Genetically Engineering Corn in the Classroom: A Hands-On CRISPR-Cas9 Simulation for Students

As climate change reshapes our world, scientists are racing to develop crops that can withstand drought, pests, and other environmental stressors. What if your students could step into the shoes of these scientists—right from your classroom?

With our CRISPR-Cas9 Simulation: A-maize-ing Editing (Kit #210), they can do just that.

What’s the Experiment?

This engaging, hands-on experiment transforms students into plant geneticists tasked with improving corn crops. Using a realistic CRISPR-Cas9 simulation, students will design gene-editing strategies, perform a DNA cleavage reaction, and analyze their results via gel electrophoresis.

What Students Will Do:

• Design and Evaluate Guide RNAs (gRNAs): Students create four unique gRNAs and use BLAST, a real-world bioinformatics tool, to evaluate their specificity.
  
• Simulate CRISPR-Cas9 Cleavage: Each gRNA is tested for its ability to guide the Cas9 enzyme to a specific DNA target.
  
• Analyze Real Results: Students run samples on an agarose gel to observe which gRNAs successfully cut DNA, helping them visualize the effectiveness of their designs.
  

Why Teachers Love This Lab:

• No Cell Culture or Cloning Needed: The simulation simplifies CRISPR to its most engaging and educational components—no need for advanced equipment or long protocols.
  
• Fast and Flexible: The entire experiment fits into a few class periods and is ideal for high school and introductory college biology courses.
  
• Standards-Aligned: This kit hits NGSS and AP Biology learning objectives around genetics, biotechnology, and systems of information transfer.
  

A Gateway to Genetic Engineering

This lab doesn’t just teach students what CRISPR is—it lets them do it. By giving them the tools to evaluate gene-editing specificity and test hypotheses, students gain a deeper appreciation of how biotechnology is shaping our future food systems.

Whether you’re introducing gene editing or looking to expand your biotech curriculum, this CRISPR-Cas9 simulation is a powerful, accessible tool to bring real-world science into your classroom.

Ready to start gene editing in your classroom?
Check out the full kit here: https://www.edvotek.com/210