Was something on the news confusing? Email us your questions. We'll reply with easy to understand answers and links to the real data behind them.
Time: Any
Ages: All-
Write Us
Everyone loves to get mail, so long as its not a bill! Practice your penmanship and get handwritten responses from our personnel. Letters from us may even include special goodies depending on availability. Upon request, we can match participants with a scientist pen pal!
Time: Any
Ages: All
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