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2025 Summer :DNA Lab Camps for Teens in Suzhou

发布时间:2025/06/04 点击数: 【字体:

Summer Camp & Instructor Profiles


This summer, immerse yourself in the world of biotechnology, right here in Suzhou. 


Join us for the "Green Genes"Summer Camp, led by experts from the Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center (CSHL DNALC, USA), with on-site guidance from senior instructors at Cold Spring Harbor Asia DNA Learning Center.

 

Our"Genome Science"and"DNA Barcoding"Summer Camp offers an unparalleled learning experience, combining expert instruction and hands-on exploration of cutting-edge scientific concepts.



🔬 Program Highlights:

✅ Hands-On LearningExplore Green Genes, Genome Science and DNA Barcoding through real lab experiments. Students will extract DNA, analyze genetic material, and solve biological puzzles in a research-level setting.

✅ International Expertise, Local Experience

→ Instruction by leading educators from CSHL DNALC (New York, USA)  

→ On-site mentorship by senior instructors from Cold Spring Harbor Asia DNA Learning Center, bringing local expertise to global standards.

✅ Advanced Scientific EducationWith small class sizes and personalized instruction, our curriculum is designed to challenge and engage students, while drawing from Cold Spring Harbor’s renowned academic standards. Courses also aligned with international standards, including NGSS, AP, IB, and A-LEVEL, etc.



✨ Why Join?

 Master cutting-edge biotech techniques  

→ Strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills through real-world scientific applications


🚀 Convenience Meets Excellence

→ World-class science, right in your city—no need for international travel.  

→ Perfect for ambitious students who aim to excel on global science platforms.



📅 Limited Spots Available!

Enroll today to secure your seat.Parents & Teachers: Share this extraordinary opportunity with aspiring young scientists!


01

DNA BARCODING

Grades:Entering grades 11-12 Students interested in ecology and molecular taxonomy.
01
DETAILS

  • July 28-August 1 & August 4-8

  • Monday to Friday 

    9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 


  • Teaching Language: English.

  • Laptop Required


  • 10-28 students


Scan the code to sign up

02
STUDENTS WILL
  • Extract and amplify DNA from tissue samples;

  • Use web-based bioinformatic tools to analyze DNA sequences and identify species of origin;

  • Create phylogenetic trees to display genetic and evolutionary relationships;

  • Use building blocks to model how polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to amplify DNA barcodes; 

  • Complete an open-ended project to investigate food fraud or study biodiversity.

03
DNA BARCODING

Experience the process of science in this project-based camp. A short "DNA barcode" (about 700 nucleotides in length) is a unique pattern of DNA sequence that can potentially identify any living thing. DNA barcoding projects allow students to link molecular genetics to ecology and evolution—with the potential to contribute new scientific knowledge about biodiversity, conservation biology, and human effects on the environment. 

04
INSTRUCTOR 

    Cristina Fernandez Marco, Ph.D.

    Manager, External Collaborations

    DNA Learning Center


    Dr. Cristina Fernandez  joined the Virology Department and received her Ph.D. in Plant Biology in 2004. Her research focused on the genetic diversity of RNA viruses affecting major crops in southeastern Europe, and she became particularly skilled in using whiteflies as vectors for the viruses.

    Dr. Fernandez continued her research as a postdoctoral fellow at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where she studied genes that influence leaf and embryonic development in basic model organisms.

    After transitioning from the lab, she joined the DNA Learning Center team as an educator. Over the past ten years, she has taught a variety of high school courses and summer workshops. She now serves as the Manager of External Collaborations and supervises Barcode Long Island, a student-driven research program that engages high school students in studying biodiversity in the suburban areas around New York City.

    Xinyue Wang, MRes in Molecular Biology

    CSHA-DNALC Educator

    Barcode Suzhou Project Mentor

    Nature Education Certification

    I’m Xinyue Wang, MRes in Molecular Biology from the University of Liverpool. During my master's studies, I collaborated with an international research team at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NINS) in Okazaki, Japan, studying TRPA channels and publishing related academic papers. Later, I joined Dr,Boris Tefsen’s team at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, where I participated in a national research programme on new tuberculosis detection method.

    Since 2018, I have been dedicated to science education and currently work as a science instructor at the Cold Spring Harbor Asia DNA Learning Center. I focus on developing life science education programs and hands-on lab training. I also mentor the "Barcode Suzhou" project , guiding students in scientific research projects and helping them publish DNA sequence data (152 on NCBI so far).

    Passionate about nature and fascinated by biodiversity, I believe science is not just about laboratory experiments but also an exciting way to explore the world. Through this summer camp, I hope to share the joy of science with young explorers and inspire them to discover the endless possibilities of life sciences!


    02

    GENOME SCIENCE

    Grades:Entering grades 11
    01
    DETAILS

    • August 4-8 


    • Monday to Friday 

      9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 


    • Teaching Language: English.

    • Laptop Required


    • 10-28 students


    Scan the code to sign up

    02
    STUDENTS WILL
    • Using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and DNA sequencing to explore variations in the human mitochondrial genome – and then bioinformatics to explore human origins and migrations with the data;

    • Using PCR to test for insertion polymorphism of the transposable sequence element Alu;

    • Using PCR to explore the relationship between genotype and phenotype for a taste receptor that affects the ability to taste the bitter chemical phenylthiocarbamide (PTC);

    • Using PCR to identify genetically modified plants and food products;

    • Using online bioinformatic tools for genomic analysis and gene mapping.

    03
    GENOME SCIENCE

    The term genome was coined in 1920 by the German botanist Hans Winkler. A combination of the words gene and chromosome, a genome is the set of genes located on one or more chromosomes that defines a living organism. The concept of a genome has been expanded to mean the entire sequence of DNA nucleotides or "letters" (ATGC) that compose the genetic information within an organism's set of chromosomes, or all of its genes. Complete genome sequences are now available for humans and many plants and animals. With this information in hand, the next step is for scientists to understand the physiological functions of the thousands of genes for which little is known beyond their sequences.

    In this camp, participants will use Nobel Prize-winning technologies to analyze the genetic complement of several organisms.

    04
    INSTRUCTOR

      Cristina Fernandez Marco, Ph.D.

      Manager, External Collaborations

      DNA Learning Center


      Dr. Cristina Fernandez  joined the Virology Department and received her Ph.D. in Plant Biology in 2004. Her research focused on the genetic diversity of RNA viruses affecting major crops in southeastern Europe, and she became particularly skilled in using whiteflies as vectors for the viruses.

      Dr. Fernandez continued her research as a postdoctoral fellow at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where she studied genes that influence leaf and embryonic development in basic model organisms.

      After transitioning from the lab, she joined the DNA Learning Center team as an educator. Over the past ten years, she has taught a variety of high school courses and summer workshops. She now serves as the Manager of External Collaborations and supervises Barcode Long Island, a student-driven research program that engages high school students in studying biodiversity in the suburban areas around New York City.


      03

      Green Genes 

      Grades: entering grade 8-9 or World of Enzymes alumni entering grade 7
      01
      DETAILS

      • July 7–11 

      • Monday to Thursday 

        9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Friday Parent Day 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 

      • Teaching Language: English

      • 10-28 students


      Scan the code to sign up


      02
      STUDENTS WILL

      • use enzymes to cut and paste genes to form a functional plasmid;

      • analyze results with gel electrophoresis; 

      • genetically engineer bacteria to produce a visible protein; 

      • use polymerase chain reaction to amplify DNA fragments;  

      • isolate and purify GFP using chromatography.

      03
      Green Genes 

      Green Genes is a biotechnology camp that introduces the practical applications of recombinant DNA technology. Through a series of lab experiments, students utilize many of the same techniques employed by pharmaceutical companies to produce human insulin. Through cloning and expressing Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), normally found in the Pacific jellyfish Aequoria Victoria, students work each day towards a final goal of extracting and purifying a jellyfish protein from genetically engineered bacteria. Each experiment acts as a stepping stone for the next day's work, requiring students to demonstrate proper lab techniques.

      04
      INSTRUCTOR


        Kelsie Anson, Ph.D.

        Educator

        DNA Learning Center NYC


        I completed a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 2020 at the University of Colorado in Boulder. My research used fluorescent sensors to measure fluctuations of zinc ions and determine the role these ions play in crucial cell signaling pathways. While at the University of Colorado, I also created an interactive teaching case study where undergraduates learned how to genetically engineer bacteria to break down environmental toxins. I also helped middle schoolers learn about optical physics and occasionally starred on the podcast Buffs Talk Science.

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