Museum to Offer DNA Workshop

If you missed the chapter on DNA and inheritance in school — or it has been so long that you cannot recall your adenine from your guanine — the KU Natural History Museum is providing the chance to brush up on your science.

The museum will offer a hands-on workshop on DNA for adults at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. “Dabbling in DNA” will begin with an overview of just what deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is and how it works. Participants will learn how to extract their own DNA using everyday household items, investigate simple inherited traits in humans and learn about how DNA sequencing works in crime scene investigations.

Dawn Kirchner, museum educator, and Teresa MacDonald, director of education, will lead the workshop.

“Children get many opportunities to learn through hands-on activities,” MacDonald said. “However, often as people get older, these more interactive experiences are replaced by lectures. We’re offering a workshop on DNA because it’s creates a fun and engaging way to learn about what can be an intimidating topic.”

Participants are asked to register for the workshop by 5 p.m. Nov. 9 by calling (785) 864-4173. Open to adults 18 and older, the workshop is $10 for museum members and students and $12 for the public.