Students in Danielle Schroeder's class at Mountain View High School got an introduction to the biotechnology field through a simulated lesson on HIV.
Schroeder's human anatomy class took part in a simulated-disease spread activity offered by the Biotech Project, a program at the University of Arizona, last Wednesday in which they learned how disease spreads and how to test for disease.
As part of the simulation, students each were given a solution that represented their body fluid and exchanged it with three of their classmates by transferring their body fluid to another student's tube.
They then used the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, or ELISA, test to determine who was infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
The ELISA test is typically the first screening test used to detect if a person has HIV.
People are also reading…
Schroeder's students have completed other experiments in her class as well as other science classes, but have never had this type of exposure to biotechnology.
"I thought it was really cool. We did the actual test they do to determine HIV," Mountain View sophomore Chris Gomez said. "I've done simplified versions of this in other biology classes, but to do the complicated test for it was cool."
Before the students conducted the test, Biotech Project Director Nadja Anderson discussed the interactions between the immune system and different pathogens.
The Biotech Project, which is part of the department of molecular and cellular biology at the UA, has existed since 1996 to assist educators who want to conduct biotech experiments in their classrooms.
Schroeder welcomes visits from Anderson in her classroom.
"We could do this with an animation, but it doesn't have the same impact," Schroeder said about the test. "Having professionals in their field come in and not only describe what they do and how certain tests are done, but also do it with the kids makes more of an impact. It lets them know that all of this science and tech stuff isn't out of their reach."
Anderson would like students to develop a better understanding of science with the hands-on experiments offered through the Biotech Project.
Experiments that cover DNA extraction, genetic engineering, genetic mutations and gene regulation also are part of the Biotech Project.
"Some people are really afraid of science," Anderson said. "I want to engage them so they can see science is cool."
All of the experiments have a hands-on component because that's what students tend to remember about a lesson, Anderson said.
Mountain View junior Holly Sturgis enjoyed Anderson's visit and the simulated lesson.
"Being able to do hands-on stuff is really cool," she said. "It helps you process the information a lot better."
