YOUNGSTERS in Blackburn have been taking on a DNA challenge to learn about research into a deadly disease.

Scientists from national charity Cancer Research UK visited Year Six pupils at St Barnabas and St Paul’s CE School and worked together to create a DNA sequence using new specially-designed blocks.

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The blocks were showcased to the 10 and 11-year olds by Todmorden scientist Dr Steve Bagley and Sam Humphrey, from the charity’s Manchester Institute, as part of a thank-you to the school for raising more than £320 to go towards research.

The visit was ahead of Cancer Research UK’s Stand Up To Cancer fundraising event which saw a night of special TV on Friday and is encouraging others in the North West to fund-raise for cancer research.

Dr Bagley said: “Understanding our genetic code, how it makes protein and where this goes wrong in cancer helps researchers to find new ways of treating the disease.

“We had great fun explaining our work to the pupils and then demonstrating our 3D DNA models.

“It was really exciting to meet the children and hear about their fundraising for Cancer Research UK.

“Scientists like me and my colleagues are very grateful for all their fantastic work.”

Joanna Duckworth, assistant headteacher at the school, said: “The children really enjoyed when Cancer Research UK came in. They were particularly engaged in the interactive activity where they worked in teams to write and check DNA codes.

“At the end of the session, they were able to ask some thought-provoking questions about what they had learned and what they wanted to learn more about.”

Stand Up To Cancer is a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 launched in 2012.

For more information visit standuptocancer.org.uk.