Grace Dauer

Autumn Rounds
Applications of PCR
We will first preset a PowerPoint to teach the students how PCR is used
in various fields such as in a clinical setting, forensics, food safety, and
scientific research.
We will then split the students up into two groups. Each group will get
a scenario of how PCR was used and then answer a question with the
PCR results that are given.
The first scenario involves blood samples from a crime scene that were
amplified using PCR, and matching the PCR results to the suspects
DNA.

The second scenario involves matching samples taken from produce at

a grocery store to the DNA of an infectious bacterium.

This activity addresses the standard: Citeexamplesofscientificadvancesand

emergingtechnologiesandhowtheyaffectsociety.Thisactivityteachesthestudents
howPCR(afairlynewbiotechnologytool)isusedtobettersociety,whetheritisthrough
helpingtosolveamurdercaseorusingittocheckthesafetyoffood.Throughthis
activity,thestudentswillgetavisualideaofhowPCRisusedandshouldthereforebe
abletounderstandalittlebetterhowitisusedinotherfieldsnotrepresentedinthe
activity.