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Biogen Idec Reflection

In science we have been studing reproduction, DNA, genes, and chromosomes. So to help us have a better understanding of these topics we went on a science field trip to the Biogen Idec Lab. At the lab we did an experiment with DNA trying to find out if pataints could take a cancer medision. A woman named Annie was our guide and walked us though the whole experiment. When we first got there Annie greeted us and look us into a big room. She then gave us lab coats, goggles, and gloves. We split up into table groups of 4 an 3. I was with Max, John and Marcello. She explained about Biogen Idec, her job there and about how to work with a micropipette. We then got to experiment with the micropipettes with colored water. After that she explained what experiment we were going to do and how to do it. She gave us a work sheet that had instructions and put us strait to work. We were given samples of “fake” DNA in tubes and first had to measure out very small different amounts of H2O, buffer, HindIII, and Nhe 1 to put into it. Then we put the DNA into a heater that was 37 degrees Celsius for 20. When it was ready we spun the tubes in a little machine that makes that DNA move to the bottom. The next step was to add in the leading die, this was bright blue. After that we used our micropipette to add the control die in the wells of our agarose gel box. Then we each got to use our micropipettes to fill a well of the agarose gel box of our own DNA solution. The DNA had to sit for at least 45 minutes to see if the DNA split. If it spit that means that the patient could take the medication. If it stayed one piece than the patient could not take it. The DNA splits if it has TPMT, if it doesn’t (it has fTPMT) then it will stay in one peice. During the 45 minute time frame we ate a really good lunch and played Volleyball.

We came back to the lab and examended the die. We could not see the DNA because the die seperated from the DNA so we had to look at it under a UV light. In our group, two of the DNA wells split and two stayed in one piece. That means that half of the patients could take the medicaion. At the end we talked about the results of the experiment and then were given time to ask questions.

I really liked doing this experiment. It was really cool to see and do what the scientists at Biogen Idec do. I also liked learning about how different medisons are made and how long the procces takes to acally get a drug to pataints. It was really intertesting to use the scientific equiptment and suplies. I never knew how much time and effort it takes just to test if one pataint can take a medication. Over all I really liked this field trip to Biogen Idec and would love to go again in the future.