Bacterial Transformation
The purpose of this lab is to assist you in learning about bacterial transformation. Genetic transformation occurs when a host organism takes in a gene from another organism and expresses it. In this lab, you will use the process of bacterial transformation to add a new gene to E. coli cells. The new gene will make the bacterial cells resistant to an antibiotic that would normally prevent the bacteria from growing. This will allow for the production of human insulin from the transformed E. coli cells.
You will go to the following website: Bacterial Transformation . Select Virtual Labs. Allow Flash. Select Bacterial Transformation.
You will follow the instructions and work through the simulation as instructed in the lab. Utilizing the Lab Notebook in the simulation, you will perform two print screens (screenshot). The first will be of the Predictions. The second will be of the Observations. You will insert the print screen (screenshots) into this lab.
You will perform the print screens so that you can insert the Predictions and Observations into this worksheet. This usually involves clicking the Function key (FN) and the Print Screen key (Prnt Scrn). You may then need to “Paste” in the table (CTRL V).
Once you have completed the lab activity, you will answer the remaining journal questions below. Please answer all questions in another color font.
Save your file as .doc or .docx and upload it into eCampus in the proper lab section for grading. Do NOT copy and paste it into the text box on eCampus.
Lab Notebook
Prediction: Please insert the screenshot of the prediction table in the space below (Table 1):
Observation: Please insert the screenshot of the observation table in the space below (Table 2):
Analyze and Conclude:
- Analyze:
- What does the genome of a transformed E. Coli contain that a normal coli cell does not contain?
- Based on your observations, how can you tell which, if any, of the bacterial cells were transformed?
- Compare: Which petri dish(es) showed the most growth and which showed the least?
- Infer:
- What does the culture with partial growth tell you about whether all of the bacterial cells incorporated the ampR gene?
- Why is the largest DNA fragment band found close to the well in which it was placed?
- Evaluate: Look at the two petri dishes that had the most growth.
- What do they have in common?
- Explain why the ampR gene offers or does not offer an advantage when grown in the environment of these petri dishes.
- Conclude: How does the petri dish that showed no growth support the conclusion that some bacterial cells did take in the ampR gene?