Grade 9 Expands STEM Knowledge at Biogen
On February 22, Grade 9 students visited Biogen Idec in Cambridge, Mass., for an immersive STEM experience in the company's Community Lab. Biogen is one of the oldest independent biotech companies in the world, researching and developing medications to treat diseases, mostly neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The Community Lab is a state-of-the-art, real-world facility where students engage in hands-on biotechnology experiments and interact with Biogen Idec employees.
During the visit, Shore students had an up-close opportunity to meet with doctoral students working at Biogen and to perform a lab experiment using advanced gel electrophoresis equipment.
Students were given the opportunity to become genetic counselors and analyze real DNA from hemoglobin to determine the risk of sickle cell anemia. Each student mixed their own gel plates with wells where they dispensed DNA samples from precision pipettes. They analyzed the DNA to determine the genotypes of potential parents and calculated the probability that their children would inherit the sickle cell trait.
The Biogen experience enriched the students' class unit on genetics and biotechnology by building on lab work at school that includes blood typing, DNA extraction, and a gene transformation lab.
Students were given the opportunity to become genetic counselors and analyze real DNA from hemoglobin to determine the risk of sickle cell anemia. Each student mixed their own gel plates with wells where they dispensed DNA samples from precision pipettes. They analyzed the DNA to determine the genotypes of potential parents and calculated the probability that their children would inherit the sickle cell trait.
The Biogen experience enriched the students' class unit on genetics and biotechnology by building on lab work at school that includes blood typing, DNA extraction, and a gene transformation lab.
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