Excursion for the biology courses in year 11
Everyday school life can be very monotonous, which is why the biology foundation courses in year 11 at Joliot-Curie-Gymnasium visited the DLR student laboratory at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences on December 3 and 4, 2025, to gain additional practical experience.
During the visit, the students dealt with small excerpts from modern genetic research.
Dr. rer. nat. habil. Thomas Fester guided and supported the pupils, who were divided into groups. After a short introduction, in which the process of DNA replication was repeated to refresh their knowledge, exercises on precise work with micropipettes followed, whereby the focus was initially on decanting water. Handling these pipettes forms the basis for scientific work in the field of genetic research, which is why accuracy is essential.
After ensuring that the students were confident in handling the micropipettes, the next goal was to pour an agarose gel, creating sample pockets within the gel (by inserting combs) in order to later load them with markers (to mark the first pocket) and DNA loading buffer mixtures. The DNA samples were already prepared to save time. To obtain the analysis of the agarose gel, the DNA must first be run from the cathode to the anode for 60 minutes at 80 volts. When this process is complete, the gel is placed under the Geldoku system, causing the DNA bands to glow in UV light (DNA binds the fluorescent dye).
After a one-hour lunch break, during which the local bakery was supported, Prof. Dr. Thomas Wiegert provided information about the objectives and structure of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and also outlined possible future prospects for future university entrance qualification candidates.
Afterwards, pupils and the accompanying teacher Ms. Clausnitzer were tested for super-tasters, tasters and non-tasters. Bitter tasting strips in different variations were used for this purpose, which consequently elicited differentiated reactions from each person.
Finally, the pupils made preparations of their own saliva and then examined them under light microscopes. In connection with this, the students were asked to extract their DNA, for which they rinsed their mouths thoroughly with saline solution and pipetted the resulting liquid into a 1.5 ml reaction vessel. The samples were then centrifuged for 90 seconds at 4000g. The students showed great interest and enthusiasm for the ultracentrifuge, which is why there was even greater disappointment when the experiment could not be completed due to time constraints.
In summary, the Year 11 students experienced a successful excursion that imparted both practical skills and subject-specific knowledge relating to genetic research.
Anica Czarnowsky, Charlotte Rothenburger, Florentine Scholz, Antonia Skuras
