Biotechnology Teaching Laboratories
THE PROGRAM
A hands-on learning experience in a modern molecular biology is available for your students through The Biotechnology Teaching Center. Your students will apply their classroom knowledge of biology to problem solving in molecular biology, biotechnology and forensics. Our faculty will guide your students through discussions of recent scientific breakthroughs and the social implications of molecular biology research.
Our classes are taught by teams of instructors including University faculty and students in the Master of Science Education program. All lessons are aligned with the New York State Department of Education standards.
THE FACILITIES
The University is readily accessible in its mid-Suffolk location. Parking for school buses is available. Students may bring lunch or purchase it at a cafeteria on campus.
The Biotechnology Teaching Center consists of three laboratories; each laboratory has 12 workstations, accommodating 24 students. This allows us to schedule up to three school groups each day. Each workstation is equipped with micropipettors, gel apparatus, and power supply. Other laboratory equipment includes microcentrifuges, incubators, water-baths, and a thermalcycler.
THE EXPERIMENTS
DNA Restriction Enzyme Analysis
Students design and analyze their own experiment using agarose-gel electrophoresis, bacteriophage DNA and three restriction enzymes (EcoRI, HindIII, and BamHI). This laboratory is most appropriate for advanced classes. Please plan to spend 4.5 hours at Stony Brook University for this laboratory activity.
Bacterial Transformation
Students genetically engineer bacteria through transformation with plasmid DNA. Students are directly involved in experimental design and the designation of controls. This laboratory can be adjusted to suit the academic level of the class. Please plan to spend 3.5 hours at Stony Brook University for this laboratory activity.
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Students analyze DNA in food using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and agarose-gel electrophoresis. Classroom discussion links these techniques with applications in forensics, genetic testing and genetic engineering. This laboratory can be adjusted to suit the academic level of the class. Please plan to spend 4.5 hours at Stony Brook University for this laboratory activity.
Forensics Laboratory
Students apply problem solving skills as they solve a crime using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) and agarose-gel electrophoresis. In addition to pattern analysis, students use the scientific method to evaluate evidence, formulate a hypothesis, plan and perform an experiment, and analyze the results. This laboratory can be adjusted to suit the academic level of the class. Please plan to spend 4.5 hours at Stony Brook University for this laboratory activity.
SCHEDULING A SCIENCE TEACHING PROGRAM FOR YOUR SCHOOL
Please book labs for your classes as early as possible as we reach our maximum capacity each year.
Times are somewhat flexible. Cost: $19.00 per student per lab. AP classes can perform two experiments in one day.
To schedule your class please call (631-632-9750) or e-mail cesame@stonybrook.edu
STAFF
Joan Kiely, Director
Daniel Moloney
Janet Andersen
Upcoming Events
January 8 - 10, 2009: Drs. Keith Sheppard and David Bynum present at the Association for Science Teacher Education International Conference in Hartford, CT
February 13, 2009: Living World Open Science Night Lecture - "Celebration of Darwin's Bicentennial", lecture by distinguished biologist, Dr. Stephen Stearns, Yale University
February 16, 2009: Deadline for HHMI National Scholars applications (for non-Stony Brook students)
February 17, 2009: Provostial Lecture by Dr. Uri Treisman (University of Texas at Austin), "Science and Mathematics Education"
March 2, 2009: Deadline for HHMI Undergraduate Summer Fellowship applications
March 14, 2009: The Long Island Junior Science and Humanities Symposium held at Stony Brook