Science Learning

2025 Science Program Lead

🧑‍💻 Natalie Xie (Prospect High School)

Science Program at Prep and Beyond

Our science program immerses students in hands-on exploration across diverse scientific fields, building a strong foundation in inquiry, experimentation, and critical thinking. Through engaging lessons, real world applications, and interactive activities, students uncover how scientific ideas are developed, tested, and put into practice. Collaboration with peers, the use of authentic tools and techniques, and a focus on creativity and curiosity prepare them not only to understand the world but to help shape it.

Genomics Lecture

This lecture introduced the foundational concepts of genetics and genomics, beginning with the four fundamental bases of life: A, C, G, and T. Students explored how much of our genome is shared with other organisms, highlighting our biological connections to species like flies, fish, and primates. The session also examined alcohol metabolism and how enzyme efficiency affects tolerance. Key topics included DNA structure, nucleosome organization, and the central dogma, how DNA becomes RNA and then protein. Students were introduced to modern medical advances like prenatal genetic testing, as well as bioinformatics workflows and major genetic engineering technologies such as CRISPR, emphasizing their growing importance in research and personalized medicine today.

Experiment

In the lab portion, students extracted their DNA from their own saliva by swishing a sports drink in their mouth and then rupturing the membranes of their cells with a detergent-based lysis solution, to form dissolved membranes, cellular proteins, and DNA, known as the cell lysate. They added ethanol to precipitate out the DNA, which is made possible by the salts in the sports drink. The then transferred their precipitated DNA into a pendant tube and added a colored thread.

DNA Analysis

Students learned how to interpret DNA gel electrophoresis results by matching DNA samples to target individuals. They developed an understanding of how DNA fragments are separated and visualized, and how this method is applied in forensic identification.

Page updated

Report abuse