Edinburgh pupils turn forensic investigators in hands-on DNA challenge
When sixth form pupils return to Merchiston Castle School, Scotland’s only all-boys independent day and boarding school, some will step into the role of forensic investigators, using advanced DNA testing techniques to work through a staged classroom case.
The hands-on biology challenge will see pupils collect and extract DNA samples before using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine to create millions of copies of the DNA for analysis. They will then use gel electrophoresis to separate the samples and compare their genetic ‘fingerprints’, ultimately identifying the culprit.
The techniques mirror those used in forensic and research laboratories, giving pupils the opportunity to work with specialist equipment while putting the biology they learn in the classroom into practice.
Rather than bringing in an external provider or taking pupils to a university laboratory, Merchiston has invested in the equipment needed to run the programme in-house, giving pupils regular access to techniques they could go on to encounter in further study and careers across science, medicine and biotechnology.
Hannah Williams, Head of Science at Merchiston Castle School, said: “There’s something completely different about learning the theory behind DNA and then actually being able to extract it, amplify it and use the results to solve a problem yourself.
Giving pupils access to this kind of equipment allows us to take science beyond the textbook. They get to see how the techniques they are learning about are actually used and hopefully start thinking about where those skills could take them in the future.
They’re also not simply following a script, they have to look at the evidence, work out what the data is telling them and troubleshoot when something doesn’t go as expected. That builds confidence, curiosity and problem-solving skills as well as their scientific knowledge.”
The DNA challenge forms part of Merchiston’s wider approach to practical science, giving pupils opportunities to apply what they learn to real-world problems and explore how those skills translate into careers.
To learn more about Merchiston Castle School, please visit https://www.merchiston.co.uk/