DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) – Local students are getting hands-on with science this summer as HudsonAlpha’s popular “Code of Life” program returns to Dothan High School. The week-long course is designed to introduce 6th through 9th graders to the fascinating world of DNA and biotechnology.
Led by experienced HudsonAlpha instructors, students are learning how to extract DNA from different organisms and explore how it affects physical traits. As the program continues, they’ll move into more advanced topics like genetic engineering.
“HudsonAlpha Educational Outreach is thrilled to be back in the Wiregrass and at Dothan High School this summer to bring students experiences in genomics and biotechnology,” said Kelly East, Vice President for Educational Outreach at HudsonAlpha. “The Code of Life camp is designed to excite students about DNA and how it is being used to solve problems and improve life. We hope that this experience will light fires in these student participants and that we will continue to see them in HudsonAlpha educational programs for years to come.”
Courtesy of Dothan City SchoolsInstructor Dasi Price and others are helping students understand how changes in DNA can lead to genetic disorders, giving them a deeper appreciation for genetics and biology.
Next week, another HudsonAlpha program called BioSkills will focus on high school students. In this class, students will learn how to create a new DNA molecule with genes that produce a glowing protein. After inserting the molecule into bacterial cells and watching it come to life, students will even purify the protein and take it home as a keepsake.
“BioSkills helps students understand what genes do and how they can be manipulated by genetic engineering,” a HudsonAlpha statement explained, “exposing them to common processes in research labs.”
Lee Jacobs, Assistant Superintendent at Dothan City Schools, praised the collaboration. “We are excited to see several students from the area participating in the programs offered by HudsonAlpha Wiregrass,” he said. “These experiences allow students who are on summer break to keep their minds fresh while exploring the world around them. Dothan City Schools is proud to partner with HudsonAlpha by hosting these dynamic programs at Dothan High School, once again. It’s another way the school district works to keep students motivated and engaged with learning over the summer.”
HudsonAlpha Wiregrass will eventually be located at the new Wiregrass Innovation Center in downtown Dothan. The future facility will offer even more opportunities for local students to engage in agricultural research and regional genomics education.
