Collaboration with Ho Yu

The Biotech Lab, which is the headquarter for the MobileLab Program, was established at Ho Yu College and Primary School (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) in Tung Chung in April 2004. The Biotech Lab is well-equipped with advanced instruments and equipment at the university level. The Biotech Lab serves as the venue and functional platform on which the MobileLab Program launches the Biotech Education Program to schools across Hong Kong.

We have collaborated in developing the school-based Biotech Education with Ho Yu science teachers since 2009. This Biotech Day Program is offered to all students from Primary Four to Secondary Six, focuses on the two major areas of biotechnology, namely, DNA and Genetics (from “Paper and Candy DNA Models” to “DNA Fingerprinting”), and Microbiology Exploration (from “Where are the Germs?” to “Effects of Antibiotics on Bacterial Growth”).

Through-Train Biotech Education at Ho Yu

Grades Themes and Experiments
Primary 4 Microbiology Exploration

  • Where are the Germs?
  • More about Infectious Diseases
Primary 5 The Fun of DNA

  • Paper DNA Models
  • Genetic Traits
  • DNA Extraction of Bacterial Cells
Primary 6 The Fun of DNA

  • Genetic Diseases
  • Candy DNA
Secondary 1 Microbiology Exploration

  • Microscopy
  • Where are the Germs?
  • More about Infectious Diseases
Secondary 2 Microbiology Exploration

  • Effects of Temperature on Bacterial Growth
  • Effects of Household Chemicals on Bacterial Growth
Secondary 3 Microbiology Exploration

  • Effects of Antibiotics on Bacterial Growth
  • Concept of Antibiotic Resistance
Secondary 4 Microbiology Exploration

  • Bacterial Cell Count by Serial Dilution
  • Determination of Cell Turbidity by Spectrophotometry
Secondary 5 DNA and Genetics

  • Agarose Gel Electrophoresis – Principles and Applications
  • Restriction Digestion Analysis – DNA Fingerprinting
Secondary 6 Recombinant DNA Technology

  • Transformation of Bacterial Cells
  • Detection of Genetically Modified Food

Promotion of Science Education at Ho Yu

In addition to the school-based Biotech Education, we have collaborated with Ho Yu in developing and delivering the “Science@Lunch” and “Science@Home” programs to Ho Yu students and their parents.

Science@Lunch

We have launched the “Science@Lunch” Program at Ho Yu since 2006. We deliver the program to all students at Ho Yu at the primary and secondary levels during lunch time in order to promote science and biotechnology among students. Topics presented in the program range from microbiology to food technology to human genomics. The program includes short lectures, discussions, and hands-on experiments. Students are excited and thrilled by the comprehensive lecture contents and the practical lab work. We also apply this concept to other schools as the “Science@Your School” Program.

Science@Home

The “Science@Home” Competition is offered to for primary students and their parents every summer to explore the fun of science at home since 2009. The topics are related to daily lives, for example, “Lemon Power”, “Phantom Speedboat”, “Melting Ice Cubes”, “The Quest for Longevity”, “Feeble Attraction”, “Persistent Bubbles” and “Floating Eggs”.

Student Science Projects

Ho Yu Students carried out scientific investigation on various projects in the biotech lab, including, “Preserve and Serve”, “Edible Paper”, “The Secret of Ginger Milk Curding”, and “Beefase”, etc.