Name: __________________________________ Date: _____________________
Lab Activity – Gel Electrophoresis
This activity is based around an interactive website that is simulate a gel
electrophoresis experiment. You are provided with samples of liver and muscle cells.
You want to determine which proteins are present in these particular cells. You are
provided with solutions of HEMOGLOBIN, ACTIN, and MYOSIN. Follow the
directions to help determine the proteins found in liver and muscle cells.
Procedure:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Log into the computer.
Open up Internet Explorer and navigate to the class website.
Click on the “Links” option under the Honors Bio tab.
Click on the “Gel Electrophoresis 2” link.
When the page opens, wait for the animation to load and then click the
instructions bar. Watch the animation, and take note of what is occurring.
6) When you have finished with the instructions, perform the following:
a. Click and hold the pipette and insert it into the test tube containing
the liver solution.
b. When the pipette sucks up the liver solution, carefully deliver it
into the first well of the gel.
c. Click and hold the pipette and insert it into the test tube containing
the hemoglobin solution.
d. When the pipette sucks up the hemoglobin solution, carefully
deliver it into the second well of the gel.
e. Repeat in the next two wells with actin and myosin.
f. After the wells have been properly filled, click on RUN GEL and
wait for the bands to separate.
g. After the gel is done “running”, make a sketch of the gel in the
data section. Make sure to label the sketch accordingly.
h. Click RESET
7) When you have finished with the liver, repeat procedure a – h with the
muscle solution.
8) Observe your sketches, and then in your conclusion section, determine
which types of proteins are found in liver and muscle cells. Explain your
reasoning.
Data/Observations:
Questions:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
What is the “gel” made from in gel electrophoresis?
Why do the bands travel different distances?
What forces the solution to move away from the well?
What are restriction enzymes?
Explain how using restriction enzymes and gel electrophoresis can be used to
identify the correct suspect in a crime.