Graveney Year 12 Biology students involve themselves in high level research with prestigious London universities

biology extracurricular 2023.pdf

Year 12 Biology Genetic Engineering Research Project

For the past three years students studying AS Biology have been given the opportunity to take part in a genetic engineering research project in conjunction with the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation at UCL. The project is supervised by Professor Emma Morris and co-ordinated by Miss Fisher, Joint head of Biology at Graveney. The students have weekly sessions at school in addition to termly trips to the institute which is based at The Royal Free Hospital in Belsize Park.

During the project students learn about the theory of genetic engineering through independent research and a series of tutorials. They also carry out practical work using cutting-edge equipment that was purchased by the school using the grant associated with the project. This includes using Polymerase Chain Reaction to amplify DNA and gel electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments.

The wider research projects they have been involved with include genetically engineering T lymphocytes to be better at locating and killing cancerous cells and genetically engineering other immune cells to remove specific mutations that cause genetic disease (CTLA-4 deficiency).
Towards the end of the project students are invited to speak at the UCL ITT open day where they present their research to their peers, research scientists, PhD students and professors.

Year 12 Biology students present their work from the gene editing research project at the UCL Institute Of Transplantation Open Day/ Schools Symposium.