Saturday DNA! Sessions
Add some DNA to your day!
Join us for exciting new Saturday DNA! sessions!
Eventbrite is used for registration and payment.
- All seats in every session must be reserved using Eventbrite. We do not accept walk-ins.
- Sessions are $25.00 per person, per session plus Eventbrite registration fee.
- All sessions are two hours long: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. OR 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
- The sessions are held at Cold Spring Harbor, Brooklyn, Sleepy Hollow, and our new location in Passaic County, New Jersey. Please check the location when registering for sessions.
- Dolan DNA Learning Center at 334 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
- DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech at 62 Tillary Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
- Regeneron DNA Learning Center at 1 Rockwood Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
- DNA Learning Center at Passaic County Biotechnology Innovation Center, 45 Reinhardt Road, Wayne, NJ 07470
- The name and email address of each ticket purchaser must be included on your Eventbrite registration. We will not honor reservations that fail to provide this information. If you do not provide this information, your reservation will be cancelled and your registration fee will be refunded.
- Seats for each session are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
- A chaperone 18 or older required for students under 15. Chaperones must purchase tickets and fully participate in all activities.
- Face masks are optional.
Saturday, October 5, 2024
in Brooklyn
The Magic Of Microscopes
DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech
Brooklyn, NY
Ages 10–14
Do you want to learn about the different kingdoms of life, up close? Join us to look at live cells under the microscope! We’ll look at cells from our own body, the food we eat, and the city’s waterways.
In this activity you will:
- Learn how to make slides with your own cheek cells and plant cells;
- Stain the cells to visualize under a microscope;
- Look at living organisms from the East River or Prospect Park Lake; and
- Perform a staining protocol to visualize bacteria that live on or around us.
Details:
- Saturday, October 5, 2024
- 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for ages 10–14
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech
62 Tillary St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 - Directions
Saturday, October 5, 2024
in Sleepy Hollow
Agar Art
Regeneron DNA Learning Center
Sleepy Hollow, NY
Ages 10-adult, under 13 years chaperone required
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.
Details:
- Saturday, October 5, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for adults and students ages 10 and up
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- Regeneron DNALC
1 Rockwood Road Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 - Directions
Saturday, October 19, 2024
at Cold Spring Harbor
Owl-leen
Dolan DNA Learning Center
Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Ages 12–adult
Fly into the Halloween season and enjoy live owls at DNALC!
Long Island is home to a variety of these nocturnal predators. Come learn about the interesting genes that allow owls to function. From research to ecosystem management, these owls assist us in many ways.
NOTE: An additional $12.50 will be applied to this program as a donation to Sweetbriar Nature Center.
In this session, participants will:
- Meet some owls from Sweetbriar Nature Center!
- Dissect an owl pellet and examine the bones inside;
- ID contents of owl pellet with DNA Barcoding;
- Discuss owl genomics; and
- Discuss the importance of biodiversity & conservation.
Details:
- Saturday, October 19, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for ages 12–adult
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
An additional $12.50 will be applied to this program as a donation to Sweetbriar Nature Center. - Dolan DNA Learning Center
334 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 - Directions
Saturday, October 26, 2024
in Brooklyn
Halloween at the DNA Learning Center
DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech
Brooklyn, NY
Ages 10–14
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
Details:
- Saturday, October 26, 2024
- 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for students ages 12–adult
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech
62 Tillary St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 - Directions
Saturday, October 26, 2024
in Passaic
DNA Detectives
DNA Learning Center at Passaic County Biotechnology Innovation Center
Wayne, NJ
Ages 10-13, no adult chaperone required.
Join us to solve a mysterious crime using DNA from crime scene evidence and our suspects!
Since the 1980s DNA Fingerprinting has been used in forensic science to help solve crimes. This activity introduces DNA analysis through DNA digestion with restriction enzymes and agarose gel electrophoresis. Join us to solve a mysterious crime using DNA from crime scene evidence and our suspects!
In this session, participants will:
- discuss the structure of DNA and how ours is unique;
- learn the numerous applications of DNA Fingerprinting; and
- use gel electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments and analyze results.
Details:
- Saturday, October 26, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for students ages 10–13
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- DNA Learning Center at Passaic County Biotechnology Innovation Center
45 Reinhardt Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 - Directions
Saturday, November 16, 2024
in Brooklyn
From Genes to Proteins, How Our DNA Makes Us Unique
DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech
Brooklyn, NY
Ages 10–14
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.
Details:
- Saturday, November 16, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for students ages 10–14
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech
62 Tillary St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 - Directions
Saturday, November 16, 2024
in Passaic
Got Lactase?
DNA Learning Center at Passaic County Biotechnology Innovation Center
Wayne, NJ
Ages 10-13, one adult chaperone required
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.
Details:
- Saturday, November 16, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for students ages 10–13
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- DNA Learning Center at Passaic County Biotechnology Innovation Center
45 Reinhardt Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 - Directions
Saturday, December 7, 2024
in Sleepy Hollow
Enzymes in Action
Regeneron DNA Learning Center
Sleepy Hollow, NY
Ages 10-13, no adult chaperone required
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.
Details:
- Saturday, December 7, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for ages 10–13
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- Regeneron DNALC
1 Rockwood Road Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 - Directions