On Tuesday, Nov. 14, two instructors from Southeast Community College (SCC) visited Lincoln Southwest High School to teach all of the biology teachers how to conduct a dog deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) lab. 

“It is a chance for students to be involved in a science lab where they are going to test their own dogs for a certain trait,” science teacher Ms. Emily White said. “It is a great way to use new techniques and new technology.”

Teachers that volunteered took a swab home and placed the swab between the dog’s gums and lip. Once the teacher brought back the DNA, they tested to see if their dog had the hyper social gene. Dogs that have the gene really like people.

“The gene can be tested in three different bands of DNA,” science department chair Mr. Charley Bittle said. “Depending on the size of the DNA segment, it will move a certain distance. Small segments move really far and big segments don’t move much. When there is a bunch of DNA in one area that has moved, you can tell the gene is present. If the DNA didn’t move then the gene is not present.”

The week after Thanksgiving, teachers will then teach the lab to the students.