Do the fish fingers on my plate really contain the fish species declared on the packaging? How often can I consume fish and which fish species should I choose in order to eat sustainably? In the molecular biology student laboratories at the Helene Lange School in Oldenburg and the Copernicus Gymnasium in Löningen, molecular biology methods such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the ELISA method or gel electropheresis are linked to these everyday questions and clearly communicated. At the same time, the laboratories contribute to education for sustainable development (ESD).

The school laboratories are equipped with modern life science equipment and allow students to work independently in small groups. The laboratory days on offer are supervised by trained teachers on site, with the accompanying teachers being closely involved. In this way, the laboratory experiences can be taken up and deepened in subsequent lessons.

The Biology Didactics Working Group supports the schools by advising on the procurement and set-up of the school laboratory and by introducing the project teachers to the methods and providing ongoing training. It also works together with the school to develop suitable teaching and learning concepts, which are regularly evaluated. Student teachers are involved in this process by participating in the development of suitable laboratory day concepts and carrying out studies on learning effectiveness and learner prerequisites. At the same time, the school supports the university in the practical components of teacher training by involving students in practical exercises in the sense of a teaching-learning laboratory. In this way, the project promotes the specialised and didactic skills of prospective teachers.

The lab days developed so far include

• What's in my fish fingers? Food analysis of fish species using PCR
• Tracking down DNA: biochemical detection of DNA building blocks
• The corona epidemic: detection of infection using the ELISA test method -
• Related vegetables: Phylogenetic analyses of cabbage subspecies using PCR and DNA sequencing
• On the hunt for the tumour gene: Personalised cancer therapy using DNA microarray
• The genetic fingerprint: paternity tests and criminalistics

Contact: Dr Wiebke Rathje

You can find out more on the pages of the cooperating schools:

HLS laboratory at Helene-Lange School Oldenburg: https://www.hls-ol.de/schulleben/aus-dem-unterricht/fachbereiche/naturwissenschaften/hls-labor

Copernicus Gymnasium Löningen: https://www.cgl-online.de/angebot/molekularbiologisches-schuelerlabor