December 10, 2007

UNBC and Genome BC are collaborating on a special program for regionalhigh school students that will provide them with hands-on experiencewith the latest genetic research technologies and methods.

Called “Geneskool,” the program places students in the roles of crimescene investigation to solve a fictional crime. In the process, theywill be learning about molecular biology and genomics.

“This won’t be a lecture about genetics. Students will actually beextracting DNA from real samples and learning how to analyze it. It’llbe very different from a regular high school science class,” saysDaniel Erasmus, a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology instructor atUNBC. “In the process, they’ll be working on the same campus as UNBCresearchers who are working on cancer and the genetic factors behindother diseases such as cystic fibrosis.”

Students will be spending the full day on campus on the following days:

• Kelly Road Secondary (grade 9) – Dec 10
• DP Todd Secondary (grade 10) – Dec 11
• Mackenzie Secondary (grade 12) – Dec 12
• Gateway Christian (grades 10-12) – Dec 13
• McBride Secondary (grade 10) – Dec 14
• School District 91 schools – Dec 20

“We have had a terrific response to this program from students andteachers,” says Cathy Anderson of Genome BC. “Last year, a high schoolteacher told me that four of her students went into genetics as theirfield of study because of the experience they had during the Geneskoolprogram.  All of these students know about genetics because oftelevision shows like CSI but very few of them actually get toexperience what it’s all about. That’s the power of Geneskool.”

Members of the media are welcome to attend the Geneskool session onWednesday with Mackenzie Secondary. The session will be open to mediafrom 11am – noon. Geneskool will take place in the Teaching Laboratory:8-424.

Contact:
Dr. Daniel Erasmus, Instructor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UNBC – 250.960.5191
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622