Gene science goes to school

By SIMON COLLINS

Eleven Auckland high school students have done genetic engineering work in a unique industry collaboration that will spread to other schools next year.

The Year 12 (sixth form) Glendowie College students used genetically modified E. coli bacteria to multiply tiny samples of genetic material taken from apples and pumpkins at Genesis Research and Development in Parnell.

Then they used Genesis equipment to "read" the genetic sequences of the material - sequences which scientists working on other plants have sometimes linked to traits such as the ability to grow in hot or dry conditions.

The group was pioneering a new scheme started by Genesis to educate high school students about biotechnology through researching the genetic structure of harakeke (flax).

Twelve students from Mt Roskill Grammar School worked on the project earlier in the year, and Genesis chief executive Dr Jim Watson hopes to include two or three more schools next year.

He hopes the students will find commercial uses for harakeke, such as blending its fibre with recycled plastic to make barbecue tables or other outdoor furniture.

"You can grow flax on all sorts of land, often land that people don't want to use," he said.

"We were looking round the East Coast and Northland to see if we could find a way of harnessing fibre or medicinal chemicals from flax.

"You might use this as a basis for setting up an industry."

Dr Watson said Genesis would not take any profit from any business the students created.

Instead, he wanted the students to learn how science could lead to business success and jobs.

"I believe this is the century of science. It's the greatest human endeavour," he said.

"But no one understands what a scientist does."

He said last year's Royal Commission on Genetic Modification showed that many people, especially Maori, were suspicious of science.

The harakeke project was designed to create businesses in regions such as Northland, the East Coast and the Bay of Plenty, where Dr Watson grew up in the small town of Te Teko.

Glendowie student Ruth Halkett said the students started with discussions about how they would seek permission from iwi and from the Environmental Risk Management Authority to investigate the genetics of harakeke.

Then they went to the Genesis laboratory, working on apples and pumpkins before moving on to harakeke.

"This is the first hands-on experience we've had with genetic sequencing," she said.

"It's amazing. It's more fun than work."

Dr Watson said two or three other biotechnology companies were interested in joining the scheme, and he hoped other industries would follow.

"The ICT [information and communications technology] industry and others could help develop these partnerships with schools to breathe life into school programmes."

Herald feature: Genetic Engineering

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