Genetic engineering was on the menu last week as our Level 3 Biology students visited the University of Otago's Biochemistry Department to further enhance their understanding for their next internal assessment.

Our students were put through their paces for three hours, completing a laboratory practical normally reserved for second year university students.The three hours of hands-on biotechnology included using microscopic molecular DNA scissors to cut DNA that had been removed from inside bacteria.The first task however, was to master the use of the micro-pipette - a tool that could measure and deliver a very accurate two thousandths of a millilitre volume of liquid.The final stage involved using a procedure known as gel electrophoresis to separate the mixture of cut DNA fragments into their relative lengths - and an anxious wait to see if the microscopic scissors had delivered those precision cuts.We would like to thank Dr Nicole Power and her team for introducing us into the world of biotechnology and medical research.