miniPCR® Galápagos Penguin Lab: Biodiversity At Risk

Students use gel electrophoresis to compare the genetic diversity of different penguin species and link their findings to differences in ecology and extinction risk.

• Techniques: Micro pipetting, gel electrophoresis

• Topics: Evolution and natural selection, ecology, environmental science, conservation biology
• Time required: One 45-minute class period
• Grade level: Advanced high school

Are Galápagos penguins threatened by low genetic diversity? In this lab, students join a team of conservation ecologists comparing the genetic diversity of Galápagos penguins and Magellanic penguins.

Magellanic penguins boast robust populations and are not threatened with extinction, but Galapagos penguins are endangered and have undergone multiple population declines due to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon and climate change. This gel electrophoresis lab provides an introduction to DNA analysis in conservation and ecology contexts.

Perfect for APES classes, this activity invites students to explore how global climate patterns shape local biodiversity by affecting the population size and genetic health of threatened species.