Saturday DNA! Sessions

Agar Art

In this hands-on workshop, participants will create unique “paintings” with harmless microbes that express colorful proteins as pigment.

Traditional laboratory techniques utilized by scientists to study the world on both a macroscopic and microscopic scale can also be used to create unique works of art. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn multiple techniques to create unique “paintings” with harmless microbes that express colorful proteins as pigment. A link will be sent to all participants the week after class with their artistic results.

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) hosts an annual Agar Art contest. The theme this year is “What Brings You Joy”. If you want to enter the agar art contest, we recommend bringing pictures or drawings to use as a guide.

In this session, participants will:

• learn how bacteria can be engineered to produce different fluorescent proteins;
• create Agar Art using genetically engineered bacteria; and
• have the chance to submit art to the ASM Agar Art contest.

Adults and students ages 10 and up; under 13 years chaperone required. Chaperones purchase tickets and fully participate in all program activities.

Halloween at the DNA Learning Center

Join us to do hands-on science experiments with a Halloween theme. Costumes are welcome!

In our first experiment, we will be learning all about DNA. What is DNA and where is it stored? How does it function in our cells? Then, we will extract DNA from pumpkins.

In our second experiment, we will be learning about bacteria. What are bacteria? How can they be genetically modified? In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn multiple techniques to create unique “paintings” with harmless microbes that express colorful proteins as pigment. A link will be sent to all participants the week after class with their artistic results.

In this session, participants will:

• Learn about DNA and how it functions;
• Extract DNA from pumpkins;
• Learn how bacteria can be engineered to produce different fluorescent proteins; and
• Create agar art using genetically engineered bacteria

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.

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.