Back in October 2023, a group of 24 boys, from across the Remove, Fifth and Sixth Forms all studying biology, started work on a groundbreaking student-led research project. This exciting project will see the boys work with scientists at Rothamsted Research, the world-leading research centre, to carry out snowdrop DNA sequencing.
Read: Boys Take Part in Groundbreaking Student-Led Research
The project, funded by a grant from The Royal Society, and additional funding from Bedford School Foundation Trust, will provide boys with hands-on experience of horticulture, molecular genetics and bioinformatics, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience high-level biology far beyond the curriculum – they will even have their names listed as authors on the research papers.
The first part of the project saw boys visit Anglesey Abbey to learn about the different species of snowdrops and how they breed, as well as other background information needed for the project.
The second part involved spending a day at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the incredible genomics and genetics research facility in Cambridge. Not only were the boys able to see for themselves what a remarkable resource the centre is with its large sprawling campus and impressive architecture, but they were also able to see a functional sequencing lab and observe the equipment currently being used for DNA sequencing in action.
Fifth Former Fraser Morgan explained, “We started with an introduction in the education centre, where we looked at the human genome, the history of genomics and the tools we’re going to be using to sequence DNA. Being able to see the progression of technology through the decades was the most interesting part, as well as being able to see the scientists at work.”
Additionally, the boys were able to meet Dr Sarah Dyer in person to continue their initial online session about how the data they will be collecting will be used to create a phylogenetic tree, using ancestry from the DNA of various snowdrop species. The boys will extract the DNA from the chromosomes, sort the strands by size, sequence the DNA bases and then analyse them to determine how all of the species of snowdrop are related to each other.
Part of the boys’ tour of the lab involved seeing a written copy of the human genome, which put into context the amount of data involved. They were able to see the progression of equipment used to sequence DNA, ending with the MinION, which the boys themselves will be using.
Fifth Former Lucian Davis, one of the boys working on the project, said, “The most fascinating part for me was looking at the servers, which took up around a whole room full of large computer storage used for storing the data on different types of research.
“To be involved in such an incredible opportunity, with our research going towards a nationwide project, is simply fascinating.”
The next part of the project will see the boys returning to the gardens at Anglesey Abbey to commence the extraction of their chosen species’ DNA – watch this space for updates.
