Saturday DNA! Sessions

Water Bear, Water Bear, Wherefore Art Thou?

Join us to learn about tardigrades and their intriguing powers of survival!

Tardigrades, affectionately known as water bears, are microscopic creatures that can tolerate the hottest and coldest environments on Earth, and can even survive decades without water. They’ve even been to space! Come learn about the survival abilities of tardigrades, observe them using a microscope, and discuss why organizations such as NASA are studying them so closely.

In this session, participants will:

• Collect and observe tardigrades using stereomicroscopes;
• Discover the different species of tardigrades and learn how to find them in their natural habitat; and
• Investigate the survival abilities of tardigrades.

Sweet Genes: a Delicious Exploration of Population Genetics

Join us in Brooklyn for a unique day of science experiments good enough to eat! In this tasty journey through genetics, explore the real-world concepts that shape evolution, and even the emergence of new species! We will use M&M’s and gummy bears to investigate forces of evolution, and make gingerbread people to demonstrate heredity of genes and traits. All the candy and cookies can be taken home at the end of the day to enjoy!

In this session, participants will:

• simulate the forces of natural selection and genetic drift to see how they can influence evolution;
• understand the difference between genotype and phenotype;
• model heredity of dominant and recessive alleles; and
• track traits through multiple generations for an endangered (gummy) bear breeding program.

Enzymes in Action

Join us to explore enzyme function through observation and experimentation!

Students will begin by observing the reaction between an enzyme and its substrate, then experiment with variables to help to identify factors that universally affect the rate of enzymatic reactions. Next, they will see how our understanding of enzyme function has led to important advances in industry by using enzymes to catalyze the production of some common foods.

In this session, participants will:

• observe enzymes acting as catalysts of chemical reactions;
• discuss the relationship between structure and function of enzymes and their substrates;
• discover factors that can affect enzyme function; and
• perform enzymatic reactions used in food production.

 

For drop off, parents/guardians can park curbside, and escort their children inside for check-in. For pick-up, parents/guardians can also park curbside and wait in the Regeneron DNALC lobby for dismissal.

Bacteriophages and Food: Fighting Bacteria from Farm to Table

Join us to learn about phages, nature's bacteria fighter, and how they can help keep food safe!

Imagine a Thanksgiving dinner where science helps keep your favorite dishes safe! Bacteriophages, or phages, are nature’s own bacterial assassins, taking down harmful bugs like Salmonella before they can ruin your turkey, mashed potatoes, or veggies. These tiny viruses could soon be working behind the scenes, ensuring your food is safe. It’s a fascinating tool in food safety that could make every bite of your feast even better. Join us to explore how simple viruses can be used to solve big problems.

In this session, participants will:

• Learn about the history of phage research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory;
• Investigate the phage infection cycle;
• Infect harmless bacteria with phage, and observe the deadly result; and
• Create virus-inspired art.

From Genes to Proteins, How Our DNA Makes Us Unique

You may have heard that DNA acts as the “brain” of the cell, but what is all of that brainpower used for? At this event, we will create DNA, RNA, and protein models to visualize how our genetic code makes up our unique traits, paying special attention to how these molecules move across different parts of the cell. Following model creation, we will observe specific traits by looking at fruit flies with various mutations under a microscope!

In this session, participants will:

• Learn about the central dogma, the backbone of biology;
• Build DNA, RNA, and protein models to track the movement of the genetic code; and
• Observe different mutations in fruit flies under a stereomicroscope.

Got Lactase?

Join us to better understand the very interesting story of how milk has affected human evolution!

Over 60% of humans worldwide are lactose intolerant. In humans, lactose intolerance is considered an ancestral trait because mammals usually stop producing the digestive enzyme after weaning off their mothers’ milk. Does this happen in humans too? Why, then, are some humans able to continue drinking milk after infancy? Join us to better understand the very interesting story of how a combination of genetics and culture has affected our evolution.

In this session, participants will:

• Discuss the details of lactose intolerance, and how it affects different populations;
• Use enzymes to digest lactose; and
• Investigate the lactose levels of different dairy products.

Ages 10-13, one adult chaperone required. Chaperones must purchase a ticket and fully participate in all program activities.