Help me give my students biotechnology equipment including a thermal cycler for PCR, an incubator, water bath, micropipettors, and gel electrophoresis supplies.
Our school is a young charter school that emphasizes authentic, hands on learning. My Scientific Research Methods class, is populated by 8 highly inquisitive, creative student scientists that have come up with independent research projects. While, I have extensive molecular biology and biochemistry laboratory experience, our school lab lacks the basic equipment needed to support their projects. Specifically, several students are interested in exploring CRISPR as a means to modify soybeans to increase food stability. Other students are interested in studying Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) which is related to Parkinson's Disease. For both these innovative projects, and others, my students need basic lab equipment including an incubator, a thermocycler, gel electrophoresis apparatus, micropipettes, a microcentrifuge, a vortex and a water bath. Not only will this small class benefit, but students in biology, environmental science, and Science Olympiad courses will make use of this equipment this year and for years to come.
"We are pretty great, and you should fund this project because some day we will be discovering your next pandemic solutions" -10th grade student wishing to study CRISPR.
My Project
Every student in my Scientific Research Methods class will conduct a preliminary project using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and CRISPR in order to learn basic molecular biological techniques. Then, individual students will use the lab equipment to conduct their independently designed projects using bacteria, CRISPR, gel electrophoresis, and PCR in various ways that are relevant to their individual projects. This equipment also sets the stage for a molecular biology elective that I'd love to start teaching during the 2022-2023 school year.
When students get to do real science in the way that actual scientists do, students have a better understanding of the time, persistence, and collaboration required for scientists to make breakthroughs in biotechnology and medicine.
Through hands on science learning, students who may not have thought of themselves as a "math and science person" have the opportunity to see themselves as scientists. Whether these students go on to study science in college or simply become more informed citizens, hands on science learning is vital for high school students.
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