In the ChromoZone Gallery of the Discovery Center, Cheyenne Sparks, 12, of Branson Intermediate School, swishes water around her mouth and spits it back into a test tube.
With the help of Maja Stanojevic, a Missouri State University student studying cellular and molecular biology, Cheyenne adds soap and alcohol to the mixture. After a few seconds, bubbles can be seen clinging to naked DNA from Sparks' cheek cells.
DNA can be a difficult concept for adults to understand. Explaining it to elementary and middle school students - without boring or confusing them - can be very difficult.
Corey and his classmates also had the opportunity to put together a DNA puzzle, play genetic roulette and match events in DNA history to different dates.
Kim Collison, health and life sciences coordinator at the Discovery Center, said the interactive exhibits are used on April 25 each year - the anniversary of James Watson and Francis Crick's discovery of DNA's double-helix structure.
"A Missouri State or Drury faculty member will work on a research project here for three to six months," Collison said. "It will be open to the public and the windows open so people can talk to the researcher and ask questions."
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