TEACHERS STUDY BIOTECHNOLOGY SEMINARS OFFER GLIMPSE OF FUTURE MEDICINE.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Hoping for a glimpse of what science will bring in the future, teachers from Valencia and Saugus high schools joined College of the Canyons instructors on Friday for an introductory course on biotechnology.

Using mouse cells and bacteria, the group conducted experiments on cloning and DNA fingerprinting during a two-day workshop at the Valencia college.

``Biotechnology is basically using technology to manipulate DNA and protein,'' said Elizabeth Russo, assistant professor at the college and director of the biotechnology workshop. ``It's used for genetic engineering or gene therapy.''

In genetic engineering, scientists manipulate the genetic makeup of a particular item such as produce and attempt to increase its protein content. It's also used to produce leaner cows for leaner beef.

Gene therapy is used to correct genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia or muscular dystrophy. Although they haven't been able to master it yet, scientists are studying ways to cure such disorders before birth.

``This is the horizon of future medicine,'' Russo said.

In DNA fingerprinting, scientists add enzymes to a person's deoxyribonucleic acid for comparison purposes leading to identification.

``Each person's DNA makes different patterns,'' Russo said.

The 24 teachers also conducted experiments using polymerase chain reaction, a method of synthesizing a DNA sequence to make millions of copies for study, thus allowing technicians to work off smaller DNA samples.

The workshop was sponsored in part by California Lutheran University, which rents out cloning kits to schools, colleges and universities so they can conduct hands-on biotechnology lessons.

``It comes with everything needed to do the experiments,'' Russo said. ``These experiment kits can be taken to the classroom and utilized.''

The six-hour workshop Friday and Feb. 4 served as an introduction to a new biotechnology certificate program slated to be offered at the college beginning in the 2001 spring semester.

Through a series of classes, which would take about two years to complete, students will be trained to work in biotechnology laboratories, conducting advanced and practical lab experiments.

``At COC, we would teach them more advanced techniques like tissue cultures, which is growing cells in a lab incubator,'' Russo said. ``It's a big, growing field. There is a lot of job potential in this area.''

Eventually COC is hoping to have a biotechnology center, where they could offer tours and education to high school kids.

``We would help them with education in high school,'' Russo said. ``Hopefully we'll be able to work out a partnership biotechnology center. It would be a sharing of information.''

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2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) College of the Canyons instructors Verghese Nallengara, left, and Elizabeth Russo work on a DNA project with Jim Wolf from California Lutheran University and colleague Garett Tujague during a biotechnology workshop.

(2 -- color) Valencia High School biology teacher Janet Feeder learns about DNA fingerprinting Friday at the introduction to biotechnology seminar.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News