Marine Educative Area "Generation 7" : Discovering DNA

This morning, the 7ème A class from Saint Charles School had the privilege of visiting Charles III College to explore the fascinating world of DNA using the resources available in the science lab. Dr. Heike Molenaar, a member of the AMPN Scientific Council, led the session with an engaging and educational approach, allowing the students to discover concepts typically reserved for older students.

The morning began with a discussion on the characteristics of a living being, followed by a microscope observation of a newt’s shedding. Through this, the students were able to identify the different structures of a cell: the membrane, the cytoplasm, and the nucleus, where DNA is located.

Next, they followed a scientific protocol to isolate cell nuclei from various fruits and extract the DNA. The subsequent step involved learning how to extract their own DNA. 

These activities helped them understand that DNA is present in all living organisms, with a unique signature for each species and even each individual—a key concept for the study of environmental DNA they will soon undertake within the Educational Marine Area!

A big thank you to the administration of Charles III College for their warm welcome and to Dr. Heike Molenaar for her invaluable contribution.

This program is supported by the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco and the Government of Monaco.