This year we were fortunate enough to have been involved in an USDA grant that is promoting awareness of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Our 7th grade class spent four hours on October 20th learning all about DNA. They learned about the shape and structure of DNA by making models using licorice and mini-marshmallows - each marshmallow color represented a different base while the different colors of licorice represented sugar and phosphate molecules. They even extracted DNA from their saliva and got to take it home in a glass pendant! After lunch they then solved the crime of The Cookie Thief by analyzing DNA fingerprints to determine who the culprit might be. Once they solved the crime, they had the opportunity to view real samples of DNA that had been processed in an agarose gel. Finally, to end a very busy day, they used internet resources to further explore DNA's current uses as well as possible future uses.

We're looking forward to an even more exciting DNA Day next year!