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 course (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