2025-2026

HackettstownThe research project for the 2025/2026 WSSP focused on analysis of the mRNA population of Landoltia punctata, a duckweed. The goal of the research was to determine which genes are expressed in this organism, and how they compared with expressed genes from other species. Students in the project used molecular biology and bioinformatic techniques to isolate and sequenced genes from a cDNA library (a collection of mRNA's copied into DNA's). Students used the DNA Sequence Analysis Program to analyze the gene sequences.   These sequences have never been determined before. If a student successfully analyzed a sequence, it was published in GenBank, the international repository of all known DNA sequences, for other scientists to study. Each published sequence bears the student's name and his/her teacher's name. A complete list of the schools, teachers and number of students that participated in the 2024/2025 WSSP can be found below with links to their published sequences.  

Below is a list of the schools, teachers, and number students involved in the 2025/2026 WSSP Research Project.  Links to the School name will connect to the school's home page.  Links to the number of students will connect to the DNA sequences published by these students.