VCE Biology: GTAC Excursion

On Wednesday 23rd February, our Unit 1 & 2 VCE Biology class were lucky enough to attend a program at GTAC (Gene Technology Access Centre). Mischa, Charlotte, Jazz and Emma took part in two investigation tasks. Firstly, they used cutting edge technology to investigate how microscopic organisms survive. They stained yeast cells and observed how microscopic organisms, such as Rotifers and Paramecium, were able to move around, eat and digest the yeast cells.

The second investigation had our students using cutting edge fluorescent microscopy techniques (each microscope cost $45,000) to identify the cause of a disease. They had a culture of healthy and diseased cells which they stained with fluorescent dyes. They identified that the diseased cells had extensive damage to their mitochondria, which likely caused them to die. 

What I enjoyed most ... 

Charlotte: "I enjoyed the train ride there and back; I also liked using the fancy equipment."

Emma: "I enjoyed learning about the impact diseases have on a cell."

Jazz: "I enjoyed illuminating the organelles and then looking at them under a microscope that is worth more than me and probably everything I own."

Mischa: "I enjoyed seeing the different organisms under the microscope."

Mr McClure: "I enjoyed getting new ideas to blow this year's Science budget."