7th graders go hands-on with genetic engineering using CRISPR

Seventh-grade students have been diving deep into their genetics unit in Meghan Leonhardt's Science class and gaining an understanding of how traits are passed on from parents to offspring as well as how our choices can affect the expression of our traits through epigenetics.

Last week, they visited the Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center for a hands-on educational experience. "They learned about CRISPR, a method of genetic engineering, and used it to work together to introduce a Glowing Fluorescent Protein (GFP) gene into colonies of E. coli to make them glow!" shared their Science teacher Meghan Leonhardt. "They also learned about how CRISPR is being used in current research for cures and treatments for diseases like sickle cell anemia and cancer."

Meghan also uses the Quaker pedagogy of continuing revelation (forming new perspectives or hypotheses as new facts and information emerge) when teaching her students.

"When an experiment doesn't succeed, we talk about what could have gone wrong and how we are constantly learning and using our new understandings to move forward."