(by Claire Scott, Biology Team)

This past week, SCIART’s chemistry group joined the biology group to extract mitochondrial DNA from samples of their saliva. The students got to know each other better, along with Dr. Wagner and Dr. Smith, as they completed lab work each day as a team. By the end of next week, June 30th, all six students will have the results of their own sequenced mitochondrial DNA, informing them of parts of their ancestry such as what percent Neanderthal they are. In order to sequence their mitochondrial DNA, the students used techniques such as PCR and gel electrophoresis. This was good practice for the coming weeks, since similar techniques will be applied on elephant ivory as well as fecal and blood samples from elephants. The biology team is attempting to identify ivory as from an African or Asian elephant by comparing mitochondrial DNA in the ivory. On Friday the chemistry students began isolating bone from pieces of meat, and the biology students verified that everyone’s mitochondrial DNA had successfully been extracted. The mitochondrial DNA samples will be sent off to be sequenced on Monday!

(photo caption) Students swished with saline solution in order to retrieve cheek cells.