Biotechnology

About

The Abraham Lincoln High School Biotechnology Academy was founded in 1995. Over the years we have grown from one section of 30 students to 5 sections of students, or about 180 each year. Our program emphasizes the applications, implications, and limitations of current biotechnology. Our courses train students in several laboratory techniques currently used in biotech labs throughout the world. We offer two years of biotech courses: POB I/II for sophomores, juniors and seniors, and POB III/IV for juniors and seniors who have completed the first year of our program. Many of our graduates are now employed by one of the 850 Biotech companies within commuting distance to San Francisco. Stop by room 22 to find out what it's all about!

Abraham Lincoln High School students will have the option of enrolling in a Biotechnology Career Academy which features a second year of biotechnology training. The new course, called Principles of Biotechnology III/IV, expands upon the concepts taught in the first year course. The new course is all projects based and will involve lab-work at the graduate school level of difficulty. The grading for the new course will also reflect graduate school, as assessment involves experimentation, demonstrating a list of competencies required in the biotechnology industry, and a lot of writing. Some of the projects students will do include sub-cloning genes, purifying proteins, and sequencing their own DNA.

The academy in biotechnology will provide ALHS students with advanced training that could lead directly to employment with a high school diploma. The great majority of ALHS graduates go on to a two-year or four-year undergraduate degree to work for this industry at a higher level and starting salary. City College of San Francisco offers an excellent two-year accreditation in Biotechnology, and 96% of their graduates are finding employment in the biotech industry. Many local companies will partially pay their employeesí tuition if they go to night school to finish their four year degree. Genentech for example will pay up to $12,000 annually for tuition and books. With the rising costs of a college education, this alternative is very attractive to many students.

S.M.A.R.T. Team

During the 2007- 2008 school year, 12 Lincoln students, six juniors and six seniors, participated in Lincolnís inaugural S.M.A.R.T. Team, under the leadership of Julie Reis of the Science department. The team worked in partnership with Sabine Jeske, of UCSFís Science Education office, and researcher Angi Chau of the Lim Lab at UCSFís Mission Bay Campus. S.M.A.R.T. Teams (Students Modeling A Research Topic) were developed by Dr. Tim Herman and Dr. Shannon Colton at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Lincolnís team was the first California team to participate in the program. S.M.A.R.T. Teams partner with a research scientist to design a three dimensional model of a particular protein the scientist is studying. The model is designed using a computer program called RasMol. The digital file of the design is sent to the Milwaukee School of Engineering, where it is translated into a colored, three-dimensional model using rapid prototyping technology.

The Lincoln team met every week after school. The students spent several weeks learning about proteins in general and learning to use the RasMol program. Early in the fall of 2007, the team traveled to the Lim lab for a presentation about Angiís research and a tour of the lab. Angiís research focused on a cell signaling pathway involved in cell movement. After learning about cell signaling and cell movement and the proteins involved, the Lincoln team decided to model two specific proteins in the hopes that a three dimensional model would better help the scientists understand the interaction between the two molecules. The team also prepared a poster and a Power Point presentation to explain the molecules and their interaction. The group presented its work to the Lincoln Science Department in March, and then traveled to San Diego to present their poster and models to scientists attending the 2008 Experimental Biology Conference in April. The final presentation of the Lincoln S.M.A.R.T.Teamís project was for scientists at UCSFís Mission Bay in late April. It was a great year!