GENEius Lab

GENEius is an engaging, day-long laboratory experience in molecular biology and genetics designed for high school biology students.  Using state-of-the-art equipment in the newly renovated Altec-Styslinger lab space, GENEius participants work in small groups with guidance from graduate students and faculty from the University of Alabama at Birmingham to complete a challenging experiment.  Participants also have free access to exhibits and programs in Adventure Halls throughout the day.

GENEius is supported by McWane Science Center; UAB Center for Community Outreach Development (CORD); Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI); National Science Foundation (NSF); National Institutes of Health (NIH); UAB Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center; BioRad Scientific; Olympus Microscope; Brinkmann Instruments; Fisher Scientific and Scientific Stores.

For reservations, please call our Reservations Department at (205) 714-8414.
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GENEius Lab Programs
When: September - May, Tuesday - Friday
Capacity: 24 participants
Length: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Requires: Teacher Training*

*These programs require teacher training. Teachers who have completed BioTeach, UAB's summer training program in molecular genetics, a teacher workshop, or have prior training in molecular biology may reserve GENEius labs. Two week advance registration is required. For reservations and additional information, call 205 714-8387. Grants to cover program costs and transportation are available on a competitive basis.

Huntington's Disease: The Trembling Brain
Discipline: Life Science
Please call 205-714-8378 for a full description of this lab.

DNA: A Person's Ultimate Fingerprint
Discipline: Life Science
Students focus on genetic diversity and use contemporary techniques in molecular biology to isolate DNA from their cheek cells, use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a highly variable region of chromosome one, and employ gel electrophoresis to analyze their samples.

HIV: Life Cycle of a Virus
Discipline: Life Science
Students use techniques such as Western Blotting and Immunohistochemistry to explore the life cycle of HIV. Public health issues relating to HIV and AIDS are also addressed.

Sickle-Cell Anemia: Tracking Down an Inherited Trait
Discipline: Life Science
The molecular basis of this inherited disease is the main focus as students use electrophoresis to analyze differences in the normal and sickle-cell hemoglobin at the protein and DNA levels. Microscopy exercises allow the students to observe phenotypic differences between normal and sickle red blood cells.
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