A group of sixth-graders from Detroit’s University Preparatory
Academy departed from the usual course of science textbooks and
frog dissection to get a glimpse of the wonders of science from
Wayne State University researchers who work with it every day.
Lawrence Grossman, PhD, is one of many scientists at WSU’s
Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (CMMG) who introduced
the students to concepts that go far beyond normal middle school
curriculum. “Often, it’s hard to convey through the traditional
schoolroom learning the dynamic nature of science. What we’re
trying to do here is inspire these children to develop the
aptitude that they’ve already shown and encourage them to
investigate the world around them,” says Dr. Grossman, CMMG
associate director and faculty member. “Genes play the critical
role in many, if not most chronic diseases. Understanding
heredity and how traits are encoded in DNA is critical to
increasing the community’s knowledge of what causes genetic
diseases and how these conditions are