Biotech Day Provides College Level Lab Experiences

SKANEATELES, NY (April 20, 2018) – A group of 30 students in AP Biology and Honors Biology at Skaneateles High School recently took part in Biotechnology Day, an in-school field trip in which students participated in a college level lab experience to gain awareness of DNA Biotechnologies being used today.

The DNA profiling lab that the group completed saw students act as scientists, performing a paternity test for one or two couples.  In order to do this, students performed Gel Electrophoresis, a method used to separate and analyze DNA according to its molecular size.

This procedure can take as many as six class periods to complete, with parts that are time sensitive, such as enzyme incubation time.

“Our goal was to provide students with an in-class field trip,” said Skaneateles High School Biology teacher, Rick Garrett.  “We had the students with us for the entire day, because this lab can take hours to perform, which means it cannot be done during a normal lab day.  It was an exciting opportunity for our students.”

Fellow Skaneateles High School science teacher, Maureen Collier, was also part of the lab experience.

“Having an in-school field trip allowed for us to have a true college level experience,” said Collier.  “We were able to use professional equipment, without being transported off of campus.”

The DNA Electrophoresis equipment used during the lab was provided by Cornell University due to a connection between Garrett and the Cornell Institute of Biology Teachers.

“Cornell allows teachers trained in using the equipment to borrow it and provide the expendable DNA samples and chemicals at no charge,” said Garrett.

In order to connect the lab work with current research in Biotechnology, Garrett and Collier invited two guest speakers from SUNY-ESF to present to students.

Skaneateles High School Alumni, Dr. Allison Oakes, and Vanessa Gravenstine discussed with students how DNA technologies are being used in everyday life, such as food production, as well as the numerous ecological applications including toxic spill cleanups and the restoration of the American Chestnut tree.

“We felt it was important to expose students to local and current research being done in the field of Biotechnology,” said Collier.  “Our guest speakers were able to discuss practices that are so new, they are not in our textbook.  As high school teachers, we look to prepare students for jobs that may not exist yet.  This is definitely the case when it comes to the field of Biotechnology.”

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