Exploring Our Genetic Roots
From September 19 to September 28, 2025, the 29th Warsaw Science Festival opened its doors to curious minds of all ages. The RNA Biology Lab at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), where one of our DC5Giulia Santonoceto is hosted, joined the event with a hands-on activity showing how science can reveal our ancestral past.
Over two days (20–21 September), participants took part in a journey through DNA structure, mitochondrial biology, and PCR, before stepping into the lab to try it for themselves.
Mitochondria, DNA and Haplogroups
Mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of our cells, carry their own DNA, inherited only from mothers. By comparing small variations in this DNA, people can be grouped into haplogroups, which trace maternal lineages back thousands of years. One of these, haplogroup T, spread into Europe from the Near East, while haplogroup H remains the most common in Europe today, including in Poland.
The Experiment
Armed with pipettes, participants extracted DNA from their own saliva, amplified a mitochondrial fragment using PCR, and treated it with a restriction enzyme that can cut DNA only at a specific site. The outcome depended on the haplogroup:
- Haplogroup T: the enzyme recognised the site and cut the fragment into two smaller DNA pieces, which appeared as two separate bands on the agarose gel.
- Non-T haplogroups: the site was absent, so the fragment remained uncut, producing a single longer band on the gel.
Almost all participants displayed a single band, consistent with the low prevalence of haplogroup T in the Polish population (< 10%). Negative controls confirmed the reliability of the results.
Learning Through Discovery
The activity gave participants a chance to:
- Try core molecular biology techniques,
- Understand how DNA connects us to human history,
- See science in action with their own genetic material.
In the end, everyone walked away with new knowledge, practical lab skills and a sense of connection between science and identity. Participants also received MITO tattoos to remind them about the workshop and the knowledge gained.
The news item was written by MITGEST DC5 Giulia Santonoceto.
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