USA Science and Engineering Festival
Join NHGRI staff at the USA Science and Engineering Festival to take part in hands-on genetics and genomics activities. Here we've provided a few examples of activities from past festivals.
Genomics Activities
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Dr. Eric Green and Jenny Montooth from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) demonstrate how to extract DNA from strawberries using everyday household items.
Genetic Trait Tree
Do you have a hitchhiker’s thumb? Do you have dimples? Have you ever wondered why? Explore the visual wonders of DNA with NHGRI by answering a few questions about the traits you may or may not have. Discover how your combination of traits compares with family members and friends. Go to the Genetic Trait Tree.
The CRISPR Corner
Are you familiar with the term “gene editing”? Gene editing is a hot topic of discussion and has many applications in fields such as research, biotechnology, and medicine. This activity will explain the science behind one specific gene editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9. After learning the basics, participants will be asked to share their views about the ethics of certain CRISPR-Cas9 applications.
Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms
Take a tour of the Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms featuring over 250 common genetic terms. Hear narrations explaining the terms and view detailed images and illustrations that are part of this online resource.
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Genomics Activities
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Dr. Eric Green and Jenny Montooth from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) demonstrate how to extract DNA from strawberries using everyday household items.
Genetic Trait Tree
Do you have a hitchhiker’s thumb? Do you have dimples? Have you ever wondered why? Explore the visual wonders of DNA with NHGRI by answering a few questions about the traits you may or may not have. Discover how your combination of traits compares with family members and friends. Go to the Genetic Trait Tree.
The CRISPR Corner
Are you familiar with the term “gene editing”? Gene editing is a hot topic of discussion and has many applications in fields such as research, biotechnology, and medicine. This activity will explain the science behind one specific gene editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9. After learning the basics, participants will be asked to share their views about the ethics of certain CRISPR-Cas9 applications.
Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms
Take a tour of the Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms featuring over 250 common genetic terms. Hear narrations explaining the terms and view detailed images and illustrations that are part of this online resource.
2018 Festival
On April 7-8, 2018, over 350K+ attendees celebrated science at the festival and engaged in activities with some of the biggest names in STEM. They heard stories of inspiration and courage, participated in mind-boggling experiments and rocked out to science during our incredible stage shows.
Browse through the photos in the slideshow below.
Last updated: April 7, 2023