School Break Bio! Sessions
Looking for something fun to do over spring break? Join us for a two-hour lab (or more) and add some DNA to your day!
- Adult chaperones are NOT required for these sessions. Programs will begin promptly at 10:00 am, and end at 12:00 pm. Please be on time for drop off and pick up.
- 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 DNALC auditorium for dismissal.
- All seats in every session must be reserved using Eventbrite . We do not accept walk-ins.
- Two-hour sessions are $25.00 per person plus Eventbrite registration fee.
- All sessions are held at Dolan DNA Learning Center, 34 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
- 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.
Filter by:
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Tuesday, April 23, 2024 (10 am–12 pm)
Cold Spring Harbor Age 10–13Ötzi the Iceman–An Ancient Forensics Investigation
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Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (10:00 am–12 pm)
Cold Spring Harbor Age 10–13The Mystery of Anastasia
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Thursday, April 25, 2024 (10:00 am–12 pm)
Cold Spring Harbor Age 10–13DNA Fingerprint
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Friday, April 26, 2024 (10:00 am–12 pm)
Cold Spring Harbor Age 10–13Enzymes in Industry
New Saturday DNA! sessions also available. Learn More
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Ötzi the Iceman–An Ancient Forensics Investigation
In-person in Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Dolan DNA Learning Center
Ages 10–13
Discovered in the Italian Alps in 1991, the 5,300-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. Learn how scientists analyze materials to understand ancient life and then use these techniques to examine Ötzi the Iceman. First, students will perform analysis of the materials sourced for his Neolithic wardrobe, then they will examine the pollen found in Ötzi’s gut to track where he may have been in the final 36 hours before his untimely demise.
Students will:
- learn how to use a compound microscope;
- use pollen observations to estimate Ötzi’s movement in the days before he died;
- view and identify hair types found on some of Ötzi’s clothes and gear; and
- interpret class data to draw conclusions about the origin of Ötzi’s clothing.
Details:
- Tuesday, April 23, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for ages 10–13
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- Dolan DNA Learning Center
334 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 - Directions
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
The Mystery of Anastasia
In-person in Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Dolan DNA Learning Center
Ages 10–13
During the Russian Revolution of 1917 the last royal family of Russia—the Romanovs—went missing. It was determined that 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. Use computers to see how modern science was used to solve the mystery of Anastasia, then perform a DNA extraction in the lab!
Students will:
- learn the story of the Romanovs and their disappearance in 1917;
- collect and interpret forensic evidence;
- use DNA sequence comparisons to identify people; and
- perform a DNA extraction.
Details:
- Wednesday, April 24, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for ages 10–13
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- Dolan DNA Learning Center
334 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 - Directions
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Forensic DNA Fingerprint
In-person in Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Dolan DNA Learning Center
Ages 10–13
Human DNA is more alike than different, so how do we find the differences? Restriction enzymes are proteins that recognize specific DNA sequences and can be used to determine whether a particular DNA sequence is present. In this lab, DNA from a “crime scene” will be compared using restriction enzyme digest and agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA analysis will then be combined with crime scene data and testimonies to make a case.
Students will:
- learn about restriction enzymes;
- use agarose gel electrophoresis to produce a DNA fingerprint;
- compare DNA fingerprints from multiple pieces of "evidence" with "suspects"; and
- determine who left their DNA at the crime scene!
Details:
- Thursday, April 25, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for ages 10–13
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- Dolan DNA Learning Center
334 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 - Directions
Friday, April 26, 2024
Enzymes in Industry
In-person in Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Dolan DNA Learning Center
Ages 10–13
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.
Students 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.
Details:
- Friday, April 26, 2024
- 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Appropriate for ages 10–13
- $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
- Dolan DNA Learning Center
334 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 - Directions