The Burke Museum is giving middle-school students the opportunity to investigate a real DNA mystery at a new, week-long summer day camp.
During the Investigating DNA: The Albatross Salvage Project - taking place in University of Washington laboratories this week and next - campers will learn the basics of how DNA is used around the world. Under the guidance of scientist Sharon Birks, genetics-sources manager at The Burke Museum, students will use actual museum-collection specimens from a bird project.
"It will give students the introductory skills for understanding genetics and an opportunity for middle-school students to conduct original and meaningful scientific research," according to Burke Museum director Julie Stein. "These students will know about DNA in ways that will very soon be mandatory in our world. They will see the practical application of this science through the Albatross research, but they will learn so much more because they will discover it for themselves."
Unique opportunity
Burke scientists, educators and students designed this summer-camp program for youths age 11 to 14.
"Along the way, the students will learn about the Burke research collection, DNA, lab equipment researchers use, perform a DNA extraction, learn how [Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR, a molecular biology technique] works, then run gel electrophoresis and analyze their results," explained Victoria Smith, a graduate student of Museum Studies at the University of Washington, who developed the camp curriculum based on her experiences with DNA research as a biology lab student.
"This is the first time the Burke has run a camp of this nature," she said, "and I hope it is the beginning of many more.... The goals are to make science less intimidating and to provide students with exposure into the world of research biology and tools used, like genetics, to help answer research questions."
The Burke staff hopes to expand the program in the future to include local middle-school and high school audiences year-round.
"It is a unique opportunity to encourage young learners to do higher-level science exploration, where they can practice advanced science skills that are foundational to shaping them as better science students," added Rebecca Durkin, Burke Museum's public-relations assistant. "They will not only gain access and insight to the work of real scientists, but they will also have the hands-on opportunity to share in that work and grow as scientists themselves."
For more information about summer programs at The Burke Museum, contact Burke Education at 543-9681 or burked@u.washington.edu.
Jessica Davis writes about arts and entertainment for the Herald-Outlook. She can be reached via e-mail at needitor@nwlink.com.
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