Science, Technology and Engineering

School of Life Sciences

Department of Environmental Management & Ecology

2010 VCE Unit 4 Biology school assessed coursework (SAC) laboratory

During June and July 2010 the Department of Environmental Management & Ecology at La Trobe University's campus in Wodonga will offer a 6 hour hands-on laboratory class which meets the requirements for one of the VCE Unit 4 Biology school assessed coursework (SAC).

Developed and delivered by staff from the Department of Environmental Management and Ecology, the series of classes will focuss on genetics.

In one SAC, students will investigated the inheritance of various characteristics of the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster. During the first three hour activity, students will anaesthetise and microscopically examined flies from several breeding populations to enable them to hypothesise about the types of inheritance (dominant, recessive or sex-linked), based on their count of the proportion of different characteristics found.

The second activitywill allow them to manipulate DNA to examine the basis of the Drosophila mutations they studied previously. In this SAC they will learn to use the techniques of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis. These techniques are employed in many forensic science and conservation investigations.

The Department of Environmental Management and Ecology is pleased to be able to provide VCE Biology students with this valuable opportunity to put their textbook learning into practice with state-of-the-art skills and equipment not generally available in secondary schools.

This innovative program began in 2006 with one local school, growing to nine schools in 2009 and with the likelihood of more participants next year.

2010 the cost will be $15 per student.

The experience will also provide students with a timely insight into Albury-Wodonga science courses and research as they prepare to make application for tertiary places for 2011.

Further details on the prorgam please contact Ms Rachel Bahrij on (02) 6024 9885.