Fun with DNA: An Introduction to Genetics and Biotechnology

Session I: JuNE 28 - JULY 11, 2026
Session II: July 12-25, 2026

Cost: $5,000

Age: Rising 7th and 8th graders
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 30 STUDENTS PER SESSION
 

Presented by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center  

Fun with DNA is a hands-on camp that introduces curious middle school students to the fascinating world of molecular biology and builds a foundation for future STEM learning. Through real-world lab experiments and engaging activities, they will explore how biology works at the molecular level and how it’s used in cutting-edge research and industry.

Throughout week one, students will perform labs that illustrate seminal concepts of genetics, including DNA structure and function, mutation, heredity, and protein synthesis. This will be followed by a deep-dive into enzymes—proteins that carry out essential chemical reactions—and how they’re used by scientists in experimentation and applied fields. They will develop basic micropipetting and sterile-technique skills, and perform advanced molecular biology procedures such as DNA isolation, bacterial transformation, DNA restriction digest, agarose gel electrophoresis, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

During week two, students will apply what they’ve learned to complete a biotechnology project that mirrors the pharmaceutical manufacturing of human proteins like Insulin. First, they will create a recombinant DNA molecule that contains the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) gene, normally found in a Pacific jellyfish. The gene will be engineered into bacteria, stimulating the production of GFP, which will then be isolated and purified. The session will conclude with a showcase, where students share what they’ve learned and accomplished in the lab. By the end of the program, they will come away with a better understanding of DNA science and confidence in themselves as scientists, sparking curiosity that can last well beyond the camp experience.