Anyone can be a scientist. You’ve probably heard that before. We’ve certainly said it. Last month, we made it happen. During the latest installment of Cocktails & Chromosomes, Cold Spring Spring Harbor Laboratory’s (CSHL’s) DNA Learning Center (DNALC) went beyond hands-on demonstration and turned a crowd of locals at Industry bar in Huntington, NY, into active investigators in ongoing research.
The subject of that research: insects. Why bugs? For one, though small and easy to handle, their DNA contains rich troves of genetic information. That data can provide scientists with a better understanding of their area’s biodiversity. But perhaps more pressingly, bugs also spread contagious diseases. So, fresh data on insect biology could keep that “bug that’s been going around” from becoming a serious public health concern. CSHL’s DNA Barcoding Program empowers science and nature enthusiasts of all ages to participate in such vital projects.
“We’ve had over 5,000 citizen scientists interact with us over the years,” said Jeffry Petracca, DNALC manager of student and public research. He can now add a few dozen more local community members to the list. And to be clear, this isn’t some rhetorical list. Anyone who provides their name and email gets included as an author in a National Institutes of Health database!
Want to engage with more breakthrough bioscience happening right in your backyard? Your next chance comes on Halloween night. On October 31 at 7 p.m., CSHL Professor Dick McCombie will present his research on “long-lived creatures of the night” and host an interactive Halloween murder mystery-themed Q&A. Register now to participate.