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DNA:
Eat or not to eat?
Sean
Perera, Science Communication PhD Student at ANU
The
eagerness to participate, consumes one mentally and physically
as does the very scientific enterprise itself. It was this
sense of eagerness that occupied my mind on the 12th April
as I paused my thesis-writing and boarded a bus to the Sydney
Royal Easter Show.
Hi, my name is Sean Perera, a postgrad at the National Centre
for the Public Awareness of Science at the Australian National
University in Canberra. I am presently completing a PhD in
Science Communication.
I have always been interested in plants and very keen to talk
about them. The different colours, shapes and structures of
leaves, flowers and fruits fascinate me. I didn’t
initially associate my interest directly with science.
When I was in high school, I wanted to know why one group
of plants was different from another.
I learnt a lot more about plant genetics, among other things,
at university. Now, as a postgraduate student in science communication,
I get the opportunity to speak to people who are interested
in knowing about what makes living things the way they are.
I often get the chance to communicate science at various national
and international events. One such invitation was from Biotechnology
Australia to serve at their stall at the Sydney Royal Easter
Show on Thursday 13th April.
Thus, a major part of my 12th morning was spent reading information
I had printed about current research projects at Biotech Aus
and brushing up on my science communication skills. Being
prepared is very important when communicating science. My
experience in the field has taught me that there is no such
thing as being ‘over-prepared’.
It is also very important to avoid misconceptions. So while
I dozed off on the Murray’s coach to Sydney, my thoughts were
occupied by various questions people would ask me and how
best I could answer them without boring them with too much
detail. At the same time, I wanted to be accurate.
The Biotech Aus stall provided visitors with a variety of
information and activities to broaden their awareness about
biotechnology in general. There were the usual molecular structures
of DNA, posters of cloned sheep and general information sheets
telling people about ‘scientific stuff’. There were also,
however, several hand-on activities to engage both children
and adults alike.
My preparation on the 12th paid off well when I had to talk
little kids through mutant fruit-flies that were different
form normal fruit-flies (just like the Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles are not the same as normal turtles). I also
had to convince adults that it was not harmful to eat DNA.
A kind of backyard science demonstration on how to extract
DNA from wheatgerm interested me (and most of the visitors
to the stall). The visitors were asked what they knew about
DNA and if it was possible to extract it from wheat. Many
were thrilled to know that wheat even had DNA! For many, DNA
was something that could only be found in criminal blood (I
wonder where they got that from?).
Amazed and wide-eyed, they learnt that not only criminals
but all living things, even plants, have DNA. They then played
with a tooth-pick by dipping it in a solution of wheatgerm
and liquid detergent (among other ‘ingredients’), immersed
in methyl alcohol. They wowed at the thin stringy strands
of DNA that emerged.
Communicating Science: Visitors in an attempt to identify
mutant fruit-flies at the Biotechnology Australia stall, Sydney
Royal Easter Show
This demonstration was followed by a spiel on how DNA resides
compactly in a part of the cell called the nucleus, and how
it determines the way each one of us is made out to be. A
collapsible (cool) model showed how the different purine and
pyrimidine base-pairs, if re-arranged differently, could change
the composition of DNA and thus our genetic makeup: hence
why each one was different from the person standing next to
her or him.
It was interesting to listen to the explanations the public
had to offer about genetic engineering and even convince people
that it was not only genetically modified food, but that all
food derived from animals and plants contained DNA. I was
equally amazed at how well-informed certain people visiting
the stall were about biotechnology. They reported that their
knowledge was due to medical conditions among their family
members, which required them to be almost experts on the subject.
My thoughts echoed the sentiments and fears I fostered on
the 12th on my way to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. I had
worried about how difficult and
challenging it would be to communicate scientific
concepts accurately and effectively to
audiences from diverse demographic
and social backgrounds (with fun on their
minds and not wanting to be distracted by ‘science’). I was
also concerned about possible misconceptions
that may result due to the brief contact time each
visitor spent at the stall.
However, when the day came to an end and the stall pulled
down its shutters, I heaved a sigh of relief; my preparation
on the 12th was worth it. I felt myself a better science communicator.
That was till I bought a hot cross bun from a baker who informed
me that the bread was “biologically sound” and thus was “healthier”(?)
….Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I must admit the bun
was quite tasty.
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