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Biology LibreTexts

18.1: Instructor Guidelines

  • Page ID
    118039
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    Purpose    

    Students are introduced to recombinant DNA technology and bacterial transformation during this lab. This is a 2-day lab, as students will transform bacteria on day one and view and analyze their results during the following lab session. Students will transform competent E. coli cells with the pAMP plasmid to generate ampicillin-resistant bacteria. 

    Tasks    

    Students will complete the following during this lab:

    • Optimize the conditions for bacterial transformation by altering the salt concentration and heat shocking bacterial cells. 
    • Perform bacterial transformation by introducing the pAMP into competent E. coli.
    • Compare and contrast growth patterns of E. coli with and without pAMP on LB plates and LB + ampicillin plates.
    • Determine the transformation efficiency of E. coli based on the number of colonies on the LB + amp plates (second lab).
    • Simulate a restriction enzyme digest and create a recombinant plasmid using a paper replica of an E. coli plasmid and a segment of DNA from the human chromosome (second lab). 

    Lab instructors should provide students with an introduction recombinant DNA technology and bacterial transformation. Students will need a review of the structure of a bacterial cell, the structure and function of plasmids, and how plating can be used to select for successfully transformed bacteria. A pre-lab reading quiz is suggested to ensure students have read the lab manual and are prepared to work with the biohazardous materials.

    Students will need a review of proper use of the micropipette, including the appropriate volumes for each type of micropipette, how to set the volume, how to attach and remove the disposable tips, and the procedures necessary to objtain and dispense the solution of interest (e.g., first stop, second stop, and location of the tip within the microcentrifuge tube). 

    Students will also need a brief introduction of proper plating and labeling of the Petri dishes. Remind students to include labels on the base of each plate, not the lid. Students may need to use the microcentrifuge to spin down their samples periodically. When heat shocking the samples, students should keep the lid of the water bath closed to maintain a constant temperature. Also remind students not to flame the spreader if plastic disposable spreaders are provided instead of metal spreaders (Exercise 18.2.1.1, Step 11). 


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