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1.12: Biotechnology

  • Page ID
    24259
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    Dr. Leah Howell, Dalton State College

    Introduction:

    (Adapted from The Biology Place. Pearson Molecular Biology Lab Bench.)

    Gel electrophoresis is a procedure that separates molecules on the basis of their rate of movement through a gel under the influence of an electrical field. The direction of movement is affected by the charge of the molecules, and the rate of movement is affected by their size. Positively charged molecules will move through the gel toward the negative electrode (black), and negatively charged molecules will move toward the positive electrode (red). Large molecules move slower than small molecules.

    DNA is a negatively charged molecule, so DNA molecules will move toward the positive electrode side of the gel when a current is applied. Often times, before DNA is run on a gel, it has first been cut with restriction enzymes. These are enzymes that cut DNA at specific nucleotide sequences. When DNA has been cut by restriction enzymes, the different-sized fragments will migrate at different rates through the gel. DNA that has been exposed to restriction enzymes and then run on a gel will produce multiple bands on the gel. Each band contains DNA of a specific base pair size.

    When forensic scientists try to determine the source of DNA found at a crime scene, they can cut the crime scene DNA and DNA from any suspects with the same restriction enzyme. These DNA samples can then be run side by side on a gel and compared to determine if the banding patterns are the same- this is commonly referred to as DNA fingerprinting. Today’s lab illustrates the process of gel electrophoresis with dyes instead of with DNA. Molecules of different dyes are different sizes and charges, so they should move different directions and at different rates.

    Exercise 1: Gel Electrophoresis

    Materials:

    • Gel chamber
    • Power supply
    • Dyes
    • Pre-poured agarose gel
    • Pipetman
    • Disposable tips
    • Running buffer

    Procedure:

    1. Gently remove the comb and the end caps from the gel. Be careful to avoid damaging the wells. clipboard_e880d2d6ef8cb919a47099b420f7ea9c5.png
    2. Using the pipetman, add 10 µL of each dye sample to each corresponding lane as listed on the right. Use a new tip for each sample.
    3. Place the gel in the center of the gel chamber.
    4. Add buffer to one end of the chamber until the liquid is almost even with the top of the gel.
    5. Add buffer to the other side of the chamber. Keep filling until the gel is completely submerged. Be careful to avoid washing the samples out of the wells.
    6. Put the lid on the chamber. Be sure the outside surface is dry.
    7. Plug cords into the power supply. Be sure that red goes to red, and black to black. Check with me before turning on the power supply.
    8. Turn on the power supply. Look for tiny bubbles coming off the electrodes.
    9. Notice how the dye migrates as the current runs through the gel.
    10. Run until the first dye nears the bottom of the gel, then turn off the power supply and disconnect the cords.
    11. Examine the results to answer the questions.

    Questions:

    1. What is the purpose of electrophoresis?

    2. What purpose does the buffer serve?

    3. Why do dye molecules migrate toward the anode (positive electrode)?

    4. Why do smaller molecules migrate faster than larger molecules?

    5. Draw your finished gel in the space below. Be sure to label which band is which dye on your figure.

    clipboard_e8034a4966c8a2c2d5069abbbc6103e24.png

    6. Which dye molecule is the smallest? Which is the largest? List dyes by name, not appearance.

    7. Which dyes are in the Explorer I mix? List dyes by name, not appearance.

    8. Which dyes are in the Explorer II mix? List dyes by name, not appearance.

    Exercise 2: Who ate the Cheese?!

    (Adapted from: http://www.biologycorner.com/workshe...he_cheese.html)

    Objectives:

    In this simulation you will examine crime scene evidence to determine who is responsible for eating the Queen's special imported Lindbergher Cheese. You will model the process of electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting.

    Royal guard incident report

    Incident Data

    Incident Type: Theft Complaint Status: Pending DNA results

    Processed by: Chief Wiggam Other Officers: Officer Li Gase

    Property

    Property Code: Rare cheese Owner's Name: Queen Elizabeth

    Name: Lindbergher Value: $12,000

    Burglary Data

    Method of Entry: Unknown, no evidence of force on doors or windows.

    Narrative: The cheese was allegedly stolen from the Queen's sitting room the night before the grand ball. The cheese was listed as a gift from the Manchurian diplomat. Officer Li Gase dusted for fingerprints and found none on the table or doors, the maid claimed that they had been wiped clean earlier. The wheel of cheese was on a platform in the sitting room, and half of it had been eaten. We took pictures of the half eaten cheese and sent it to the lab for further tests. Edna N. Zime, the lab technician said that saliva samples could be taken from the teeth imprints of the cheese that was left behind.

    Suspect Data

    Suspect Number: 1

    Name: Princess Dubbah Elix

    Description of Suspicion: The princess was seen entering the sitting room earlier in the evening. She is well known for her love of cheese.

    Suspect Number 2

    Name: Electra Foresis

    Description of Suspicion: Electra was recently involved in a relationship with the Manchurian diplomat that sources say ended badly. Her motive may have been to sabotage the diplomat's gift to the Queen.

    Suspect Number 3

    Name: Ada Nine

    Description of Suspicion: Ada was the maid in charge of cleaning the sitting room. She had access to the cheese.

    Suspect Number 4

    Name: Gene Tics

    Description of Suspicion: Gene is the leader of the local Cheese-Makers Guild, he may not have wished for Queen Elizabeth to have cheese from anywhere but his own guild.

    Crime Lab Data

    Crime Lab Investigator: R. Renee Lab Technician: Edna N. Zime

    List of Evidence Received: Plastic bag with cheese crumbs List of Procedures Used: DNA extraction

    Polymerase Chain Reaction

    DNA restriction Analysis

    Narrative: After receiving the package with the plastic bag marked Crime Scene, the DNA was extracted. Because the sample was so small, the DNA was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. We isolated the DNA from the four suspects and compared them to the crime scene DNA using DNA restriction analysis.

    Results: See attached DNA Results

    clipboard_ea81f4eeb73f85d8f4096c7f82b18882c.png

    DNA Evidence Evaluation:

    1. On the following page you will find several DNA sequences. Cut each out and turn the resulting strips right side up. The restriction enzyme cuts at every point it finds C C G G, always cutting between the C and the G. Use scissors to cut the DNA sequence at the C C G G points. Label the back of the slips with the suspect number so that you don't get them confused after cutting.

    2. Count the number of base pairs (bp) in each piece of DNA that you created. Record the base pair number on the back side of the DNA fragment.

    3. Make an enlarged chart like the one shown at left. Use a ruler to ensure that the lengths are uniform.

    4. Tape your DNA fragments to the chart, using the base pair numbers as a guideline for fragment placement.

    5. Compare the crime scene DNA to the suspects and indicate on your chart which suspect is guilty of eating the cheese.

    clipboard_e9c1106808f391356b032b2519ece2ac4.png

    6. For each of the following tasks performed in the activity, describe what they are actually simulating.

    Cutting the DNA into fragments: ________________________________________________________

    Taping the DNA onto the large paper: _____________________________________________________

    7. Describe how each technique below relates to DNA Fingerprinting:

    Polymerase Chain Reaction:

    Gel Electrophoresis:

    Restriction Enzyme:


    This page titled 1.12: Biotechnology is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Susan Burran and David DesRochers (GALILEO Open Learning Materials) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.