This week, our Year 12 Biology and Human Biology students attended the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.

Students took part in both virtual and real experiments that aim to identify and trace genetic disease in families. Students studied the disease Mitochondrial Myopathy, which is a rare genetic disease that occurs when muscle cells don’t uptake oxygen resulting in severe fatigue and exercise intolerance. These experiments included Polymerase Chain Reactions, which is the use of a thermocycler to create large volumes of DNA and Gel Electrophoresis, which is then used to separate DNA into stands that can be assessed for the presence of mutated DNA sequences.

Students also had the opportunity to visit the research laboratories and find out about the facilities myriad of research projects into Cancer, Cardiovascular disease and rare genetic diseases.

Mr Shane Willshire
Science Teacher