Kristijan Tkalec (5HEK), Nadav Sagir (Crafty Builders)

Friday Academy: ‘GenLab’

During this Friday Academy, 10 enthusiastic participants explored what it means to be a biotechnologist, with particular regard for microorganisms and genetics. In the ten-part workshop, the participants first became acquainted with laboratory equipment and its inner workings, compared the activities of fictional characters, such as dr. Frankenstein, with the tasks performed by real scientists, and finally, on the basis of the information gained so far, the participants began tackling the workshop’s main challenge. With the aid of yet another skilled team from Kersnikova, the Crafty Builders, experts at web modeling and 3D printing, the participants created designs for lab equipment and electronics needed for further research. Once the equipment and all the necessary components were printed, our promising geniuses began researching DNA, genetics, genetic inheritance and cells. They also visited the exhibition by Maja Smrekar at the Kapelica Gallery, where they became more closely acquainted with how the questions they tackled are answered by art, offering a unique perspective on science and humanity. Finally, they isolated DNA from saliva and learned about and used the polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis.

Photo: Hana Jošić

Key words: Biotechnology, Biology, Design