Something Something Something Sushi Something

Usually, we end up studying the genes in our lab experiments. This time, however, we will be doing our science work on proteins. We're gonna do it with fish to determine the evolutionary connection between several fishies. We will compare similarities and differences in their proteins, create a family tree, and compare it to the work of actual evolutionary scientists who know what they're talking about. The actual material we use from the fish will be from his/her muscle fibers, myosin and actin to be exact.

Disease Gene Lab

Today, we test DNA. What does that mean? We are gonna do PCR amplify DNA sequences. We shall then look at the gene expressed in each of us and determine who of us has the "fatal" gene. On Day One, we will extract the cells from our cheeks. First, we must break down the membranes using a lysis buffer and then apply Instagene to prevent DNAse from killing our precious DNA. There will then be a hot water bath at 95 degrees Celsius. On day two we do Polymerase Chain Reaction tests. The primer will be set to search for the specific "deadly" gene.

GMO Lab Intro

GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. They are made by inserting a gene of interest into a plasmid, then inserting that plasmid into an agrobacteria and then inserting that agrobacteria into a plant or animal cell and allowing the modified gene of interest to be taken up by the organism. GMO's were first used and primarily used in DNA polymerase chain reactions, using a primer to target a specific gene, adding nucleotides, and thus creating the new strand of DNA.

In our lab, we will do three things over the course of three days. On day one, we will extract genomic DNA from food samples. In stage two, we will run PCR reactions to amplify GMO and natural plant sequences from the DNA. In the third lab, we ill use electrophoresis to amplify samples to visualize the DNA.

DNA extraction will be achieved with the help of a mortar and pestle to smash up plant material into manageable bits. Instagene will be used to kill enzymes like dnase which would kill our samples DNA, and we want that stuff alive and intact. A heat bath at 99 degrees Celsius will allow the cell nuclear membrane to become permeable.

Human Mitochondria DNA Kit AT

Mitochondria in our cells all have the common trait of being inherited from the mother rather than the father. Because of this, maternal ancestry can be tracked. In this lab, we will use PCR to aplify the nucleotide sequence of our own mitochondria. It allows a way for those doing the lab to visualize a distinct region of their own genetic material. We will start by obtaining the sample from either hair or cheek cells. The sample will be boiled to lyse the cells and get the chromosomal DNA out. there will then be a combination with a buffered solution of heat-stable Taq Polymerase, oligonucleotide primers, the four dNTP blocks of DNA, and the cofactor magnesium chloride. This mixture will then be placed in a DNA thermal cycler and put thought 30 cycles of varying intensity. Afterwards, there will be placement in the agrose gel with size markers, which is then electrophoresed. After staining with visible dye, it will become (obviously) visible.

Playing God: The Lab Intro

For this lab, we will be performing what is known as "genetic transformation" with some unwitting bacteria and sticking in the gene that makes a jellyfish glow known as the "Green Florescent Protein". If done correctly (which is how I plan to do it) the bacteria will gain this glowing ability and I will be very impressed with myself. To accomplish our goal to make stuff that doesn't normally glow glow, we will need the help of plasmids, which are small circular pieces of DNA, as plasmids in bacteria are naturally meant to adapt new genes into the bacteria.

The method to get the glowing plasmid into our dear bacteria friends is called "heat shock", which essentially makes the membrane around the bacteria very permeable. Which is good. We want this to happen because then stuff can get in and we want our plasmid stuff in there. After the plasmid is in, we need to keep the bacteria incubated with adequate nutrients so that they can express their brand-spankin'-new genes.

To Be Continued...