And much to educators' delight, the jump may signal a shift in student attitudes when it comes to beakers, Bunsen burners and test tubes.

Yes, science is suddenly cool.

It's not just at Highland, either. High schools across the state and nation are partnering with community colleges to offer biotechnology and other specialized science courses in which students can earn high school and college credit.

Credit pop culture - at least in part - for the shift.

From Wisconsin to Texas and Massachusetts to California, high schools are seizing the popularity of television shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and NCIS.

"Forensics is a hot, growing area," said Ed Foster, director of career and technology education for Mansfield Independent School District in Texas. "A lot of the interest is coming from TV. The thing that has astounded us is that students are interested in doing high-level science and math."

Officials know most students won't pursue careers in criminal investigation, but that's OK.

"At least they'll have a good science and math background, and they'll be able to go wherever they want to go with it," Foster said.

This year, Highland's 18 biotechnology students capitalized on the CSI phenomenon themselves. They had "CSI: Highland" T-shirts made, and they shot a video to publicize the course.

"We wanted to get more kids to take the class," said 18-year-old Natalie Tate, who graduated this month from Highland. "We're hoping it was a good ploy. It was a fun class."

But that doesn't mean it was easy.

Students had to learn about the properties of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids and how to identify them. They learned about restrictive enzymes and how they cut DNA into smaller pieces for better analysis. They examined potato chips to look for genetic modifications. They even debated the ethics of injecting leftover protein into another living organism, maybe a mouse or a worm.

Some endorsed the experiment. Others said it would cross the line.

Not all labs yielded the results students sought.

"Sometimes, things work out, sometimes they don't," said Highland biotechnology teacher Doug Jorgensen. "Even when they fail, we talk about why. That's where the real learning comes in."

Many of the students from Jorgensen's class intend to pursue careers in science.

Natalie wants to do "something in medicine." Katrina Smithee, 17, wants to teach biology at a university. And Albert Lund wants to research proteins after he graduates from Utah State University.

"DNA is overdone," Albert said. "Protein is where it's at."

Ilse Smith doesn't know what she wants to do but, after taking biotechnology this year, the 18-year-old knows it will involve science.

"I didn't know you could do so much with science, and I didn't know it could be so fun."

rlynn@sltrib.com