Genes a Perfect Fit With Teens

* High school students learn all the twists about DNA at PC science camp

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PROVIDENCE – Pedro Teixeira twisted open a small plastic dish and said to his parents, “Here’s the cool stuff.”

Live bacteria colonies, barely visible, stained the bottom of the container.

Seventeen-year-old Teixeira wiggled his hands at his mom, who backed away.

“What’s that bacteria for?” his father asked.

“You know, general food poisoning.”

Teixeira and 25 other teenagers have been studying microbiology and DNA for the last three weeks at a science camp at Providence College. They spent five hours a day in labs and often completed homework in the evenings, yet none of them seemed to mind even though it was their summer vacation.

More than 900 high school students have participated in the summer camp since it began 30 years ago.

Providence College biology Prof. Robert I. Krasner created the program and still runs it with his unique leadership style at age 74. Prone to long jokes, sarcasm and silly puns, Krasner occasionally flashes his biceps to get his audience’s attention.

His antics clearly won the admiration and respect of his students.

Rebecca Coccia had no intention of spending her summer sitting on wooden chairs bent over black marble lab tables. Her mother, Julie Coccia, is a secretary in the college’s biology department and made her apply.

The essay Coccia wrote for the application went like this, “I don’t want to go. Don’t make me go. . . .”

Her mom made her rewrite it, and she was accepted.

“I wasn’t too thrilled,” said Coccia, 15, who will be a freshman at Seekonk High School.

But it wasn’t what she expected. The students devoted most of their time to hands-on experiments and took field trips to the state crime lab and medical examiner’s office.

One of the students’ favorite experiments involved identifying DNA through a technique called gel electrophoresis. The students carefully dropped segments of DNA into a Jello-like fluid. The gel was zapped with an electric current, which forced the molecules to move across the gel. The students identified the genes by how quickly they moved.

Forensic scientists use the technique to match DNA evidence to suspected criminals.

The students also experimented with e.coli and other bacteria, and tested the effect of household cleaners on the bacteria.

Coccia admitted, “It was a good way to spend my summer.”

The climax of the three-week program was an experiment where students cloned a gene. They nicknamed the gene “Kraz” in honor of Professor Krasner. The gene had come from a bacterium.

The students debated on the ethics of cloning, a hot topic in the scientific community, and marveled that mere high school students could do it on their own.

Brie Smith, 15, who will be a freshman at St. Mary Academy Bay View, said: “I never dreamed I could clone a gene until I was, like, 30.”

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* Providence College biology Prof. Robert I. Krasner created the summer science program 30 years ago and still runs it at age 74.

PHOTO

* Stephanie Altongy, left, a junior at Lincoln High School, explains her DNA project,

a double helix made into a watchband,

to her parents, Gilbert and Mimi Altongy.

JOURNAL PHOTOS / CONNIE GROSCH

* A DNA double helix was made with licorice sticks and Gummi Bears candy as a student project.

PHOTO

* Stephanie Altongy made a DNA double helix watchband for her student project. More than 900 high school students have participated in the summer camp since it began 30 years ago.

JOURNAL PHOTO / CONNIE GROSCH