Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

We have all faced the terrifying “blank stare wall” when teaching biotechnology concepts such as PCR, Sanger sequencing, and restriction enzymes. Explore how you can cover all of these topics and more using a single modeling kit. Through NGSS-focused lessons, your students can experience the process, not memorize results.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will learn about the benefits of hands-on modeling. 2. Participants will practice one application of PCR modeling. 3. Participants will see how modeling with the Biotechnology kit already fits into their curriculum and can increase student mastery.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Sigalas (Livingston High School: Livingston, NJ), Heather Ryan (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI), Kris Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling

We will focus on the defining feature of CRISPR technology, the ability of the Cas9 endonuclease to find and cut DNA at a unique site in the 3.2 billion base-pair human genome. We will also explore how a related CRISPR protein is being used to detect the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will see how models can be used to investigate how the mechanism of the CRISPR/Cas9 system is used to edit genomes. 2. Participants will learn how CRISPR technology is being used in current Coronavirus research. 3. Participants will discover the benefits of hands-on modeling and how it improves student understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI), Heather Ryan (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI), Kris Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)