Tarboro High students tour Vidant labs

Students enrolled in Advanced Placement Biology at Tarboro High School had the opportunity to visit the laboratory facilities at Vidant Edgecombe Hospital in Tarboro.

These students were able to see the jobs related to health occupations and to understand what actually happens to the blood donated at blood drives.

I took this class on a trip to Vidant Edgecombe Hospital to tour the laboratory facilities and observe the application of these concepts in a real-world setting, said Deneasha Strother, AP Biology Teacher at Tarboro High. They visited the microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and blood/plasma labs so they could see the potential jobs available if they were to obtain a Biology or related science degree.

Strother said although this is the first year she has coordinated this trip, she was amazed at how much the tour grabbed the attention of the students who attended. Students became interested in pursuing a career in these fields, she said. They were able to ask the staff about the educational requirements of the job. They were also able to ask the staff about the stresses of each of these jobs and about the common salary.

AP Biology students are second-year biology students who have taken Honors Biology and Chemistry and are ready for advanced study in the field. They are expected to construct explanations of how viruses introduce genetic variation in host organisms. The students are also expected to know and apply proper lab techniques. The tour of Vidant Edgecombe Hospital accomplished both of these goals.

Strother said the AP Biology students have been studying viruses and how they transmit DNA or RNA when they infect a host cell.

Some viruses are able to integrate into the host DNA and establish a latent (lysogenic) infection. Students were able to see the lab techniques used to determine if a virus or bacteria has developed a resistance to certain antibiotics, she said. This helps the medical staff choose the correct medication for the patient.

Student Tysheka Brown said it was a great experience.

It brought Biology to life for me because I was able to see practical uses of the concepts we discussed in our class, she said.

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Tarboro High students tour Vidant labs