My Science Box

Assessment

1. Watch an episode of CSI that includes DNA fingerprinting data collection and evidence. Have students compare the techniques as seen on the show to the modeled version used in the classroom.

Going Further

1. Have student run a gel in a virtual lab. The Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah has a great online activity that allows you to load and run a gel
2. If you have the equipment, teach your students to load and run a gel using any extracted DNA sample (see DNA Extraction lesson). Even if you don’t have gel boxes and fancy equipment, you can create your own functional gel boxes out of grocery store materials. The best write up for DNA extraction and running a gel “MacGyver style” can be found at BioTeach.