YOUNGSTERS at some North Yorkshire schools are about to see their science lessons become more exciting.

Thanks to York University, children will be able to experiment with DNA fingerprinting and the technique which clones DNA.

The boost comes as the university is being given biotechnology equipment worth £10,500 to help student teachers working in local schools run experiments for key stage four and post-16 students and to share those techniques with other teachers.

The work is linked to exam specifications and includes DNA fingerprinting, bacterial transformation using a jellyfish gene, purifying useful protein from living cells, and the "genetic photocopier" used to clone large quantities of DNA.

The university is one of 30 centres in the UK to be given the equipment by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Bio-Rad, as part of National Science Year.

Martin Braund, of the department of educational studies, said: "This grant will provide examples of cutting-edge technology that schools might otherwise find difficult to fund.

"Pupils will be enthused and will learn how this science impacts on our everyday lives. Science education is key to sustaining innovation within research and development."

Schools will be able to borrow the equipment from the university so that youngsters can get hands-on experience of professional-level equipment. The equipment includes microcentrifuges used for separating out DNA; electrophoresis tanks used in the identification of fingerprints, and micropipettes.