St. Joan of Arc Catholic Academy's Grade 12 Biology students participated in the DNA Fingerprinting Workshop hosted by the Ontario Science Centre at the labs of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) to support their learning in molecular genetics.
Students had the valuable opportunity to learn about and use various biotechnology techniques. Students used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to extract and amplify DNA samples. Afterwards, students used gel electrophoresis to create a DNA fingerprint to analyze genotypes and genotypic frequencies. Students also got to apply DNA fingerprinting analysis to various real-life applications such as forensics, medical testing, organ transplantation, and paternity/maternity testing.
It was a meaningful and enriching day of experiential learning for students to apply their classroom learning on molecular genetics and to work in a university laboratory facility.
Special thanks to the Ontario Science Centre staff for facilitating the workshop, to TMU students, and to the SJOA Science Department members for supporting our students in the workshop!
