Local school plays key role in global science

Sunday 02 July 2023

Beaulieu Convent School has played a key role in a global scientific initiate to sequence daffodil DNA.

The Daffodil DNA Project at Beaulieu School has seen students present their work at the Royal Society Summer Science exhibition alongside many of the most promising scientists from across the UK.

Since 2018, there have only been three complete chloroplast genomes successfully sequenced and published. One of these came from the University of Reading and two from research labs in China. 

However this academic year, Beaulieu has contributed three more complete chloroplast genomes, which are being prepared for publication.

As a result, the local school as doubled the number of successfully sequences chloroplast genomes. 

This led to Beaulieu School gaining recognition from many UK schools who wanted to work in collaboration Beaulieu in support of the Daffodil DNA Project, aided by the University of Dundee.

Pictured: One of the daffodils in the DNA project.

In December 2022, the project was runner up in the Rolls-Royce Schools Prize for Science and Technology and the project won the University of Dundee School of Life Sciences' Brian Cox Public Engagement Project of the Year award.

The project also won an award on behalf of the University of Dundee school of Life Sciences’ Brian Cox Public Engagement Project of the Year award. 

Paul Robinson, acting headteacher of Beaulieu, said: “It is quite remarkable to think that Beaulieu has doubled the complete chloroplast genomes, and are world leaders in terms of the number produced. 

"This is testament to the dedication and inspirational teaching of biology at the school.” 

This article was written by Emily Bowker (18), who is currently on Work Experience with Bailiwick Express.