One DNA strand may be too small to see, but we have a staggering amount of DNA in our bodies. In fact, if you take all the DNA in one cell and stretch it out, it would measure six feet long! If we clump some of this DNA together, we can even see our own DNA. In this hands-on class, we will first learn about what exactly DNA is and how we can extract it from cells. Then, we’ll carry out some simple laboratory techniques to extract and visualize DNA straight from our own cheek cells using common household items. Finally, we’ll discuss why this sort of experiment might be useful to scientists and how we use information from DNA to do everything from catching criminals to curing disease.

One DNA strand may be too small to see, but we have a staggering amount of DNA in our bodies. In fact, if you take all the DNA in one cell and stretch it out, it would measure six feet long! If we clump some of this DNA together, we can even see our own DNA. In this hands-on class, we will first learn about what exactly DNA is and how we can extract it from cells. Then, we’ll carry out some simple laboratory techniques to extract and visualize DNA straight from our own cheek cells using common household items. Finally, we’ll discuss why this sort of experiment might be useful to scientists and how we use information from DNA to do everything from catching criminals to curing disease.

Could cabbage juice help solve the plight of marine wildlife? Simple chemistry experiments can be critical in understanding timely world issues. The world is currently facing a major environmental challenge in ocean acidification, but this phenomenon is rooted in simple acid-base chemistry. We’ll start by going over the chemistry behind acids and bases, and carry out some simple laboratory experiments to better understand these processes using common household items. We’ll then connect this information to ocean acidification, touching on how it works, its effects on biology, geology, and human health, and how we can moderate this situation.

Could cabbage juice help solve the plight of marine wildlife? Simple chemistry experiments can be critical in understanding timely world issues. The world is currently facing a major environmental challenge in ocean acidification, but this phenomenon is rooted in simple acid-base chemistry. We’ll start by going over the chemistry behind acids and bases, and carry out some simple laboratory experiments to better understand these processes using common household items. We’ll then connect this information to ocean acidification, touching on how it works, its effects on biology, geology, and human health, and how we can moderate this situation.