DNA and Strawberry Laces: Merton at the Cheltenham Science Festival

Merton Fellow Dr Julian Knight, DPhil student Anna Sanniti, and second-year medical undergraduate Ikhuemose Ikhena, recently took part in The Times Cheltenham Science Festival 2014.

Part of the Festival's Discover Zone, they demonstrated the importance of genetic variation with various activities for school children and adults alike. These included an artistic representation of the DNA double helix, created using strawberry laces and midget gems, of which over 350 were made! Festival-goers also had the opportunity to make their own DNA bracelets tailored to eye colour, and extract DNA from strawberries.

The main focus of Dr Knight's research group, based at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, is understanding how genetic variation can increase susceptibility to inflammatory and infectious diseases.

The Times Cheltenham Science Festival is an annual event, that offers science-based debate, discovery, experiments, enjoyment and hands-on fun. The 2015 Festival will take place between 2 and 7 June.