MCB will offer laboratory workshops of approximately 3 hours to high school classes. Teachers may choose from the following topics:

1.   PCR and Gel Electrophoresis
2.   Animal Behavior and Genetics: Fly Learning and Memory
3.   The Heart and the ECG
4.   Photosynthesis and Spectrophotometry

The level of difficulty of each laboratory will be tailored to the individual class. Teachers will be required to communicate with MCB Outreach Coordinators ahead of time to determine what is appropriate for their students.

Laboratories will be offered every morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, during the three-week period from 15 March 2004 to 2 April 2004. Teachers must indicate their first, second, and third choices for workshop dates.

Cost: The program is FREE and is funded by MCB-Harvard and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Application Requirements

Applications must be filled out by high school biology teachers for grades 9-12. Classes from public, private, parochial, and charter schools in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire are welcome. Class sizes may not exceed 24 students because of space limitations. Teachers should indicate their 1st and 2nd choices of laboratory topics as well as their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices of workshop dates.

Application Deadline: Materials must be postmarked by Friday, 16 January 2004.

By 22 January 2004, accepted applicants will receive an email confirming their laboratory date. A packet of materials containing directions, parking information, and more detailed laboratory information will follow. In addition, teachers will need to communicate with the MCB Outreach Coordinators regarding their class' specific requirements.  Teacher email address must be included on the application.

Descriptions of Laboratory Workshops

Polymerase Chain Reactions and Gel Electrophoresis
Students will isolate DNA from their cheek cells and run PCR (Polymerase Chain Reactions) on their own samples, using a primer pair developed specifically for forensic testing. Students will then analyze their samples by gel electrophoresis and learn to identify homozygous and heterozygous individuals.

Animal Behavior: Fly Learning and Memory
Students will work with graduate students and postdocs from the MCB laboratory of Dr. Sam Kunes. By using heat cues, students will "teach" fruitflies to choose between light, dark, and different-colored tunnels. Groups of students will compare the ability of wild-type versus mutant flies to navigate through the tunneled mazes. Students will analyze their results using computer-based statistical analysis.

The Heart and the ECG
Students will study the structure of the mammalian heart by dissecting a fresh calf heart. Then they will take and correlate blood pressure readings and sounds produced by the heart with the mechanics of the heart. They will also record an ECG in order to understand the correlation between the electrical signals and the cardiac cycle.

Photosynthesis
Students will use a spectrophotometer to determine the absorption spectrum of isolated chloroplasts. They may also use the spectrophotometer and the reagent, DCPIP, to conduct two different experiments: The Measurement of Light-Dependent Dye Reduction and The Effect of Light Intensity on Photoreduction. Portions of this lab closely resemble the Advanced Placement Lab for Photosynthesis; however, the lab can be adjusted for non-AP students.

Application for MCB/HHMI High School Biology Laboratory Program, Spring 2004

All information required for application completeness

Name ______________________________

School Name ________________________

School Address ______________________

City State Zip ________________________

School phone: _______________________

*Email______________________________

(* Required- Program acceptance sent via e-mail)

o Public    o Private   o Charter    o Parochial         

Class grade level(s): __________________

Course Title & Curriculum Level: ________

No. of Students who will attend: _________

Select 1st & 2 nd choice for workshops:

  ___PCR and Gel Electrophoresis

  ___Animal Behavior and Genetics

  ___The Heart and the ECG

  ___Photosynthesis and Spectrophotometry

Select 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice of dates for workshops, held every weekday from 15 March to 2 April, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

1st Date Choice______________________

2nd Date Choice______________________

3rd Date Choice______________________

Please list any previous MCB programs you have attended and their dates:

___________________________________

Return by 16 January 2004 to:  

Tara Bennett
MCB-HHMI Teacher Outreach Program
Dept. of Mole. & Cell Biology, Harvard Univ.
16 Divinity Ave - Room B048
Cambridge MA 02138

or email to tbennett@fas.harvard.edu

The MCB High School Outreach Program is jointly sponsored by the
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, and the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

For Additional Information Contact:

Tara Bennett
MCB-HHMI Outreach Coordinator,
Department of Molecular and Cellular
Biology, Harvard University
16 Divinity Avenue, Rm. B048,
Cambridge MA 02138; 617-496-3457
tbennett@fas.harvard.edu