Students explore intricacies of DNA

Like a scene from the television series CSI, students taking anatomy and physiology at Sisters High School explored DNA with lab equipment brought in from Seattle earlier this month.

It was serious business for the students as they brought theory to life in a special experiment made possible by a short-term loan of laboratory equipment brought in by a Sisters area resident.

Barbara Shulz, a Black Butte Ranch resident and retired AP (Advance Placement) biology teacher, saw a need in our schools and responded immediately.

"I was the co-founder of the Science Education Partnership at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, which trains teachers on using biotech equipment, and they have equipment available to lend to the teachers who live in that area," Shulz said. "Since I had worked in the program, I saw the need here in the schools and drove up to Seattle and borrowed this equipment and brought it here, so these kids would have a chance to use it."

The use of the equipment opened a door for the high school students that would not have been opened otherwise and brought science to life.

"They kids are actually having the opportunity to to use a viral DNA, called Lambda DNA, that has been cut up by a restriction enzyme, which is an enzyme that exists in E. coli, a bacteria that exists everywhere," said Shulz.

The very mechanics of life became visible.

"The bacteria's defense against viruses are the restriction enzymes. They are like scissors, and they chop up the virus. The kids are going to be using the biotech equipment called gel electrophoresis. The kids are working and learning how to use the equipment, so that this moves from theory to the real," said Shulz.

The equipment, however, was not completely foreign to the students.

"The kids have seen most of this equipment on TV. What is the most recognizable is the micropipet. Today, we will be separating pieces of the viral DNA that have been cut by the restriction enzyme. This (enzyme) is a tool that leaves a sticky end (on the cut DNA) where something else can bind. This is actually the first step in genetic engineering. This is how you can take part of one DNA and attach it to another," said Shulz.

As the experiment evolved students began to understand its implications.

"This can bring about huge benefits for humans. For example, genes can be turned on that can cause corn to be sweeter and then you can have much sweeter corn, or corn can be made more drought resistant. The benefits to humans are enormous," said Shulz.

Glen Herron, who teaches the anatomy and physiology class, was very enthusiastic about the availability of the equipment, even though it was not at the high school long enough for all students to be able to use it.

"This is so very valuable for the students. It is so hard to visualize DNA. We have been talking about it, but having the equipment available so that they can actually separate it out and see how it works absolutely brings it to life for the students," he said.

Attaining the serious science equipment for the high school is a problem that is difficult to solve.

"If they (the Sisters School District) could get a $10,000 grant from somewhere, they could buy all this equipment so that all students could have the experience instead of just this one class," said Shulz.

Herron agreed: "It would be wonderful for us to be able to have this equipment for the school on a permanent basis."