The Waksman Student Scholars Program (WSSP) is an after school research class at East Brunswick High School that gives students the chance to perform research in biochemistry and molecular genetics.
The image to the left is of a plant called Landoltia punctata, also known as duckweed. The goal of the 2017-2018 WSSP project is to sequence genes from this organism. Students will purify Landoltia DNA through several in-class molecular genetics labs and the DNA will be sent to sequencing companies to be determined. Then, students will study these sequences using BLAST analysis. After determining the function of these genes, the students’ analyses will be submitted to the NCBI for publication.
An informal way of explaining what members do:
AS AN INDIVIDUAL:
AS A CLASS:
AS AN INDIVIDUAL:
- You get cells from Rutgers
- You get the DNA from these cells and send the DNA to be sequenced
- Your sequences are posted online and you analyze them
- You get published on NCBI!! (National Center for Biotechnology Information)
AS A CLASS:
- Pick one sequence that is the most interesting and study the protein it codes for
- Make a three-dimensional (3D) model of the protein
- Make a poster to accompany the model
- Present the poster and model at the Poster Forum
Click on the link below if you have more questions!
Click on the link below to meet this year's Exec Board!