TeacherTECH Science Series- DNA Analysis 1: DNA Electrophoresis

Middle School, High School and Community College Educators are invited to attend our April TeacherTECH Science Series focused on the analysis of DNA and DNA electrophoresis. 

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

4:30pm - 6:30pm 

San Diego Supercomputer Center, Auditorium

University of California, San Diego

The instructor will show you materials modifications to fit your class and budget.

Workshop Description

Use restriction enzyme digestion and DNA gel electrophoresis (popularly known as DNA Fingerprinting) to determine which of a number of suspects could have committed the crime - based on DNA evidence. Extend this kit with a plasmid mapping activity using the plasmid DNA restriction patterns from the experiment. AP Bio Lab 6.

Workshop Activities 

DNA evidence assists in criminal, missing persons, mass disaster, and paternity cases. It can be used to identify a perpetrator or exonerate the innocent. Using real DNA as evidence, your students play the role of crime scene investigator to figure out for themselves "Who done it?"

This activity provides in-depth explanations about how restriction enzymes cut DNA and how electrophoresis is used to separate and visualize DNA fragments. The unique curriculum provided in this kit guides students through the procedure of constructing a standard curve using their own gel data. They can then use their standard curve to estimate the molecular weights of the unknown DNA fragments generated by different restriction enzymes.

Electrophoretic techniques that distinguish DNA fragments by size are essential in forensics and in the mapping of restriction sites within genes. Students also have the opportunity to read plasmid maps and predict the sizes of DNA fragments from restriction enzyme digests prior to performing the laboratory activity. They can go one step further and use restriction digest maps of lambda bacteriophage genomes (provided in the kit) to design novel plasmids. In the process of doing these extension activities, students learn how restriction enzymes function and how they are used in genetic engineering.

Upcoming Biotech Workshops

Thursday, May 13, 2010 - DNA Analysis 2: Introduction to PCR

This hands-on workshop teaches the basics of DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and gel electrophoresis. Learn how trace amounts of DNA are used to identify genetic ancestry, identify inherited variations in your own genotype at the PV92 locus, or test common grocery store food products for the presence of GM foods. AP Bio Lab 8                    

Tuesday, May 25, 2010  - Proteins in Action 2

In this hands-on workshop we will generate protein profiles from distant and closely related species of fish using gel electrophoresis. Test the hypothesis that protein profiles are indicators of evolutionary relatedness and construct cladograms from your own gel results: DNA> RNA>Protein>Trait.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 - Proteins in Action 3: NEW LAB AP Bio lab 2

Need Energy?  Reveal the power of enzyme kinetics by illustrating the theory through a real world application to biofuels.  Through guided inquiry activities your students will determine how temperature, pH, the concentration of substrate and the concentration of enzyme will effect an enzymatic reaction.  Throughout the world, biofuels are commonly used to power vehicles, heat homes, and provide fuel for cooking.  Can biofuels solve global warming?  Let your students decide if this is possible!

Please join us for an exciting and informative session of hands-on learning presented by Essy Levy, Curriculum and Training Specialist, Bio-Rad Laboratories. 

Registration is free. Space is limited.  Please contact Ange Mason at 858-534-5064 or 
 amason@ucsd.edu to reserve your space.


For additional information on other TeacherTECH programs, please visit http://education.sdsc.edu/teachertech