Description
Intermediate—Easy to perform; requires some background knowledge
Perform a successful bacterial transformation!
Using β-thalassemia as a medical example, students explore the phenomenon of gene regulation in this hands-on kit. As students progress through the lab, they will answer why changes in the DNA sequence in front of a gene (not in the gene’s coding sequence) affect how much functional protein is produced by the gene. They will also use a new plasmid in a transformation experiment that includes a gene for kanamycin resistance. They learn to utilize IPTG as a compound to turn on gene expression for certain promoters. Finally, students will successfully transform plasmid to produce green fluorescent protein (GFP). Kit includes enough materials for a class of 32 students working in 8 groups of 4, as well as 1-year access to digital resources that support 3-dimensional instruction for NGSS.
Time Requirement
Teacher preparation, 1-3/4 hours. Prelab, 45 minutes. Practice digital exercise, 10 minutes. Investigation: Introduction, 45 minutes; procedure, 50 minutes. Analysis questions, 45 minutes. Assessment questions, 45 minutes.
Performance Expectations
HS-LS1-1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
Note: Kit ships with the perishable materials included.