„DNA – encyclopedia of life”

There was a scientific picnic organised by students of biotechnology from three of Wrocław’s universities: the University of Environmental and Life Sciences, the University of Technology and the University of Wrocław.

Workshop participants were not only able to observe different experiments, which are typically conducted in laboratories, but also to actively participate in them. Those who were interested were able to isolate DNA from tomatoes and bananas; they could also learn why it is not worth making jelly from pineapples, or how to close yeast in a capsule.

– Similar to previous events, the main aim of the presentations was to promote knowledge from within the fields of biotechnology and other scientific areas among the residents of Wrocław. The Saturday event consisted of two parts: a biotechnological town in Świdnicka Street which hosted all the shows and presentations, and then there were the lectures. Our university was represented by Dr. Anna Dąbrowska, who gave a lecture on the methods of detecting fake animal products – said Joanna Koniuszewska from the Student Biotechnology Circle of the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław.

A debate on the genetically modified organisms GMO, which took place on the second day of the event, aroused a lot of interest. The issues involved in the debate were as follows: the influence of GMO farming on the ecosystem, on human health and on the use of pesticides.

The biotechnological event was accompanied by an organised exhibition „Wrocławianie rozebrani do ostatniej nitki... DNA” (Wrocław residents undressed to the last thread of… DNA). It was the second edition of photographs of liquid DNA crystals that illustrated a part of the genome of outstanding residents from Wrocław, from areas such as science, business, sports and culture. Among others, there was also Prof. Roman Kołacz - Rector of the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław.

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