Wide view of four students in a DNALC lab classroom using micropipets.

Saturday DNA! Sessions

Add some DNA to your day!

Join us for exciting new Saturday DNA! sessions!
Eventbrite is used for registration and payment.

  • All seats in every session must be reserved using Eventbrite. We do not accept walk-ins.
  • Sessions are $25.00 per person, per session plus Eventbrite registration fee.
  • All sessions are two hours long: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. OR 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
  • The sessions are held at Cold Spring Harbor, Brooklyn, and Sleepy Hollow. Please check the location when registering for sessions.
    • Dolan DNA Learning Center at 334 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
    • DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech at 62 Tillary Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201*
    • Regeneron DNA Learning Center at 1 Rockwood Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
  • The name and email address of each ticket purchaser must be included on your Eventbrite registration. We will not honor reservations that fail to provide this information. If you do not provide this information, your reservation will be cancelled and your registration fee will be refunded.
  • Seats for each session are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • A chaperone 18 or older required for students under 15. Chaperones must purchase tickets and fully participate in all activities.
  • Face masks are optional.
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Saturday, February 10, 2024
 at Cold Spring Harbor

(Past Event) Going the Distance

icon with drawing of the DNA Learning Center

In-person @ Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Dolan DNA Learning Center

Ages 10–13, one adult chaperone required

In the 1970’s the development of agarose gel electrophoresis revolutionized how DNA molecules could be visualized. This technique uses electricity to separate DNA fragments by size as they migrate through a gel matrix, and it is now used for genetic testing, research, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and much more. Come join us and try this technique out for yourself!

In this activity, participants will:

  • learn the basic principles of gel electrophoresis;
  • make an agarose gel and load samples of DNA; and
  • analyze results using UV light.

Details:

  • Saturday, February 10, 2024
  • 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  • Appropriate for ages 10–13
  • $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
  • Dolan DNA Learning Center
    334 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
  • Directions
black and white gel photo

Saturday, February 10, 2024
 at Sleepy Hollow

(Past Event) Dust Away Crime

circular icon with drawing of the Regeneron DNA Learning Center

In-person @ Sleepy Hollow, NY
Regeneron DNA Learning Center

Ages 13-16, no adult chaperone required

Join us to learn the fascinating forensic facts behind fingerprints!

In the late 1800’s, anthropologist Francis Galton established that the microscopic ridges and valleys on the pads of our fingers make uniquely identifiable patterns. In the early 1900’s, scientists and criminologists began to realize that fingerprints could be used in criminal investigation, linking evidence to suspects. In these labs, learn more about fingerprint collection, differentiation and analysis.

In this session, participants will:

  • learn about the history of fingerprint analysis in forensics;
  • explore the general classifications of different patent (visible) prints;
  • analyze their own fingerprint minutiae;
  • lift and analyze fingerprints from surfaces; and
  • apply their fingerprint analysis skills to solve a “mystery”.

Details:

  • Saturday, February 10, 2024
  • 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  • Appropriate for ages 13–16
  • $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
  • Regeneron DNALC
    1 Rockwood Road Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
  • Directions
hanfprint

Saturday, March 16, 2024
 at Cold Spring Harbor

(Past Event) Selection Detection

icon with drawing of the DNA Learning Center

In-person @ Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Dolan DNA Learning Center

Ages 10–13, one adult chaperone required

Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old. For the past 4 billion years all the diversity of life on our planet has been shaped to fit the ever-changing landscape. What are the forces that drive these changes? Come and explore some of the secrets behind theories of natural selection to understand how organisms evolve to survive.

In this session, participants will:

  • demonstrate how different selective pressures can drive evolution;
  • become “predators” to understand the role of prey selection and survival of the fittest; and
  • discuss how the same theories apply to the evolution of our human branch of the “tree of life.”

Details:

  • Saturday, March 16, 2024
  • 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  • Appropriate for ages 10–13
  • $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
  • Dolan DNA Learning Center
    334 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
  • Directions
Digital montage of about 35 photos of living things including species such as lion, turtle, whale, human, amoeba, lady bug, sunflower, etc

Saturday, March 16, 2024
 at Sleepy Hollow

(Past Event) Agar Art

circular icon with drawing of the Regeneron DNA Learning Center

In-person @ Sleepy Hollow, NY
Regeneron DNA Learning Center

Ages 10-13, one adult chaperone required

Join us to learn how you can "paint" with bacteria to create your own art!

Traditional laboratory techniques utilized by scientists to study the world on both a macroscopic and microscopic scale can also be used to create unique works of art. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn multiple techniques to create unique imageries by “painting” with harmless microbes that express colorful proteins as pigment.

In this session, participants will:

  • create Agar Art using genetically engineered bacteria; and
  • gain an appreciation for the components of “BioArt” from both scientific and artistic perspectives.

Details:

  • Saturday, March 16, 2024
  • 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  • Appropriate for ages 10–13
  • $25 per student plus Eventbrite fee
  • Regeneron DNALC
    1 Rockwood Road Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
  • Directions
agar art