Teachers’ DNA a new lesson
Tests educate on evolution
UNIVERSITY of Otago biological anthropologist Prof Lisa MatisooSmith has helped dream up a new way of teaching secondary pupils about human evolution and migration, by using DNA tests.
The new approach also means that pupils who may have wondered where their teachers came from may not have to wait too much longer to find out.
Prof MatisooSmith, of the Otago anatomy department and the Biology Educators’ Association, have worked together through the Allan Wilson at Otago research group to enable senior secondary biology, and social science teachers to use their own DNA for human evolution studies.
About 250 science and social science teachers throughout New Zealand are being given the chance to send samples of their DNA to the National Geographic Genographic Laboratory in the United States.
The DNA kits are available on a firstcome, firstserved basis, and only one is allowed per school.
They normally cost about $US200 ($NZ280) each.
Teachers can then use their own results, with video presentations by Prof MatisooSmith and written resources, to teach about human evolution.
An email invitation to senior teachers, sent out yesterday, had already sparked a positive response.
Prof MatisooSmith was ‘‘thrilled’’ that the project, backed by two Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) grants totalling nearly $120,000, was coming to fruition after several years’ work.
The project aimed to ‘‘inspire young high school students with the amazing story of our shared maternal ancestor in Africa’’, and how a ‘‘small band of humans’’ left Africa 60,000 years ago, and spread across the entire world.
Their final travel to New Zealand had been the ‘‘longest and most dangerous leg of the human journey’’.
‘‘The stories of our origins and different journeys are preserved in our DNA,’’ she says.
john.gibb@odt.co.nz