Feel like your brain could use a little stimulation after the holiday break? ExplorationWorks might have just the ticket tonight — for both children and their parents.

Dr. Robyn Temple, a molecular biologist at Shodair Children’s Hospital, will give a program for kids called “Play with DNA” followed by a talk for adults on the interaction between genes and medications.

In one of the activities, kids can isolate the DNA from wheat germ.

“This is something that is very accessible to the kids, because they can see it,” Temple said.

She said the DNA is encased in the wheat germ’s seed. When the shell is removed, the matter inside is put in a solution of meat tenderizer and ethanol. The DNA precipitates out of the solution and is visible to the naked eye.

“If you get enough of it, it looks like white, fluffy cotton,” Temple said.

Kids can make a complex model of DNA out of modeling kits or take home an edible version made out of marshmallows and licorice. They can also play a floor game called Trait Walk, which shows how even members of the same family may have widely different genetic profiles.

Temple is Shodair’s clinical molecular diagnostics specialist. She works at the forefront of a new field called pharmacogenetics: helping find the right dose of the right medicine for a patient, based on the patient’s genetic profile.

Following the activities, Temple will give a talk on pharmacogenetics tailored to an adult audience.

She describes the field as the understanding of how changes in genes can interact with medicines and make people more or less sensitive to the medication, or make the medication more or less effective for patients.

Temple said that rather than a lecture, the talk will be a more informal discussion in which audience members can participate and ask questions.

The kids activities run from 6-7 p.m. The talk on pharmacogenetics will follow.

Reporter Joe Menden: 447-4087 or joe.menden@helenair.com