Before the Time of COVID 19

     Before schools closed two weeks ago, Ballard Biotech Academy students had been busy doing lots of lab work and learning complex biotechnology techniques to perform several experiments.  In biology, students were learning the tools of the trade such as micropipetting and gel electrophoresis in order to conduct several  lab experiments in molecular biology.  In genetics, students learned the basics of microbial genetics and conducted experiments in bacterial transformation and recombinant DNA techniques. 

     Both groups of students were also preparing for upcoming competitions: the Central Sound Regional Science Fair-now moved to the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair-happening virtually on March 27. Genetics students were prepping for the Student BioExpo-which was cancelled due to COVID 19 concerns. 

     As we isolate our selves in order to contain this current outbreak, we hope to connect virtually as best we can either through Schoology, e-mail, or video chats.  Stay well everyone and let us hope to reconnect at the end of April.

Genetics students prepping samples.

Careful pipetting.

Precision gel loading to verify digest.

Focused gel loading.

Happy pause between bacteria and plasmid transfer.

Prepping transformation.

Team work pipetting plasmids.

Careful sterilization between spreading plates.

Successful transformation of pBLU!

Happy young scientists prepping for 2nd transformation using recombinant DNA plasmids.

Team work!

Lots of different plates this time.

Final plating of transformed bacteria. Phew!  Nine plates!

Biology students learning how to use the gel boxes.

Learning the properties of gel electrophoresis.

Pipetting practice!

Steady gel loading techniques.

Nice technique!

Steady hands!

Making observations.

Prepping gel for loading samples.

Careful attention to pipetting.

Analyzing DNA and collecting data from gel run.