What’s it all about?
You’ve probably heard that the genetic information which makes you unique is encoded in your DNA. But did you know that your DNA code is actually a ‘recipe book’ of all the proteins your body needs? And that these proteins are busy doing useful jobs for you (like keeping you alive) right now as you read this? If you think that’s exciting and would like to know more, this class is for you!
What will we cover?
This class will cover:
- What proteins are and what they do,
- How proteins area encoded in your DNA,
- How your body decodes this information to make the proteins you need,
- How proteins are linked to disease and disease treatment,
- The tools we use to study proteins.
On the way you’ll get to extract DNA from bananas, experiment with household protein samples and learn how scientists exploit bacteria to do all the hard work.
Who will be teaching?
Tessa Young never meant to become a scientist but accidentally developed a fascination with biochemistry at university. She is now a PhD student who spends her days in a laboratory, extracting proteins and studying how they work. When she’s not trying out science, Tessa enjoys coffee, competing in triathlons and watching live comedy.