Biology Field Trips
We bring to Puerto Rico world-renowned education programs as engaging hands-on biology field trips that are offered as a pilot activity in our newly built laboratory classrooms.
Available dates in spring 2025
- April 1, 3, 8, 10, 22, 24, and 29
- May 1, 6, 8, 20, and 22
Who should attend
- Field trips can only be reserved by schools accredited by the Puerto Rico Department of Education.
- Minimum class size is 4 students and maximum class size is 26 students.
How to register:
- Middle and high schools may book one free biology field trip in spring 2025
- Field trips must be booked with at least 7 days in advance
- We will email and call you to confirm your registration
- Click on the link below to register
Frequently asked questions:
- Do schools need to provide their own transportation? Yes
- Is there food onsite? No, students must bring their own lunches.
- How long is the duration of the Biology Field Trips? Middle school trips run from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and high school trips run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- How do I choose a Biology Field Trip for registering? Trips are booked based on the student’s grade level and your topic of interest. We are available to discuss your choices and help you decide.
Apply to attend
For more information email at: visit@areciboc3.org
Biology Field Trips for Middle School
(Students in grades 5 to 8)
DNA Fingerprint
Human DNA is more alike than different, so how do we find the differences? Restriction enzymes are proteins that recognize specific DNA sequences and can be used to determine whether a particular DNA sequence is present. In this lab, DNA from “evidence” and “suspects” will be compared using restriction enzyme digest and agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA analysis will then be combined with crime scene data to draw conclusions about each suspect.
Students will:
- learn about restriction enzymes;
- observe how agarose gel electrophoresis is used to produce a DNA fingerprint;
- compare DNA fingerprints from “evidence” and “suspects”; and
- determine who left their DNA at a “crime scene”.
Download: Prelab, Skills, and Standards Alignments (Español)
Glowing Genes
This experiment illustrates the direct link between an organism's genetic complement (genotype) and its observable characteristics (phenotype). Two genes, for antibiotic resistance and luminescence, are introduced into the bacterium E. coli. Following overnight incubation, transformed bacteria are compared to non-transformed bacteria for their ability to grow in the presence of ampicillin and glow when exposed to ultraviolet light.
Students will:
- observe the effect of antibiotics on bacteria;
- learn how plasmids are used to introduce new genes into bacterial cells;
- understand how bacteria can be used to make human proteins such as insulin; and
- discuss how GFP can be used as a molecular reporter in research.
Downloadr: Prelab, Skills, and Standards Alignments (Español)
Protein Purification
In this lab, green fluorescent protein (GFP) is isolated from genetically engineered bacterial cells. Using a technique called hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), GFP is separated from cellular proteins through binding with a hydrophobic resin. Upon completion of the lab, tubes of purified GFP fluoresce bright green when exposed to UV light.
Students will:
- learn how GFP is used as a molecular reporter in research;
- lyse engineered bacterial cells to release GFP and cellular proteins;
- use chromatography to separate GFP from other cellular proteins; and
- discuss how bacterial cells can be used to produce human proteins.
Download: Prelab, Skills, and Standards Alignments (Español)
Apply to attend
For more information email at: visit@areciboc3.org
Biology Field Trips for High School
(Students in grades 9 to 12)
Bacterial Transformation: Green Fluorescent Protein
The bacterial transformation experiment illustrates the direct link between an organism's genetic complement (genotype) and its observable characteristics (phenotype). Two genes, for antibiotic resistance and fluorescence, are introduced into the bacterium E. coli. Following overnight incubation, transformed bacteria are compared to non-transformed bacteria for their ability to grow in the presence of ampicillin and glow when exposed to ultraviolet light.
Students will:
- Perform a bacterial transformation
- Culture bacteria in Petri dishes
- Learn how GFP is used as a molecular reporter in research
- Discuss medical applications of genetic engineering
Download: Prelab, Skills, and Standards Alignments (Español)
Bacterial Transformation: Lactase
The bacterial transformation experiment illustrates the direct link between an organism's genetic complement (genotype) and its observable characteristics (phenotype). Two genes, for antibiotic resistance and lactose digestion, are introduced into the bacterium E. coli. Following overnight incubation, transformed bacteria are compared to non-transformed bacteria for their ability to survive in the presence of ampicillin and digest lactose, as indicated by a color change.
Students will:
- Perform a bacterial transformation
- Culture bacteria in Petri dishes
- Learn about enzyme mediated digestion of lactose
- Discuss medical applications of genetic engineering
Download: Prelab, Skills, and Standards Alignments (Español)
DNA Restriction Analysis
The DNA restriction analysis experiment demonstrates that DNA can be precisely manipulated with enzymes that recognize and cut specific target sequences. In this lab, restriction enzymes—the scissors of molecular biology—are used to digest DNA from the bacteriophage lambda. After cutting, the DNA fragments are visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis, allowing students to identify a “mystery” enzyme through comparison with controls.
Students will:
- learn about restriction enzymes
- observe how agarose gel electrophoresis is used to analyze DNA fragments
- understand how restriction enzymes are used to validate a DNA sequence
Download: Prelab, Skills, and Standards Alignments (Español)
DNA Fingerprint
Human DNA is more alike than different, so how do we find the differences? Restriction enzymes are proteins that recognize specific DNA sequences and can be used to determine whether a particular DNA sequence is present. In this lab, DNA from “evidence” and “suspects” will be compared using restriction enzyme digest and agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA analysis will then be combined with crime scene data to draw conclusions about each suspect. This is an introductory lab, appropriate for classes with little or no experience in molecular biology.
Students will:
- learn about restriction enzymes;
- observe how agarose gel electrophoresis is used to produce a DNA fingerprint;
- compare DNA fingerprints from “evidence” and “suspects”; and
- determine who left their DNA at a “crime scene”.
Download: Prelab, Skills, and Standards Alignments (Español)
Apply to attend
For more information email at: visit@areciboc3.org
Designed and approved by the DNA Learning Center (DNALC) of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), the world’s first science center devoted entirely to public genetics education and the largest provider of biotechnology instruction at the precollege level in the United States. We want all the students in our country, from public and private schools, to have the opportunity to raise their level and quality of academic training.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF Awards ID 2321759, 2321760, and 2321761. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.
