BOCA RATON, Fla. – (March 23, 2007) – The Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation (MFRF) is sponsoring a “Make Your Own DNA Necklace” program during the Spring Children’s Fair on Wednesday, April 4th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Patch Reef Park in Boca Raton.
The free activity, co-sponsored by Bio-Rad Laboratories, celebrates Biosciences Month in Florida.
Children who visit the MFRF booth at the fair will be able to collect their own DNA (from their saliva), add safe chemicals to a test tube, and then extract a string of their unique DNA to keep in a glass necklace. This project has been very popular in public school systems.
Inspired by the strength of a little boy with the fatal Tay-Sachs disease, MFRF was founded in South Florida in 1998 to support education and research of children’s genetics diseases of the brain.
“We are pleased to be bringing this creative, scientific activity to the children of South Palm Beach County to help them learn more about the importance of genetics,” said MFRF President Kevin Romer. “This activity is part of our Platinum Sponsorship of the statewide Florida Biosciences Career and Education Month as we partner with Scripps Research Institute, Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach County schools”.
The MFRF sponsorship helps support the implementation of a DVD based curriculum and outreach by scientists and organizational leaders from throughout the state who deliver provocative presentations to get students excited about the Biosciences. Last year, MFRF
further enhanced the program by arranging for a top student in one of the classes that was led by the foundation to participate in a research internship at Florida Atlantic University. The student presented his research project in the 50th anniversary of the Palm Beach County Science Fair.
MFRF sponsors of its Spring Biosciences Initiative include Judy Levis Markhoff, Adolph and Rose Levis Foundation, Tyco Fire and Security, Florida Atlantic University, Akermann Senterfitt, Genzyme Corporation, Dr. and Mrs. Emanuel T. Phillips, and West Boca Medical Center.