Biotechnology Labs

  • Biotechnology Labs
     
     

    Introduction Lab: Capture Your Genetic Essence In a Bottle

     
    Objectives:
     
    • To perform a DNA extraction of cheek cells
    • To observe your own genetic material
    • To understand the properties of DNA
    • To make an awesome DNA necklace
      
     
     
     
    Objectives:
    • To determine which curdling agent produces cheese the fastest
    • To determine which curdling agent produces the most cheese
    • To examine numerical data to support predictions
    • To examine variables that can lead to invalid experiments
     
     
     

    Lab 2 Measuring Very Small Volumes in a Biotechnology Lab 

    Objectives:

    • To learn how to operate a micropipette
    • To understand measuring volumes in uL
    • To determine which micropipettes are best used to measure specific volumes
    • To determine how precisely you can measure using each micropipette

      

     

    Objectives:

    • To dilute 50X TAE buffer to a working concentration of 1X TAE
    • Prepare a 0.8% agarose gel solution
    • Cast an agarose gel for electrophoresis
     
     

    Objectives:

    • To understand that molecules vary in size, shape and charge
    • To analyze the results of molecule separation by gel electrophoresis
    • To assign relative size of dye molecules as a function of movement through the agarose gel
    • To determine the components of an unknown dye mixture
    • To predict how additional molecules would have migrated in gel electrophoresis based upon size and charge
     
     

    Objectives:

    • To develop an understanding of the basic techniques used to study genetic polymorphisms encoded in DNA
    • To gain familiarity with Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs) and their use in the study of biodiversity
    • To apply RFLP analysis to genetic fingerprinting and shark identification
    • To use critical thinking to solve problems through DNA analysis
     
     
     

    Lab 6 DNA Molecular Glow

    Objectives:

    • To investigate DNA base pairing and the conditions that will cause the DNA double helix to separate into single strands (denature), and then come together again (annealing)
    • To use temperature to differentiate between AT-rich DNA, GC-rich DNA, and a DNA molecule with balanced ATGC content, and to establish the melting temperature (Tm) of each sample
    • To determine the relationship between pH, DNA composition and base-pairing
    • To estimate the concentration of an unknown sample of DNA

    glow

    Lab 7 HIV-1 Detection Using ELISA

    Objectives:

    • To understand the molecular biology of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the pathogenesis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome
    • To understand the concepts and methodology involved with enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assays
    • To simulate the clinical screening of serum samples for antibodies to the HIV virus 

     ELISA

    Lab 8 Exploring GMOs

    Objectives:

    • To understand how genetic engineering supplements traditional methods of plant breeding to generate new traits in crop plants
    • To understand how changing the genome of an organism can affect its ability to survive in different environments

    gmos

     

     

    Lab 9 Amgen Lab Sequence - see separate tab 

     

    Lab 10 Mitochondrial Polymerase Chain Reaction Lab

    Objectives:

    • To understand the evolution of the mitochondrial genome and how SNPs in the mitochondrial control region can be used to investigate human DNA diversity
    • To become acquainted with modern molecular genetics techniques used in SNP mapping that include DNA extraction and purification, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis and DNA sequence analysis

     mtdna

     

    Lab 11 Morning Lark or Night Owl?

    Objectives:

    • To test your genotype at the circadian clock gene Per3
    • To learn about the circadian clock, amplify one of your clock genes, and study a possible genetic association with your own sleep phenotype

    bird  

     
    PTC Polymerase Chain Reaction Lab

    Objectives:

    • To understand taste perception of the PTC gene and how SNPs can be used as moleculars markers to predict phenotypes
    • To become acquainted with modern molecular genetics techniques used in SNP mapping that include: DNA extraction and purification, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA restriction and gel electrophoresis