GTAC Programs

MYS103 LABORATORY WORKSHOP - SCHOOL GROUPS ONLY

GTAC Student Program “The Genetic Lottery”

(Available on Mondays Only By Arrangement)

This program offers Year 6 students a unique opportunity to work with scientists to unravel the mysteries of DNA. The learning environment is highly structured to ensure student participation and to facilitate dialogue. Students use research quality equipment and models in state of the art teaching laboratories. Teaching instruction supports student learning by introducing them to the biological concepts involved in the laboratory work and promoting discussion of the ethics surrounding related scientific research. Students receive comprehensive notes and work sheets and samples of the Kiwi fruit DNA to take home. Suggested follow-up tasks are available to teachers.

09.40	Arrival and Registration: Students deposit school bags in cloakroom
09.45 – 11.00	Crikey, eaten any DNA lately?: How are we humans 99% like a mouse? GTAC Education Officers lead students through an exploration of tissues, cells, chromosomes, genes and DNA. When we ask students if they would eat DNA, they generally say ‘no’. This task explores this question by getting students to extract Kiwi fruit DNA. Students take home a sample of their Kiwi fruit DNA. Students build models of DNA to explore its structure. Students watch a short animation to visualise the structure and function of DNA.
11.00 – 11.20	Break
11.20 – 12.50	In-gene-ious: Students explore the concept of inheritance by discovering they share similarities and differences with their peers. Student’s model inheritance by dressing a fictional animal based upon gene combinations created in a role play. They learn that genes combine to determine what an individual will look like. Students explore inheritance of the ‘wizard/witch’ gene using examples from the popular Harry Potter novels.
12.50 – 13.30	Lunch: Home school supervision
13.30 – 14.40	Discussing Cloning Education Staff from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute introduce students to the concept of cloning and get students to explore the ethics surrounding the use of this technology. Students participate in a quiz to showcase their knowledge of the concepts covered in this workshop.
14.40 – 14.50	Evaluation and departure

Cost/Student: $11.00 (exGST)

Click here to view booking procedures.