Saint Patrick to Purchase Genetic Laboratory equipment
April 28, 2008

Saint Patrick High School is set to purchase cutting edge equipment for genetic experiments. This equipment will allow students in biology classes to perform tasks such as DNA extraction, replicating, imaging and gene sequencing. This equipment, which is typically found at the college level, will give Saint Patrick students the opportunity to work with high-tech equipment and perform cutting edge experiments.

Biotechnology is the wave of the future, with advances in understanding DNA at the forefront. Huge strides have been made recently, as different aspects of the human genome project have been completed, yet there are still countless variations of genes to be sequenced and processed in order to fully fathom our species. Over four years, approximately 1,000 students in biology courses will have the opportunity to utilize this new technology in lab experiments such as extraction and cloning of small strands of DNA, simple replication of DNA through Polymerase Chain Reaction and identification of particular sequences of DNA to advanced genetics labs which will enable students to determine the full sequence of selected gene regions.

Funding for the purchase of the equipment which includes the following: eight gel electrophoresis chambers, two power supplies for electrophoresis, a thermal cycler for Polymerase Chain Reaction, digital gel imaging, 24 pipettes, a micro centrifuge, and a UV Transilluminator will be covered by a generous grant from the Helen Brach Foundation.