About This Project

This project transforms HS science education by integrating real-time DNA barcoding and bioinformatics into classrooms. Using nanopore sequencing, students complete the DNA barcoding workflow, gaining hands-on experience in molecular biology and computational analysis. It enhances accessibility, fosters independent research, and empowers students to examine plant microbiomes which assess the health of plants and their associated environment, inspiring future scientists.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

For years, I have participated in DNA barcoding programs such as Barcode LI https://dnabarcoding101.org/pr... and the Wolbachia Project https://wolbachiaproject.org/

These teach students to isolate DNA, amplify via PCR, and obtain sequences, however, students must send their samples away for DNA sequencing.

My goal as an educator is to inspire students by having them actively DO science. Hands-on projects help them discover strengths, confront challenges, and develop a passion for discovery. This outsourcing poses two issues: it disconnects students from key steps, turning science into “magic,” and delays results, leaving little time for analysis. I’ve seen how such delays rush learning and hinder students’ ability to interpret data.

Future biologists need bioinformatics skills, the ability to extrapolate meaning from large data sets, as well as understanding how the difference in metagenomes and plant hybridizations affects the health of plant organisms and the environment.

What is the significance of this project?

This provides an affordable way to integrate DNA sequencing into the classroom, increasing hands-on science & empowering independent student research. Beyond my lab, this has the potential to reach students across LI's East End; participants in my summer DNA camp.

This project enables advanced applications like metabarcoding, the identification of all the symbiotic organisms that keep a plant healthy. Metabarcoding comparisons empowers students to quantify the symbiotic organisms living in various ecosystems on Shelter Island alerting us to problems.

Students will also examine plant hybridization, how much similar species have exchanged DNA. Hybridization makes our forests less diverse and at a greater risk to disease.

Students will communicate their results with the town and environmental organizations.

Using nanopore sequencing, students will gain crucial bioinformatics & computational skills, addressing a key gap in science education & inspiring future scientists.

What are the goals of the project?

To empower HS students to design and complete novel bioinformatic projects on the microbiomes of plants. Plants rely on their associated microbiomes, the organisms that live on and in them, for their health and productivity. This project will enable students to understand the health of the plants within associated ecosystems.
Specifically, students will compare microbiomes of plants found within the local nature preserve, organic farms, shore and town locations. Students will determine if there are significant microbiome changes between the various ecosystems on Shelter Island.
A healthy plant microbiome will have a diverse community of organisms, the amount of loss of diversity between ecosystems on Shelter Island could indicate warning signs for our environment and the risk of plant disease.
Not only will this project foster and inspire future scientists, but all this valuable environmental information will also be shared with local town officials and environmental groups.