LSC-Montgomery Introduction to Biotechnology students process mock murder suspect DNA as part of their classroom laboratory requirements, just in time for Halloween. |
scary Halloween surprise during class on Wednesday, October 29. The students walked in on a heinous murder, staged using one of the classes advanced students playing the role of the victim, and four additional students dressed as the intended suspects of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and the evil queen from Snow White. Utilizing a kit containing crime scene-oriented scenarios that the college purchased from the vendor BioRad, the exercise gave students the opportunity to learn a technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is an extremely important technique in the biotechnology industry and is the method of choice for DNA testing by the FBI and other criminal justice organizations.
"We thought the students would enjoy this real world 'simulation' since Friday is Halloween," said Dr. Daniel Kainer, director of LSC-Montgomery's Biotechnology Institute. "The fun part for us is that the intro students have no idea this will be happening and that some of our more advanced students have been helping prepare for this surprise."
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community college systems in the nation. Dr. Steve Head is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.