Biotechnology (HS) (DHT)

In this course, students will explore the world of biotechnology, including the technology involved, its importance to society, careers, and hands-on laboratory exercises.  Over the course of the week, students will engage in hands-on exploration of the many areas of biotechnology, such as food and fuel production, restriction enzymes and recombinant DNA technology, genetic engineering, GMOs and their uses, forensic biotechnology, and genomics.

Students will examine the basic cellular structure, conduct environmental sampling for microbes, examine enzyme structure and function, engage in several fermentation activities including food and fuel production, extract DNA, digest it with restriction enzymes, conduct gel electrophoresis to separate and examine DNA fingerprinting, copy DNA through a polymerase chain reaction, and explore other DNA manipulation techniques.

I am a retired educator who spent thirty years teaching science at Polk County High School. I received my B.S. in Biology/Chemistry Secondary Education from Appalachian State University in 1992 and a Master’s of Life Science from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2006. I have been nationally certified in AYA Science since 1998 and served as a 2019-2020 Kenan Fellow and a 2020-2022 NCSLA Science Leadership Fellow. I believe that students deserve access to the best equipment and materials available to learn the scientific process and laboratory bench skills necessary for success, whether they go on to higher education or to work. This belief is why I became an NCSSM Science Accelerator instructor for Biotechnology. Sharing my passion for biotechnology and providing young students access to the specialized equipment and materials necessary for DNA science will hopefully inspire future scientists, doctors, nurses, or other professionals.