Aboard a bus in the Gray's Creek High School parking lot, students were on the trail of a thief.

The crime: Stolen iPods. The evidence: DNA.

The biology students, mostly 10th graders, were taking part in a hands-on science lab.

The bus was a Destiny traveling science lab led by outreach educators from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.

Students were able to work with actual DNA samples to determine the perpetrator of the made-up crime. The scenario was titled "Get a Clue/Case of the Crown Jewels."

"The kids get a hands-on experience that also ties into their biology standards," said Nicholas Hoffmann, a science education specialist with the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. "It's also just kind of fun sometimes."

Last week, Destiny buses were at Gray's Creek and Pine Forest high schools in Cumberland County, and at schools in Robeson County. Hoffmann said the buses travel throughout the state all school year.

Leandra Barriage, a biology teacher at Gray's Creek, said the students have been learning about DNA analysis since October.

Barriage said before the Destiny bus arrived, the students studied a concocted crime scene from which some iPods had been stolen.

The students were given a few suspects. They examined fingerprint, fiber and DNA evidence.

The final part of the exercise was working with actual DNA aboard the Destiny bus.

"We don't have the equipment to do this lab. That's why I love having them come out," Barriage said. "I didn't work with this equipment until I was a sophomore in college."

Hoffmann said the DNA samples the students worked with were from non-harmful e-coli bacteria. "We don't do any labs that have any true risk to it," he said.

One chilly morning last week, the students filed onto the narrow bus. DNA samples and lab tools had been placed on counters lining the length of the vehicle.

The students donned aprons, gloves and safety goggles before they began their work.

"When we're on the bus, the goggles stay over the eyes," Hoffmann told the assembled students.

Hoffmann showed the students how to use the lab equipment, including a micro-digital pipette used to extract the DNA samples.

The students were instructed in how to place the samples in a gel solution. The DNA is pulled through the solution by an electrical current.

Hoffmann asked the students about the work they'd done so far.

"What was left at the crime scene?" Hoffman asked.

"Blood," the students answered.

"What can you extract from blood?" Hoffman asked.

"DNA," the students responded.

Lechard Pacquette, a 15-year-old 10th grader, was one of the students participating in the experiment.

Lechard said he is looking toward a career in marketing. However, he said it was interesting to see the reality behind such popular shows as the "CSI" series.

"It's good to know, so you know what goes on behind the scenes," Lechard said. "You'll know what's going on instead of them just messing with some tools."