Programs for Clubs and Groups

Offerings for Elementary School and up!

The ACTG’s of Fruit!

1.5 hour course

What is DNA? What is a gene? We’ll learn by using chemistry to extract DNA from several fruits. Can you guess the number of chromosomes in each based on the amount of DNA?

$12 per student; 8 student minimum

Grow an Ecosystem!

1.5 hour course

Winogradsky columns allow you to grow your own ecosystem and learn how different soil bacteria use nutrients to live. Come learn about soil ecosystems and create a long-term experiment to go home with!

$12 per student; 8 student minimum

Agar Art!

1 hour course

Use colored bacteria and yeast to create your own living art works by drawing with colored organisms on petri dishes.

$10 per student, 8 student minimum

Offerings for Middle School and up!

Bioluminescence

2 hour course

What makes organisms glow? Why do so many glowing organisms live in the ocean, and why do they glow blue? Join us to investigate!

$15 per student; 8 student minimum

Who Stole my Sweater?

3 hour course

Forensic analysis of DNA is a powerful way to solve crimes, investigate GMOs, and uncover the identity of ancient remains. Let’s learn how to solve a crime using the DNA left behind!
$25 per student; 8 student minimum

At Home Microbiology

7.5 hour course

Developed as a virtual course during the pandemic in collaboration with Bioeyes and scientists at the Carnegie Institute of Washington, this course teaches students about microbes and their role in the environment and in human health using experiments that students can do in their own homes or at the BUGSS lab. Learn more about the course at this site.

$55 per student, 6 student minimum

Offerings for High School and up!

Molecular Biotechnology Boot Camp

10 or 20 hour course

Learn all the basics of DNA manipulation, including DNA plasmid isolation, restriction digest, PCR, gel electrophoresis, ligation, and transformation. With these skills, you’ll be ready to design your own experiments!

$50 or $100 per student (10 or 20 hours); 6 student minimum

iTune Device

4 hour course

This lab focuses on predictable design.
Students will examine the role of parts, such
as promoters and ribosome binding sites, in
determining the output of a genetic device.

$30 per student; 6 student minimum

Golden Rice

15 hour course

Genetically-modified foods are sometimes described as life-saving approaches to malnutrition, and sometimes protested as unnatural and unsafe. In this series of labs, you will work with a genetically modified organism that can be used to bake breads containing a super-dose of Vitamin A. You will test the bright orange yeast for vitamin production and for food quality.

$87 per student, 6 student minimum