Download Genetics Assessment

Name
Date
Period
HBio
Jelly Genes Paper Plasmid Activity
Background
Certain jellyfish have the ability to glow (phosphoresce) and the gene for this ability is coded
in the jellyfish genome. Can scientists, and indeed science students, insert this gene into
other organisms? Today you will perform a transformation using a paper model.
What is a transformation? Bacteria have an extra piece of DNA that is much smaller than
the rest of their genome, called a plasmid. This DNA is double-stranded and in the form of a
circle. Transformation occurs when a gene from another organism is added to a bacterium’s
plasmid, making that now part of the bacterium’s DNA. Can you think of some beneficial genes
that could be added to bacteria? Remember that bacteria grow very rapidly, so they have the
ability to make lots of protein in a short amount of time.
In the box below, write your understanding of the word transformation and then write your ideas for
some beneficial genes that could be added to bacteria.
o
What is transformation?
o
What genes do you think could be added to a bacterium’s plasmid that would be
beneficial to humans?
What are restriction enzymes and what do they have to do with transformation? In order to
insert a gene into a plasmid, the gene must be cut out and an opening must be cut into the
plasmid to give the gene a place in which to insert. This cutting is performed by molecular
scissors, called restriction enzymes. These enzymes only cut in specific places. See the
examples below and then complete the practice example.
Restriction
Enzyme
EcoR
HindIII
Cut Site
GAATTC
CTTAAG
AAGCTT
TTCGAA
Restriction
Enzyme
XbaI
SmaI
Cut Site
TCTAGA
AGATCT
CCCGGG
GGGCCC
o
Which cut do you think
would be called a
“blunt” cut?
Read through the following double stranded DNA sequence, looking for any HindIII
and/or SmaI sites. Draw lines where these restriction enzymes would cut the DNA.
`
AGTGACTCCCGGGTGAATCAGAAGCTTCCTTA
TCACTGAGGGCCCACTTAGTCTTCGAAGGAAT
Procedure
1. Obtain the following materials: tape, scissors, plasmid DNA sheet (white), and jellyfish
DNA sheet (green).
2. Look through your bacterial plasmid DNA (white paper) for the EcoRI restriction
enzyme recognition site. (See front of paper.)
3. Draw a line depicting how the enzyme will cut the plasmid.
4. Using scissors cut your plasmid where the EcoRI restriction enzyme would cut it. You
are acting like a restriction enzyme.
5. Look through your jellyfish DNA (green paper) for the EcoRI restriction enzyme
recognition site. (HINT: You should find 2 recognition sites.)
6. Draw a line depicting how the enzyme will cut the jellyfish DNA.
7. Using scissors cut your jellyfish DNA where the EcoRI restriction enzyme would cut it.
You are acting like a restriction enzyme.
8. Recombine (or add) the jellyfish gene into the plasmid by matching the ‘sticky ends’ of
the plasmid with the ‘sticky ends’ of the jellyfish gene.
9. Using tape, tape the piece together. You are now acting as a ligase enzyme, taping the
pieces together.
10. Write your name on the green section and turn it after you have answered the
questions below.
Conclusion
1. Explain in detail what you have at the end of this paper simulation.
2. Outline the steps (see diagram ) of transformation.
3. Why might ‘sticky ends’ be better than ‘blunt ends’ when
performing this type of genetic engineering?
4. What could this type of genetic engineering be used for in
real life?