GOAL
The goal of Gene Connection is to expose all students in San Mateo County high schools to biotechnology though an active laboratory curriculum. By participating in labs, students become engaged in the material because it brings into their domain of experience some of the science they see on television and read about in newspapers and magazines. They feel empowered using the equipment and thought processes of "real" scientists.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

  • Aragon High School-San Mateo
  • Burlingame High School-Burlingame
  • Canada College-Redwood City
  • Capuchino High School-San Bruno
  • Carlmont High School-Belmont
  • Corte Madera Middle School-Portola Valley
  • El Camino High School-South San Francisco
  • Hillsdale High School-San Mateo
  • Jefferson High School-Daly City
  • Menlo Atherton High School-Atherton
  • Menlo School-Atherton
  • Mills High School-Milbrae
  • Notre Dame High School-Belmont
  • Oceana High School-Pacifica
  • Pescadero High School-Pescadero
  • San Mateo High School-San Mateo
  • Sequoia High School-Redwood City
  • South San Francisco High School-South San Francisco
  • Terra Nova High School-Pacifica
  • Westmoor High School-Daly City
  • Woodside High School-Redwood City

HISTORY
Gene Connection, a San Mateo County Biotechnology Education Partnership, was created in l990 by three high school teachers with a generous grant from the Genetech Foundation for Biomedical Sciences and support from San Mateo County Office of Education. Beginning with three teachers in threee schools we have expanded to include more than 80 teachers in 22 schools. More than 20,000 students having been involved in the program in the past six years.

Headquartered at Canada College in Redwood City, four kits of equipment and supplies are managed and distributed by two part-time biotechnology educators who also provide teacher assistance and professional training through teacher workshops and conferences presentations. The Gene Connection is administered by a Steering Committee which meets monthly.

CURRICULUM
Teachers select from the following smorgasbord of labs and activities to individualize their curriculum:

  • Isolation of DNA from several sources
  • Manipulation of small volumes with micropipets
  • Principles of electrophoresis
  • Separation of assorted dyes by agarose gel electrophoresis
  • Enzymatic restriction of DNA and analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis
  • Identification and implications of methylated DNA
  • Synthesis of recombinant plasmid DNA
  • Transformation of bacteria to new genotypes and phenotypes
  • DNA "fingerprinting" simulation
  • PCR profiling and its social ramifications
  • Scientific and cultural explorations of lactose intolerance


COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS

"What I liked most was that we were working just like real scientists."
"I liked that we did the work ourselves instead of watching a movie."
"Now I respect scientists for their patience, trying and failing in their experiments, and trying again."
"Gene Connection sparked my interest in science--I was finally learning about the DNA which I hear about all the time."
"It was fun doing what scientists actually do."


COMMENTS FROM TEACHERS

"Gene Connection is really empowering for the students because they are participating in the science that they read about and see on television."


"It is worth all of the work to watch the students get so excited, turned on, and involved."


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Ms. Pat Seawell, Biotechnology Educator
Canada College
Department of Basic and Applied Sciences
4200 Farm Hill Boulevard
Redwood City, CA 94061
Telephone (415) 306-3248
Fax (415) 306=3149
GENECONN@AOL.com

Mr. Gary Nakagiri, Coordinator
Mathematics/Science Curriculum and Guidance Services
San Mateo County Office of Education
101 Twin Dolphin Drive
Redwood City, CA 94065-1064
Telephone (415) 802-5350
Fax (415) 802=5363
gnakagiri@ed.co.sanmateo.ca.us

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