Ninth grade biology students kicked off their study of DNA by extracting their own DNA from their cheek cells. They swished Gatorade in their mouths to capture some cheek cells and then gently delivered their Gatorade and cheek cells into a centrifuge tube. The salt in the Gatorade prevented the cells from rupturing too early.
Students then added a solution of Dawn dish detergent to the tube in order to break down the cell and nuclear membranes to release the DNA. Lastly, the students added cold ethanol solution very slowly to dissolve the DNA in order to make it insoluble.
Their DNA was then visible at the junction of the ethanol and Dawn mixture. It is the cloudy material that floats on top! Thank you to Mr. Mitchell for sharing information and pictures.
Physics students enjoyed a center of mass and torque lab by correctly calculating the force of four Valentines objects. Students also hypothesized where to place them on a mobile and then calculated torque by multiplying the force by the lever arm.
Thank you to Mrs. White for submitting information and pictures. We are thankful to our science teachers for engaging our students in hands-on learning activities that challenge them to use critical thinking skills and analyze data, essential skills for scoring well on the college entrance ACT exam.
