BIOTECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT FOR AP BIO
This worksheet addresses the following essential knowledge:
EK 3.A.1. DNA, and in some cases RNA, is the primary source of heritability
 Genetic engineering techniques can manipulate the heritable information of DNA and, in special cases RNA
o Electrophoresis
o Plamsid-based Transformation
o Restriction enzyme analysis of DNA
o Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
 Products of genetic engineering.
o Genetically modified foods
o Transgenic animals
o Cloned animals
o Pharmaceuticals, such as human insulin or factor X
General Guidelines: For each computer based part you should document 1) new information that you learned and
2) how this topic/technology influences our lives.
Complete the biotechnology activities listed below (part 1 thru part 5) using the following website:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu Document your answers in your lab manual.
Part 1 Cloning:
Select the cloning box from the “Learn Genetics” page. Explore the various topics for Cloning. Make sure you have
a solid understanding of what cloning is and how it relates to your life. Record your thoughts on cloning in the
space below. When you finish you should return to the original “Learn Genetics” page.
Part 2 Stem Cells:
Select the stem cells box from the “Learn Genetics” page. Explore the various topics for stem cells. Make sure you
have a solid understanding of what stem cells are and how they relates to your life. Record your thoughts on stem
cells in the space below. When you finish you should return to the original “Learn Genetics” page.
Part 3 Gene Therapy:
Select the gene therapy box from the “Learn Genetics” page. Explore the various topics for gene therapy. Make
sure you have a solid understanding of what gene therapy is and how it relates to your life. Record your thoughts
on gene therapy in the space below. When you finish you should return to the original “Learn Genetics” page.
Part 4 Pharmacogenomics:
Select the pharmacogenomics box from the “Learn Genetics” page. Explore the various topics for
pharmacogenomics. Make sure you have a solid understanding of what pharmacogenomics is and how it relates to
your life. Record your thoughts on pharmacogenomics on a separate piece of paper. When you finish you should
return to the original “Learn Genetics” page.
Part 5 Virtual Labs:
Select the virtual labs box from the “Learn Genetics” page. Explore the DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis and PCR
virtual labs. After working through the simulations, summarize what each test allows you to do. Please state what
the test does and what the test will tell you.
Part 6
Check out this CSI website (http://forensics.rice.edu ) to become familiar with the science of forensics. Work
through case 1. Document what you learned in your lab manual.
Complete the biotechnology activities listed below (part 7 and part 8) using the following website:
http://knowgenetics.org/genetics-in-the-news/ .
Part 7 Recombinant DNA Technology:
Under the “Genetics Today” tab select “Recombinant DNA Technology.” Explore this page and the related pages on
this topic (transgenic organisms and watch the “entertaining introduction to synthetic biology”). Make sure you
have a solid understanding of what Recombinant DNA Technology is and how it relates to your life. Record your
thoughts about recombinant DNA technology in your lab manual.
Part 8 Genetically Modified Organisms:
Under the “Genetics Today” tab select “Genetically Modified Organism.” Explore this page and the related pages on
this topic (health concerns with GMOs, ecological concerns with GMOs, and proposed legislation). Make sure you
have a solid understanding of what GMOs are and how they related to your life. Record your thoughts about
recombinant DNA technology in your lab manual.
Part 9 Transformation Problems:
1. Each person must complete 1 of the 3 “how to” transformation problems given to you by your instructor.
Students who had honors biology, this should be an easy review. Students who had college prep biology,
this is new material for you. You might want to do all three problems for practice. When you get to this
point, see your instructor for step by step directions. Your answer(s) do not need to be included in the lab
manual. You can answer the problems directly on the worksheet. Turn the worksheet in when complete.
2. Each person must complete the 2 “Practice Problems – Bacterial Transformation.” Turn in worksheet when
complete.
Part 10 Paper Plasmid Activity:
Each group (2 to 3 people) should complete the paper plasmid activity. There are many possible solutions – so
your answer may not be just like the group next to you. This activity “models” the process of transformation. 1
person keeps the model. Everyone should record the answers to the questions in their lab manual.
Part 11 AP Bio Transformation Lab:
As a lab group you will complete a transformation lab using a photocopied version of old lab 8. In your lab
notebook EACH PERSON should answer “laboratory questions” 1 thru 6 AND “big idea assessments” 1 thru 6.
Part 12 AP Bio Lab 9:
As a lab group you will complete most of lab 9 (Restriction Enzyme Analysis of DNA - New Lab Manual page
S111). Making and running an electrophoresis gel is optional because our equipment is not the best... You can
make a basic gel and run dyes for the fun of it. You did complete a simulation of this using the virtual lab – so you
can imagine what this process is like. (part 12) In your lab notebook EACH person should answer: Questions 1 and
2 on page S113 (RESTRICTION ENZYMZES)

Instructions/Questions 1 thru 4 on pages S120, 121, and 122. Use figure 5 page S121 to obtain
measurements. You will need to use special graph paper for #3. Create the graph and tape it into your lab
notebook. For this section you should have to following in your lab notebook:
o Table 1 completed using figure 5 and calculations taken from your graph.
o The graph created using table 1. (CALCULATING SIZES OF RFLPs)

Questions 1 thru 4 on page S123 (THINKING ABOUT YOUR RESULTS)