Friday, January 13, 2012

DNA Club at SHS

This year, we have a DNA Club at SHS for the purpose of performing authentic DNA Research.  The club focuses on microbiology and bioinformatics and mirrors the efforts of the Rutgers University Waksman Institute.  Students have an opportunity to extract DNA and use similar processes and software that are used in all major biotechnology organizations.  Mr. George Mellors, a teaching fellow from the Waksman Institute and an engineering teacher at SHS, serves as the club advisor.  


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"For over 12 year now the DNA club has been linked with the Waksman Institute of Rutgers University. During the summer two aspiring high school student and their club coach attend a 3 week class in DNA analysis. These Waksman Student Scholars (WSSP) learn science by doing science. They grow and analyze DNA from the common water plant, duckweed. Finally they submit and have published their unique DNA sequence in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. (NCBI)

After the summer the Waksman Student Scholars organize and lead the after school club. They use the same methods, materials, and advanced computer programs they were taught during the summer. This year the DNA has produced three published DNA Analyst and we have published 6 DNA sequences. More will be submitted to NCBI before the end of the school year.

NCBI is the repository of DNA data from scientists and researchers worldwide. To become a member of that community is very prestigious especially during High School."

~ George Mellors

Superintendent's Corner said...

In the school year 2012-2013, there were four students published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information NCBI, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. Congratulations to Aatin Dhanda, Anthony Keung, Tyran Pochon, and Sean Cass for their DNA research and analysis!!!