YOUNG biologists have been sprouting their interest in science thanks to a visit to a state-of-the-art laboratory.
Year 13 biologists from Conyers School descended on the Life Science Centre in Newcastle to complete a full university-level lab practical.
Students tested their tastebuds to see if they could taste the bitter PTC chemical found in sprouts.
They then extracted DNA from their cheek cells and amplified it using PCR. After that the DNA was digested with restriction endonuclease enzymes and underwent gel electrophoresis to separate the fragments and view them under UV light to determine if they had the genes for tasting or non-tasting of PTC.
Assistant head of science Laura McGuinness-Brown said: “Despite being first-timers, students showed superb lab skills using micropipettes and loading the gel which are both extremely tricky techniques.”