One Course Summer Institute - DIY: GENETIC ENGINEERING

How are organisms modified by genetic engineering? What does it mean for the human genome project, cloning (including humans), the production of “designer babies”, individualized medicine, and gene therapy? In this laboratory course you will be introduced to basic molecular techniques used in a variety of applications ranging from forensic science to addressing current research problems. You’ll solve a hypothetical crime with DNA forensic techniques, generate “fingerprints” of your DNA, and inject glow-in-the-dark genes into zebrafish embryos creating fish that glow. Labs and activities will allow students to: use creative and analytical thinking skills to solve hypothetical crimes with DNA forensic techniques experiment with gene manipulation on zebrafish discuss widely debated bioethical issues including the human genome project, cloning animals (including humans), individualized medicine, gene therapy, and the production of genetically modified foods What students take away for high school and college work: an appreciation that recent advances in biology are due to our ever increasing understanding of basic biological processes an understanding of current scientific literature and the moral and ethical implications associated with it experience in designing experiments, generating and interpreting results, and drawing conclusions from data effective oral and written communication of scientific research No prerequisites