Saturday Lab Programs

The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has a full lineup of fall Saturday DNA sessions open to kids of varying ages. These are great programs; check them out. My daughter and her friend did one of these sessions a few months ago. Although some of the material was a bit beyond their reach (they were the youngest ones there), they had a great time and learned a lot about DNA.

October 20:

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Audience: Ages 10-13, with chaperone

All organisms are composed of cells, the basic units of life. These essential elements not only provide structure and organization, but also enable living things to carry out necessary life functions. With the instructions from DNA and help from organelles, cells perform a variety of fundamental tasks, including the production of new cells. Mitosis, one type of cell division, allows organisms to grow and repair themselves.




and
The Ins and Outs of Cancer
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ages 14-adult, chaperone for participants under the age of 15

Cancers are a group of diseases where cell numbers increase out of control and damage normal tissues. Although cancers come in many different forms, affecting different parts of the body, researchers have identified common mechanisms that lead to malignancy. Come learn the hallmarks of cancer, and how science is helping us diagnose and treat these diseases.



Saturday, November 17

Yeasty Beasties
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Audience: Ages 10-13, with chaperone

Have you ever wondered what makes your favorite bread rise? For thousands of years, humans have used yeast in food and beverage production. The unique physiological properties of yeast make it useful for more than just baking bread.

and

Beyond DNA...
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ages 14-adult, chaperone for participants under the age of 15

From microbes to mammals the central dogma of biology is DNA to RNA to Protein. In the wake of the human genome project all human genes have been sequenced. These genes are responsible for encoding proteins essential to life. A field of research that has boomed as a result is proteomics. Proteomics is the study of gene products and their function. Different organisms express different proteins reflecting changes in the gene pool, but what about organisms that are closely related? If you’re interested, come and learn about the exciting discipline of proteomics.



Saturday, December 15

Iceman
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Audience: Ages 10-13, with chaperone

In September of 2001, a body was discovered protruding from the ice near Hauslabjoch in the Ötzal Alps. Our journey begins as we examine the story of the “Iceman,” one of the most exciting discoveries of the 20th century. Who is the Iceman? Where does he come from? How did he die? How is he related to us? We will discuss some of the mysteries that surround him and try to answer them by studying the evidence and by using bioinformatics for DNA comparison.


The Buzz on Bees!
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ages 14-adult, chaperone for participants under the age of 15

Explore the fascinating life of the honey bee! Although scary to some, the honey bee is an interesting and integral part of the agricultural industry, vastly contributing to the commercial pollination of crops and honey production. Sadly, their numbers are on a steep decline. Learn about the unique behaviors of this elegant species and how current research is explaining their mysterious disappearances.