Saturday DNA! Sessions

Plasmid Manipulation

Join us to learn how to construct and create plasmids!

Plasmids are small pieces of bacterial DNA containing specialized genes that can help bacteria survive in adverse conditions. With molecular scissors called restriction enzymes, scientists can create synthetic plasmids that are used to genetically engineer bacteria to make human proteins such as insulin. Join us to explore how scientists cut and paste DNA molecules to create custom plasmids.

In this session, participants will:

• use restriction enzymes to digest plasmids;
• analyze plasmid restriction maps to predict the digestion results; and
• visualize the results through gel electrophoresis.

A Day in the Life of the Iceman

Join us to learn about the mysterious Iceman and what his mummy can tell us about life in the Copper Age!

Five thousand years ago a man – now known as Ötzi the Iceman – lost his life on an alpine glacier near the border between Italy and Austria. Against all odds, his body and many of the items he carried were well preserved. In 1991, he was discovered by hikers and since then scientists have been using modern technology and analyses to uncover his secrets. Come join us to help unravel some of the Iceman’s deepest mysteries.

In this activity, participants will:

• investigate the scene of the Iceman’s discovery and what some of the items found with his body tell us about his life;
• use microscopes to determine what types of animals were used to create his “wardrobe” and some of his tools; and
• explore our exhibit and see the first full-size replica of the Iceman’s mummy, and his artifacts.

Dust Away Crime

Join us to learn about the fascinating field of fingerprints!

For over a century, fingerprints have been used in criminal investigations. Because an individual’s fingerprints are unique, they can be used to link a suspect to a crime. Join us to learn about the many ways criminologists use fingerprints and try some modern techniques for fingerprint collection and analysis.

In this session, participants will:

• analyze your own unique fingerprints;
• learn how to dust for prints; and
• attempt to match “suspect” prints to “evidence.”

Mendelian Critters: Inheritance of Traits

Join us to learn about inheritance and build your own creature showcasing traits!

Have you ever wondered how you inherited traits like your eye color, height, or love of certain foods? It’s all coded in your genes! In this session, we will learn about an early scientific discovery that led to our understanding of how traits are passed down from our biological parents and why we don’t look exactly like our parents or siblings. We will then apply these laws of heredity to create fictitious creatures and predict what the next generation will look like.

In this session, participants will:

• learn how traits are passed down and talk about Gregor Mendel’s scientific discoveries;
• use Punnett Squares to predict how traits are passed from parents to offspring, then build the resulting offspring; and
• explore heredity by observing some of their own physical characteristics.

*Scholarships are available for students with a financial need. To request a scholarship, please email dnalc@cshl.edu with the student’s name and which session they would like to attend.

Pollen Tells a Story

Join us to learn how pollen might provide clues to one of history's oldest mysteries!

Discovered in the Italian Alps in 1991, the 5300-year-old mummy nicknamed Ötzi the Iceman has become an important source of information about the Neolithic. Still, there are many unanswered questions about his life and death. Join us to discover how pollen in Ötzi’s digestive system was used as a forensic tool to create a timeline of where he may have been in the final 36 hours before his untimely demise.

In this session, participants will:

• learn how to use a compound microscope;
• explore how pollen can be used to track an individual’s location;
• discuss theories about Ötzi’s untimely death; and
• view the DNALC Otzi exhibition, including replicas of the mummy and his belongings.

*Scholarships are available for students with a financial need. To request a scholarship, please email dnalc@cshl.edu with the student’s name and which session they would like to attend.

A Royal Ruse

Join us to solve one of history's most notorious mysteries!

During the Russian Revolution of 1917 the royal family went missing. It was determined that the family was likely murdered, yet in 1920 a mysterious woman resurfaced in Germany and claimed to be the missing Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. Learn about this very interesting time in Russian history and use computers to see how modern science was used to solve the mystery of Anastasia!

Participants will:

• learn the story of the Romanovs and their disappearance in 1917;
• collect and interpret forensic evidence;
• perform DNA comparisons to identify important people; and
• use evidence to support a claim and solve the mystery.