Download Gel Electophoresis: Forensic Plasmid DNA identification

Gel Electophoresis: Forensic Plasmid DNA identification
Lab Write-up requirements 50 pts possible
Each of the following are to be included in your lab report. Reports should be typed,
double spaced.
Title 2pts Technical title using genus and species of organism used, process and
restriction enzyme names.
Purpose. Explain the goal of this experiment. Make up a plausible scenario where
scientist are needed to match 4 pts.
Introduction. 10 pts. Use the reading and your book (18.11) for reference materials
explaining electrophoresis. In your introduction, include in text citations with authors
name indicating where this information came from. Example (Anderson, 1990)
Using complete sentences and separate paragraphs, explain the following:
1. Summarize the process of gel electrophoresis. How does it separate DNA
molecules into a pattern of bands? Why do some fragments travel farther in
the gel than others?
2. Explain how DNA is isolated from bacteria, such as E.Coli. What chemical
reagents are used and what is the function of each reagent?
3. What are restriction enzymes? Explain how DNA samples are cut and
prepared for electrophoresis with restriction enzymes. What enzymes did we
use? What bacteria are they from?
4. What is the Loading Dye used for? What loading dye was used and what is
their size equivalent in DNA base pairs?
5. How do we determine the length of the Suspect DNA fragments in numbers
of base pairs using the graph?
6. How long were the electrophoresis chambers run and at what voltage?
7. What do we expect to see in the results of our gel that will identify the suspect
DNA? What will it take to solve this case?
Data. 10 pts. Include 2 graphs:
a. Make a scale diagram of your gel showing the exact measured locations of each band.
Indicate how many centimeters each DNA band traveled.
b. On semilog paper. Use the known length of the loading dyes to graph a line relating
distance traveled and base pair length. What is the estimated length of the suspect DNA
bands? Do any of the bands match the evidence? Use error bars if any of the bands are
broad and poorly defined.
On the Graphs, write out a caption paragraph that explains what the graph shows.
Questions 1-5 and 7 on lab handout. #6 is part of summary. 6 pts
Summary of your group’s lab results. 10 pts
 Did your gel work out? Describe in detail what you can see and what this is the
result of.
 If bands did not appear, explain what you predicted to see.
 Where in the lab protocol were mistakes likely to cause a lack of DNA bands?
 Describe in detail sources of possible error and pitfalls to avoid. What could be
improved and how ?
Works Cited Two or more works should be cited in the text with full citation at end of
report. 4pts
Writing Quality (Grammar, sentence structure, coherence) 4 pts