How do scientists discover the underlying genetic mutations that are associated with various diseases? Do you wonder how the understanding of DNA replication allows scientists to manipulate the human genome? In the PCRi Biology course, students will learn how scientists answer these revolutionary questions. This course will introduce high school students to the basics of biological research with a particular focus on molecular biology and genetics.

We will provide students with a foundational understanding of the central dogma, and introduce them to routinely used experimental techniques in biological research, including PCR, Western blotting, and CRISPR. Over the course of six weeks, students will collaborate with their peers to analyze primary scientific literature, apply their knowledge of research tools to answer real-world biological questions, and interact with leading principal investigators and graduate students to explore the vast career opportunities that research has to offer. By the end of this course, students will have gained the professional skills necessary to work confidently in laboratory settings. Students will join a diverse community of future scientists to explore their individual interests and prepare them to enter the realm of research.