Download - DNA Resource Center Internship
DNA Resource Center Internship
2006-2007By Allison Lewis
What is the DNA Resource Center?
• The DNA Resource Center is the site for a network of teachers, trainers, researchers
to support teachers so they may implement programs and give all
students hands-on experience with labs
and access to information about opportunities in biotechnology.
My Job as an Intern is to…• Label Bags.
• Prepare samples for lab and fill bags with materials.
• Pack boxes to send out to schools.
• Load and unload boxes into MCPS van!
We put together many types of labs including…
– The Calf Thymus DNA extraction– The Fingerprinting lab– transformations of Lamda DNA and
PGreen DNA labs– The Alu PCR lab
Labeling Bags
Labeling Bags• The DNA Resource Center is very organized.
• In order to package the lab materials, we must label the bags with the appropriate
Lab NameSchool Name
Teacher’s nameMaterials enclosed
This way the Teachers are able to find materials for their class!
Gathering and Making Lab Materials
Filling the Tip Boxes
I gained Pipetting skills by helping prepare samples of
different materials for each lab.
Pack boxes to send out to schools
After gathering and filling the bags for the labs, we pack all materials and equipment into boxes for transport.
Load and unload boxes into MCPS van!
• After all boxes are packed, we put the boxes into Ms. Furr’s Van.
• Ms. Furr then drives the van and the lab equipment to different public schools of Montgomery County.
• Later she will pick up the equipment when the school is finished with it.
Sending to Schools
Sending to Schools
• The DNA Resource Center distributes lab equipment to Public High Schools all over Montgomery County.
• We also distribute Lab equipment to select Middle Schools including Cabin John and Frost.
Other Labs
• During My Internship I also conducted two other Labs. – I tested to see if Multi-Purpose Solution would serve
as a substitute for Prep buffer in the Calf Thymus DNA extraction Lab
– I tested a method for cheek cell extraction.
Calf Thymus
Hypothesis- If I replace the Prep buffer with Multi-Purpose Solution then the DNA extraction will be successful because they both contain buffering properties.
Data-There was no DNA precipitate and the lab was not successful.
Cheek Cell DNA Extraction• During the Cheek Cell DNA
extraction lab I tested different concentrations of Protease (enzyme) to see the lowest concentration that would work in the lab.
• My results showed that the lowest concentration of Protease to have a successful extraction is 15mg/ml.
Reflection• I learned the importance of providing schools
with biology labs and equipment.
• I have mastered basic laboratory skills.
• Developed my own hypothesis.
• During my internship I was most surprised about the level or organization and order in the DNA resource center.
The End!