More than 60 years after scientists made big discoveries about the structure of DNA, 20 students at US Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy gained insight（了解）into some of the molecular（分子的）mysteries that make them who they are.
Last fall, while studying life sciences, the girls sent samples（样本）of their DNA off to Living DNA, a DNA testing company. The test results became known last week and they left a big impression on the students, who were able to make real-world connections to topics they have been studying all semester long, including genotypes（基因型）.
“Students were able to maturely（成熟地）look at their results and apply what they learned in science. It’s about bringing learning to life,” said Laura Pena, the STEM program teacher.
For most of the girls, the DNA test was their ancestry（血统）. Sitting with her mom, Amariah Caudle, 15, looked with her mouth wide open at the charts showing her results. She was surprised that her European ancestry was only 13 percent. Her mother, Janell Caudle, was surprised it was that high.
“I didn’t think a trace（痕迹）would show up in her,” she said. “After many generations, this is still showing up in our bloodline（血统）. I was shocked by the science of it all.”
DNA has a power to engage people, said Diahan Southard, Living DNA community manager. Southard believes the program gives students an understanding of DNA at an important moment, when they are still young enough to absorb lessons and change their values.
Elianed Guzman, 14, said she knew little about her family except that they were from Mexico. She described in her native Spanish how surprised she was to learn that she shared genetic DNA with people in China, Japan and Korea.
As the girls sat in small groups to examine their results, with reactions ranging from confusion to surprise, they began to understand what it all means.
“Now I know I have family from everywhere,” said Amariah.
【小题1】Scientists made big discoveries about the structure of DNA possibly________.| A．in the 1910s | B．in the 1930s | C．in the 1950s | D．in the 1990s |
| A．Anxious. | B．Doubtful. | C．Impressed. | D．Calm. |
| A．People had the opportunity to test their DNA. | B．The European trace showed up in Amariah’s DNA. |
| C．Amariah possibly had European ancestry. | D．Amariah shared genetic DNA with people from Asia. |
| A．It helps students understand their DNAs. | B．It has a great power to bring people together. |
| C．It will change their students’ DNAs. | D．It should be introduced to more people around the country. |
| A．People need to accept who they are. | B．We should learn more about family history. |
| C．People’s personalities can be explained by their bloodlines. | D．People from all over the world are connected with each other. |
| A．Our amazing past | B．Our amazing present | C．Our amazing future | D．Our past, present and future |
