NHGRI Activities for the USA Science and Engineering Festival
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) recently presented some simple and fun DNA-related activities at the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. on Sat., Oct. 23 and Sun., Oct. 24, 2010.
For those who couldn't attend the festival, instructions and resources for each activity are available below. All of these activities can be done at home or online.
To see all of the fun of NHGRI's participation in the USA Science and Engineering Festival, click on the link below for a complete photo slideshow.
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Video (left): Drs. Eric Green and Carla Easter from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) demonstrate how to extract DNA from strawberries using everyday household items.
Craft a DNA Bracelet
Every living organism has DNA. Create your own DNA bracelet using colourful beads that correspond to a segment of DNA sequence from a domestic cat, platypus or a wooly mammoth, among other animals.
This activity was adapted from the Carnegie Academy for Science's Secrets' N Sequences activity developed by Dr. Toby Horn and students from Ballou Senior High School (Washington, D.C.) and McKinley Technology High School (Washington, D.C.).
Tree of Genetic Traits
What genetic traits do you have? For example, can you roll your tongue? Come find out and fill out your tree of genetic traits. Each of your traits is written on a leaf that you can paste onto your tree of genetic traits. Then, you can talk to family members and make leaves for them too.
Note: One of the traits in this activity requires PTC paper, which can be purchased from a biological supply company like Carolina Biological Supply at www.carolina.com
This activity was adapted from the University of Utah Genetic Science Learning Center
The Genetic Challenge
Last Reviewed: November 19, 2012