Help me give my students a way to easily visualize DNA separated by gel electrophoresis using a blue light transilluminator.
FULLY FUNDED! Dr. Hanono's classroom raised $515
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
Our school is in one of the largest public secondary school districts in the state, and we are one of the largest schools in the district with almost 3,000 students. In recent years, the size of our student body has increased dramatically, and with the growth of our site, the laboratory resources available have not necessarily kept up with the increasing size of the school.
My students are looking for real-world applications of what they learn in high school.
I have students at different high school grade levels in three types of classes. The students in my medical biology and medical accelerated biology classes are mostly in their first year of high school and are energetic and motivated. These are students who chose our school's medical pathway because of their interest in a possible future in medicine. On the other hand, the students in my biotechnology class are upperclassmen with an interest in science and are learning the basic skills to work in a laboratory setting; in fact for many of the biotech students this is their third or fourth year of science.
My Project
Biotechnology is a fast growing field that affects all of our lives more and more each day. As such, students should gain an understanding of some of the basic techniques that are used by researchers all over the world.
My biology students will be introduced to the technique of agarose gel electrophoresis; a common technique used to analyze DNA in research labs all over the world.
The problem is that DNA is colorless so it needs to be stained to visualize it. One of the cleanest and most efficient stains involve light sensitive dyes that cause the DNA to glow under certain wavelengths of light. The transilluminator purchased with this project will allow for this visualization.
Half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Dr. Hanono and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.