The goals for this workshop are HERE.

<aside> ❗

All these activities can be modified and adapted to different courses like chemistry, biology, environmental science, physics and Earth Sciences.

</aside>

Below are some of the topics that will be covered:

DNA Forensics and Electrophoresis: Participants will build simple, low-cost gel electrophoresis chambers using household materials and food coloring to simulate DNA separation. This hands-on activity introduces the principles behind DNA profiling and Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis, as commonly used in forensic science. The session will include critical discussion on the limitations of DNA evidence, ethical concerns, and the social implications of genetic surveillance, particularly in marginalized communities.

Fruit Fly Genetics: Teaching Trait Complexity Beyond the Punnett Square: Using a classroom-tested activity developed by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, participants will explore inheritance patterns through fruit fly simulations. The activity reinforces core concepts like dominant and recessive traits while providing an entry point to discuss the complexity of human traits and the dangers of genetic oversimplification. Teachers will walk away with strategies to move beyond simplified models of heredity and guide students toward a more nuanced understanding of genetics

Epigenetics and the 3D Cell: Exploring How Structure Shapes Function: This session will introduce teachers to hands-on techniques and visual models that help students understand the three-dimensional structure of DNA, chromatin, and chromosomes within the cell. Epigenetics rarely gets discussed in schools. Participants will explore how DNA packaging influences gene expression, and why this complexity is essential for cell specialization and development. The discussion will highlight the role of epigenetics in health, development, and disease, while challenging popular misconceptions around ideas like “designer babies” or single-gene solutions to complex conditions.

Core Science Topics

• Cell Biology
  • Cell structure and function
  • Chromatin and chromosome organization
  • Role of the nucleus in gene regulation
• Genetics
  • Heredity and inheritance
  • Dominant and recessive traits
  • Limitations of Punnett Squares
  • Complex trait inheritance and gene-environment interactions
• Epigenetics
  • Chromatin structure and DNA packaging
  • Gene expression regulation
  • Role of epigenetics in development, health, and disease
  • 3D genome structure and its functional implications
• DNA and Biotechnology
  • Gel electrophoresis principles and hands-on simulation
  • STR (Short Tandem Repeat) analysis as used in forensics
  • DNA privacy and genetic surveillance