Genes, Glow, and Great Discoveries: My Summer at DNA Camp!
This summer, I had the most gene-ius experience ever at the Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center! I spent a whole week diving into real science — transforming bacteria, studying fruit flies, and even looking at my own DNA under a microscope. Every day was packed with experiments, discoveries, and a ton of fun.
Here’s a look at the six amazing activities we did — and all the science I learned along the way!
1. Glowing E. coli
Our first experiment was straight out of a sci-fi movie. We genetically engineered E. coli (a harmless kind of bacteria) to glow in the dark!
We used something called a plasmid — a small circular piece of DNA — that carried a firefly gene called luciferase, the same protein that makes fireflies light up on summer nights. We pipetted the plasmid (called pLUX) into E. coli, then heat shocked the cells to open their walls and let the plasmid enter.
After incubating them overnight, our intern, Izzy, turned off the lights — and my plate glowed! It was so cool to see living organisms light up because of the DNA we added. Scientists like Robert Waymouth at Stanford have even used this technique to make mice glow in the dark. Who knew science could literally light up the lab?
2. Mutant Fruit Flies
Next, we explored mutations using fruit flies. Under the microscope, we compared genetically engineered flies to regular ones — and wow, the differences were wild. Some were completely white, others jet black, and one even had legs growing from its face!
It was fascinating to see how one tiny genetic change could cause such big differences. I learned that all living things, including us, have cells that can mutate. Sometimes it’s random, sometimes it’s helpful, and sometimes it’s just bizarre!
3. Seeing My Own DNA
This was one of my favorite experiments because it felt so personal — I got to look at my own DNA! Using a cheek swab, I collected cells from inside my mouth, then stained them with ink to make them easier to see under a stereo microscope.
It was amazing to realize that something so tiny — the DNA inside every one of my cells — carries the instructions for everything that makes me me.
4. Inheriting Traits
To explore genetics even more, we used Punnett squares to model how traits are passed from parents to children. We built little “bot” creatures and combined their traits to see what offspring might look like.
It was fun predicting which features would show up — like eye color or hair type — and seeing how genetics shapes who we are. This simple activity showed how scientists use math and probability to understand inheritance.
5. Viruses vs. E. coli
In this experiment, we got to watch a virus attack bacteria in real time! We introduced a bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria) to E. coli, and soon the virus completely took over.
It hijacked the bacterial cells, copied itself, and eventually caused the bacteria to burst. Seeing that process made me realize how important it is for scientists to understand how viruses behave — especially for medicine and vaccines.
6. Antibiotic Power
For our final experiment, we tested how bacteria respond to antibiotics. We placed two different antibiotics on plates of bacteria, and after incubation, we saw clear “rings” where the bacteria had died.
The bigger the ring, the stronger the antibiotic! It was incredible to actually see how medicine works to stop bacterial growth — and how scientists figure out which antibiotics are most effective.
The Grand Finale
On the last day, our parents came to tour the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. We showed them everything we had learned — from glowing bacteria to fruit fly genetics — in different science stations.
It felt amazing to share real lab work and explain the experiments like a true scientist.
Thank You to My DNA Dream Team
A huge thank-you to everyone who made this camp unforgettable — Mike, Izzy, and Kelly.
Thank you, Mike, for motivating me all week and encouraging me to think bigger about what’s possible with genetics.
Thank you, Izzy, for inspiring me to want to become an intern at the Learning Lab one day.
And thank you, Kelly, for being such an amazing teacher and making science fun, hands-on, and full of discovery.
From glowing bacteria to battling viruses, my time at DNA Camp showed me that genetics isn’t just something you read about — it’s something you can do. I can’t wait to go back and keep exploring the incredible world of DNA!
