DNA Discovery Lab

Could the shape of DNA hold clues to new cancer treatments? Step into Pacific’s medicinal chemistry labs to explore unusual, folded DNA structures called G-quadruplexes, which can help control how genes—including many linked to cancer-- work. Prepare DNA samples, test compounds that help hold these structures in place, and use computer models to visualize how the molecules fit together.

Along the way, students learn to use techniques such as UV melting, circular dichroism, and fluorescence experiments to investigate DNA folding, stability, and molecular binding under different conditions. They get to compare interactions with ordinary double-stranded DNA to evaluate selectivity, then analyze their own data and present your findings to peers, faculty, and guests.