Team:Alverno CA/Human Practices
Alverno iGEM 2016
Human Practice
Four team members (Amanda, Katie, Asia, and Brianna) visited a local middle school and taught 60 seventh graders the basics of DNA and synthetic biology. They were able to extract DNA from strawberries using common household products. After this activity, the iGEM team members explained the results and answered the students’ questions. From this discussion period, the group was able to observe the students’ understanding of the project and their varying opinions. The four members asked the students what their thoughts were on the ethics and morals involved in synthetic biology. For a short period it was also discussed what kind of future can be seen with the advances of synthetic biology.
On October Fifth, we met with eighth grade girls from various local middle school’s and the freshman from Alverno, our school, to perform the same experiment. After the lab and mini-lesson we were able to describe our project in a more in depth way then with the other groups of younger students. As some of them could attend our school next year or already do so we explained how they could become involved as a part of the team or support us from the sidelines.
