I.
Name __________________________________________ Date _____________________ Block ___________
Biotechnology Virtual Labs
DNA Extraction
Introduction: DNA is extracted from human cells for a variety of reasons. With a pure sample of DNA you can test a
newborn for a genetic disease, analyze forensic evidence, or study a gene involved in cancer. Try this virtual laboratory to
perform a cheek swab and extract DNA from human cells. Follow the online directions to complete the lab, answer the
questions listed below as you work, and most of all have fun!
Directions:
1. Go to the website http://learn.genetics.utah.edu (Use Firefox,
a. Please make sure your sound is on LOW. If you have headphones, you may wear them!
2. On the left‐hand side of the screen, click on “DNA EXTRACTION” listed under “Virtual Labs.”
3. Click on “START LAB” and follow the prompted directions!
Questions Corresponding with the Virtual Lab:
1. What are three reasons why someone might need to isolate DNA?
a. _________________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________________________
2.
Complete the following statement: We need cells because that’s where the ___________ is.
3.
Inside almost every cell in our body is a __________________, and inside each nucleus is about
____________________________________________.
What kind of cells are we using in this virtual experiment?_____________________
What are the four main steps in purifying DNA from a cheek cell?
______________________ b. ____________________________c. _____________________
d. ____________________________________
Lysis is a Greek word that means ___________________________.
What is the purpose of adding the detergent to the skin cells? ____________________________
What protein is DNA wrapped very tightly around? _______________________________
What is the purpose of the salt in this experiment? __________________________________
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10. In this virtual lab, they utilize a centrifuge. (We don’t have this in our lab ) Very simply, what does this machine do?
____________________________________________________
11. What is the purpose of adding the isopropyl alcohol? (What does it do?) ____________________
12. How long can this newly isolated DNA last? _________________________________________
II.
DNA Fingerprinting / Gel Electrophoresis Virtual Lab
Go to the following website: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/gel/
1. What is the purpose of Gel Electrophoresis? ________________________________
2. Why would someone perform a Gel Electrophoresis test? _____________________
3. How are strands of DNA sorted ? _______________________________________
4. Describe the “gel” that is used. ___________________________________________
5. What goes into the holes at one end of the gel? _______________________
6. Why is electricity used? _________________________________________________
7. What type of strand of DNA move through the agar the fastest? ________________
8. List the steps of Gel Electrophoresis
Step 1:_______________________________________________
Step 2:_______________________________________________
Step 3:_______________________________________________
Step 4:_______________________________________________
Step 5:_______________________________________________
9. Complete the Virtual lab – drag items as directed.
10. Why is a microwave used? __________________________________
11. What is the purpose of the comb that is placed in one end of the gel? ____________
12. What is the purpose of the buffer? ___________________________
13. What proof do you have that the electrodes are working and the current is working?
__________________________
14. Below if a sample from the crime scene and samples from suspects. Based on the DNA fingerprint, who
committed the crime? _____________________________
In this hypothetical paternity case, four autoradiographs show DNA "fingerprints" taken from three individuals: a mother, her
child, and the child's alleged father. Each autoradiograph compares equivalent DNA segments from the three individuals. The
two dark bands in each column represent one individual's DNA segments -- one inherited from that individual's biological
mother and the other from the biological father. These segments differ in length from person to person; for this reason they
are used as genetic markers. Here, each length is designated by a letter, A through O. The two letters associated with each
segment indicate the individual's genotype.
Instructions
Under each column in the autoradiograph, write the letters associated with each individual's genotype. For example,
the genotype of the mother in the first column is A/D. Then, circle the letter in the child's genotype that represents the
gene inherited from the mother.
1. Which "letter" must the child have inherited from its father? _C_____, _1.____, 2._____, 3.___
2. Based on this information, what evidence suggests that the alleged father could be biologically related to the
child?
1
2
3
**According to the University of Utah, this genetic test based on four markers indicates that there is more than a 99 percent
probability that the alleged father is the child's biological parent. Because statistical calculations prevent a 100 percent probability
of paternity, most courts accept a probability of 99.5 percent or greater as evidence of paternity. An "exclusion" result, where the
patterns do not match between a child and the alleged father, is unequivocal evidence of non-paternity. Remind students that
genetic tests can only absolutely disprove, not prove, relationship
III. Recombinant DNA / Transgenic DNA
Go to the following website “The DNA Learning Center: http://www.dnalc.org/view/15915-The-firstrecombinant-DNA.html
1. Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer worked to __________________ genes from different bacteria into one
_______ molecule. Where did they get the genes to do this? _________________________
2. What is a plasmid? _________________________________________________________
3. Draw a plasmid.
4. What did Cohen and Boyer add to cut part of the plasmid _______________ _______________ or EcoRI to
make sticky ends.
5. Genetic engineering processes can make human insulin. Human insulin DNA is placed into the
DNA of a second organism. The host organism becomes an insulin-producing factory. People
with diabetes (called diabetics) do not correctly produce or use their insulin protein. The insulin
protein helps control how much sugar is in your bloodstream. Millions of diabetics need to take
insulin. Insulin from cows and pigs has been used since the early 1900s to treat diabetes. Now
human insulin protein can be mass-produced through genetic engineering processes.
Go to the following website: http://www.iptv.org/exploremore/ge/what/insulin.cfm#1
Move your curser over each picture.
Fill in the steps
1. _____________ Gene The gene for producing HUMAN insulin protein is isolated
2. _____________ Target DNA First, a circular piece of DNA called a plasmid is removed from a bacterial
cell. Special proteins are used to cut the plasmid ring open.
3. Insert the DNA into __________________. With the plasmid ring open, the gene for insulin is inserted
into the plasmid ring and the ring is closed.
4. Insert ______________ back into cell. The bacterial DNA now contains the human insulin gene and is
inserted into a bacteria. Scientists use very small needle syringes to move the recombined plasmid
through the bacterial cell membrane.
5. Plasmid __________________. Many plasmids with the insulin gene are inserted into many bacterial
cells. The cells need nutrients in order to grow, divide, and live. While they live, the bacterial cell
processes turn on the gene for human insulin and the insulin is produced in the cell. When the
bacterial cells reproduce by dividing, the human insulin gene is also reproduced in the newly created
cells.
6. Target Cells _____________________. Human insulin protein molecules produced by bacteria are
gathered and purified. The process of purifying and producing cow and pig insulin has been greatly
reduced or eliminated
7. Cell Produce ____________________. Millions of people with diabetes now take human insulin
produced by bacteria or yeast (biosynthetic insulin) that is genetically compatible with their bodies,
just like the perfect insulin produced naturally in your body
IV. Cloning - Clone a mouse!
Go to the following website: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/clickandclone/
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What is a clone? __________________________________________________________________
What is a somatic cell? _____________________________________________________________
What makes a somatic cell different from a sex cell (gamete)? _____________________________
Begin the lab – List the 6 main steps to cloning.
1. ________________________________ 2. ___________________________
3.__________________________________ 4. ___________________________
5. __________________________________6. ___________________________
5. Describe how you removed the nucleus from the egg cell _______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
6.What did you do with the nucleus of the somatic cell? ____________________________________
7. Why is a microscope necessary to remove the nucleus? ___________________________________
8. Is this new egg haploid or diploid? ________________, explain why this is not your typical “egg” cell now.
_____________________________________________________________________________
9. What process will this new cell use to divide to develop into a mouse? _______________________
10. What is a ball of cells called (about 16 cells)? _____________________________
11. Once the cells develop into an embryo where did you implant it? ______________________
12. Can scientist really produce clones of mice? ____________, When was the first cloned mouse made?
____________________.
Go to the following website: http://www.roslin.ed.ac.uk/public-interest/dolly-the-sheep/a-life-of-dolly/
13.
Who was Dolly? _________________________________________________
14.
List two interesting facts about Dolly.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
15.
How did Dolly’s life end? _________________________________________________________
Resource: Genetic Science Learning Center (2012, August 6) Click and Clone. Learn.Genetics. Retrieved
November 14, 2012, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/clickandclone/
V. Stem Cell
Go to the following website http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/scfuture/ Click on each “slide” and
answer the questions?
1. What is regeneration? ___________________________________________________________
2. What organisms can regenerate limbs? _____________________________________________
3. Can Humans regenerate? ___________________________________how? ________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. How are drugs showing promise with stem cell research(5/15)? ______________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. What’s an advantage of using embryonic cells over other types of stem cells? (6-8/15)?
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. What organs are being made with stem cells (9/15)? __________________________________
7. What is gene therapy(10-13/15)? __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________