Summer SAVY 2018: Session 1, Day 2 – Dabbling with DNA, Dr. O (Rising 3rd and 4th)
Hello parents and students!
We had a great second day here at SAVY!
We started where we left off, talking about the micro world, cells, and organelles. Students got to use petri plates full of agar (bacteria food) and swabbed everything in our classroom. Hopefully these little guys “bacteria” will grow by tomorrow and we can see what’s all around us!
Today our talks were centered around DNA. We learned what it is (The slinky/pipe cleaner models….slinky is the DNA backbone and pipe cleaners are the DNA base pairs), where we can find it, and how do scientists extract it. We discussed that A pairs with T and C pairs with G, and if not a mutation can happen that may lead to a wrong protein being made!
Everyone should know what central dogma means…ask your students! (they better not say catma!) HINT: DNA to RNA to PROTEIN
We also looked at 3 more physical traits, hair color, eye color, and freckles. Students added to their graph making skills and hopefully by the end of the week they can take all their hard work home!
Finally we extracted DNA from wheat germ and students were able to take it home in their little test tubes. The white floaty stuff is the DNA. It floats because we added ethanol and DNA does not dissolve in ethanol. If students want to keep this they can store it in the freezer!
See our class activity photos below!
Have a wonderful evening,
See everyone tomorrow!
Dr. O
