DNA-labs welcomed the 100,000th high-school student

The idea to bring high school students into contact with DNA research was conceived about 15 years ago by two university teachers, Jos Malda and Rogier Spoor. This concept appeared to be very attractive, and meanwhile six different experiments are offered to high school students in their classroom throughout The Netherlands (with a main focus on ‘VWO’ and ‘HAVO’ students).

One of the more popular experiments called “Prenatal research on plants” was developed at the Laboratory of Nematology. During this workshop students investigate genetic diversity among potato plants, and they got hands-on experience with techniques such as DNA extraction, PCR amplification of a DNA fragment, and gel-electrophoresis. One of the main goals is making high school students familiar with DNA technology, and in the mean time they become acquainted with the education and research programme offered by Wageningen University.

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Photo's: © Guy Ackermans