Description
Advanced—For experienced high school and college classes; requires some technical skill.
Students go hands-on as they experience the power of silencing a single gene and learn how that method can be used to determine a gene’s function. This fascinating activity then culminates with a bioinformatics exercise.
RNA interference (RNAi) is a technique that allows you to silence the expression of a chosen gene by degrading the gene’s mRNA. C. elegans is a model organism often used when conducting and researching such a technique. In this lab, wild-type worms are fed lab strains of E. coli that express double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) corresponding to either of 2 target genes: BLIstered cuticle (bli-1) or DumPY (dpy-11). The ingestion of the dsRNA initiates the destruction of mRNA expressed from the target genes. Students then examine the phenotypes induced by silencing these genes. Silencing bli-1 leads to the formation of clear blisters in a worm’s outer cuticle; silencing dpy-11 leads to a worm developing a short, fat body. In accompanying bioinformatics exercises, students explore the function of the protein encoded by the silenced gene and the relatedness of worm and human genes.
Note: Kit includes voucher to request perishable materials later at your convenience. Contact Carolina or return voucher to request delivery of perishables. Because of the time-sensitive preparation and limited shelf life of the kit’s perishable materials, order them a minimum of 2 weeks prior to desired ship date. Plan on using the materials within 1 week of receiving them.
Product Features
- Designed for 8 groups of 2–4 students
- Includes teacher manual with reproducible student guide
- Perishables voucher lets you receive kit materials now and request delivery of perishable items at a later date
Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support 3-dimensional instruction for NGSS. Digital resources may include a teacher’s manual and student guide, pre-lab activities and setup videos, phenomenon videos, simulations, and post-lab analysis and assessments.
Time Requirements
Total time: up to 12 days. Teacher preparation: 15–30 minutes per lab day. Class lab activities: 30–60 minutes with multiple incubation periods.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Learn about the mechanism of RNA interference and its applications.
- Explore the relationship between genotype, phenotype, and RNAi-induced phenotype.
- Move between experimentation and computation.
- Use sterile technique.
- Grow cultures of bacteria.
- Use microscopy.
- Grow and observe C. elegans.
- Use RNAi to disrupt the function of genes.
- Explore data online using Wormbase.
- Identify related DNA sequences in databases using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST).