Summer SAVY 2017, Session 1/Day 2-Bioengineering (Rising 2nd/3rd)

Posted by delislss on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 in SAVY.

Students were introduced to the many different components of bioengineering with a specific focus on cells today. Using the engineering design process, students asked the right questions to design a protocol for extracting their DNA. Using detergent to get thru the membrane and ethanol to precipitate the DNA, we found that with enough cells you can see DNA!

We then discussed how difficult and time consuming it would be if people had to extract DNA from hand if there were thousands of samples. This is exactly what happens on the other side of Vanderbilt at the Vanderbilt Technology for Advanced Genomics which students visited today. This unique resource allows Vanderbilt researchers access to one of the largest repositories of its kind to conduct genetic studies of human disease and drug response. Students saw million dollar technology designed by engineers at work extracting DNA from patient blood and spit. See you tomorrow when we explore the role engineers play in helping people hear!

Dr. Zeiger