Our seventh grade Life Science students have learned about transgenics: the process of extracting genetic material from one organism and inserting it into another. In this podcast they clearly describe the scientific process of this experiment in which they extracted a DNA plasmid from a jellyfish and inserted it into the DNA of a bacteria. They grew this new microorganism in the lab, designing a new species of bacteria which manufactures a protein that fluoresces under UV light, indicating that the new DNA had been successfully inserted into the DNA of the bacteria.

Our students are getting an authentic look at how genetic scientists are using new technologies to create treatments (and hopefully someday even cures) for diseases such as diabetes, hemophilia, and sickle cell anemia to name a few.

Did you learn this in your 7th grade science curriculum?!