Virtual Laboratory
Bacterial Transformation
Name: ________________________________
Introduction
1. Log onto the Pearson LabBench web page at
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/index.html
2. Select Lab 6 – Molecular Biology / Part I – Transformation in Bacteria
3. Follow the instructions carefully on each screen – be sure to review all animations.
4. Answer the lab packet questions as you proceed through the virtual lab.
1. Read “Key Concepts I: Bacterial Transformation”. What is bacterial transformation?
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a. What gene are we going to attempt to introduce into our bacterial strain?
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b. What will happen to our bacteria strain if we are successful?
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2. Read “Bacterial Colonies”. What species of bacterial are we using for this experiment?
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3. Read “E. coli Bacteria”. Where is E. coli bacteria commonly found?
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a. How does E. coli reproduce? How rapidly can this occur?
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b. Describe the chromosomal genome of E. coli.
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4. Read “Plasmids”. What are plasmids?
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a. How are plasmids used in genetic engineering?
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L. Carnes
Adapted from Pearson: LabBench Activities
MVHS AP Biology
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/index.html
b. What does the ampR gene confer resistance to in E. coli?
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c. What happens to E. coli cells that do not carry the ampR gene?
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d. In order to transform cells...what do we need to do first?
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5. Read “Competent Cells”. Describe what this concept means.
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a. What processes are used to make cells competent?
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b. In what phase of bacterial growth is it easiest to make cells competent?
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6. Read “Design of Experiment I”. Make notes of some important safety procedures:
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7. Read “Transformation Procedure”. After you've familiarized yourself with the procedure as a whole, take a
closer look at each stage. Select steps 1–4 and 6 to see what is going on at the cellular level. THE VERY
LAST “A Closer Look” screen shows an animation of the transformation procedure...WATCH IT! There
are basically SIX steps to follow to correctly transform bacteria. Describe these steps IN ORDER below:
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b. _________________________________________________________________________________
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c. _________________________________________________________________________________
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d. _________________________________________________________________________________
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e. _________________________________________________________________________________
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f. _________________________________________________________________________________
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8. The figures below show the events that take place during transformation of an E. coli cell. Type in the
letters to indicate the correct order in which the events occur.
9. Read “Analysis of Results I”. Draw AND describe the four possible outcomes for this experiment in the
space provided below.
a. What does it mean if there is a “lawn growth of cells?
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b. What does it mean if there are individual colonies of growth on the agar?
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c. What does it mean if nothing is growing on the agar?
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10. Read “Label the Results of Your Experiment”. After incubation, the following plates were removed from
the incubator. All but part of one label have been removed so that you must now use your understanding of
this laboratory to make new labels for each plate. Based on the PHYSICAL APPEARANCE of each plate,
select the appropriate label for the plates. DESCRIBE THIS BELOW...do NOT simply write A, B, C, or D!
For example...Plate I should be labeled ______________________ because _________________________.
a. Plate I:
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b. Plate II:
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c. Plate III:
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d. Plate IV:
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11. Take “Lab Quiz I”. You may write your responses below:
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□ Question #6 _____