DNA & Life
Biodiversity and Molecular Biology
The DNA & Life educational program is based on one of the newest DNA methods for examining biodiversity. DNA & Life is a unique citizen science project where high school students map selected aquatic animals in Denmark by analyzing environmental DNA (eDNA) collected in fresh, salt, and brackish water.
At DNAlab, your class will have the opportunity to learn about molecular biology, bioinformatics, biodiversity, and ecology.
DNA & life – high school students in frontline research
DNA & Life brings high school students up close to research and into the inner workings of scientists in the museum's DNA laboratory, DNAlab. Here, they participate in developing methods and collecting and analysing data and samples for use in research and management. Read some of the published scientific research HERE.
DNA & Life is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and conducted in collaboration with the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, where DNA & Life examines Danish bodies of water to find environmental DNA. The goal is to detect the spread of selected non-native species.
The Danish Environmental Protection Agency works on various initiatives, including securing Danish nature from invasive species. High school students can assist with this effort by collecting environmental DNA in the field and conducting laboratory analyses of these samples in our DNAlab.
Time and registration for both field and laboratory work will be available on our website before each relevant season.
DNA & Life 2022-2024
In collaboration with the project "DNA på FORKANT", DNA & Life will investigate Danish fjords and marine areas to find environmental DNA. The goal is to detect the distribution of selected species.
The results are expected to provide new information about individual species, their interactions, and their connections to climate change, nutrient runoff, fishing, and other human influences.
Time and registration for both fieldwork and laboratory work will be available on our website before each respective season.
Fieldwork 2024
The "DNA på FORKANT" project opens fieldwork for the collection of environmental DNA samples in the Limfjord. Read practical information about the fieldwork HERE.
DNA & life Teaching Courses 2024
During the fieldwork in 2024, environmental DNA samples are collected in the Limfjord and other fjords as part of the “DNA på FORKANT” project. SSome of these samples will be analysed in the museum's DNAlab in DNA & Life teaching sessions. When registration for this is available, it will be indicated here on the website. Read practical information about the teaching program HERE.
Laboratory methods
Field work & Collecting DNA
Participate in lab work
Practical information
Danske hjemmeside
Contact
Marie Rathcke Lillemark
Project manager
Maria Rytter
Teacher and developer
Sarah Hagel Svendsen
Teacher and developer
Email: dnalab@snm.ku.dk
Visit our Danish website.
Scientific Articles
Former Projects
What do the teachers say:
"I highly recommend the course to others. Actually, I already did, and I also booked the course for my second class. The students and I think that this is a really great biology-biotechnology course, partly because the theme, biodiversity, is highly relevant, and partly because the way that the real-time PCR is done, is very involving - the students get a hands-on and thorough understanding of the technique. Finally, the part where we identify the species by using a classical identification key is a good way to learn biology - this kind of teaching we could never manage to do in our own class room."
Karin, teacher at Ordrup High School
"Thank you for a really great course! This is the second time I visit DNAlab - this time with a first year high school class in biology. DNA & life is a highly relevant course that fits in well with our level of biology teaching. My students went home with lab experience and insight into biological and modern biotechnology methods. For a day, the students felt like real researchers at the university. I’m very positive towards the contents, the relevance, and the teaching quality. It’s just great that you get a course that combines biotechnology and biodiversity, and at the same time suits our level of teaching. I highly recommend this course to all biology and biotechnology teachers"
Peter, teacher at Hillerød Technical High School
"The experience and knowledge that my students got from working with real-time PCR was great. The combination of traditional species identification and eDNA is really great because the students get to do cross disciplinary work. This gives the students a good overview of the many disciplines in the field of biology."
Nils, teacher at Vordingborg High School
"Thank you DNAlab. I highly recommend you to other high schools! I chose this project because the students get to be part of a larger research project. This gives the students a lot of insight in lab work, the importance of lab routines, seeing a professional lab, and they get a sense of what it means to work in a lab and all the processes that are involved. The project combines field biology and molecular biology and we get to work with the whole ecosystem down to the smallest parts of a DNA molecule."
Marie, teacher at Køge Private School