Summer Research Program for Science Teachers

Bibiane Petutschnig

South Shore High School, Brooklyn

August 2003

 

How do we generate a large amount of a specific DNA sample?

 

Objectives:

 

£     Students should understand the concept of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

o       Standard C (Life Science)

o       Standard B (Physical Science)

£     Students should understand the applications of DNA testing.

o       Standard E (Science and Technology)

o       Standard F (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives)

£     Students should be prepared for their hands on experience in the labs that follow this lesson.

o       Standard A (Science as Inquiry)

£     Students should become interested in using the internet as a learning resource.

o       Standard E (Science and Technology)

£     Students should become interested in presenting information with PowerPoint.

o       Unifying Concepts and Processes

  

Materials:

 

£     Computer with Microsoft Powerpoint installed and connected to the internet

£     (A class set of computers)

£     A projector

£     A white screen

  

Motivation:

 

Sometimes we need to know, if a certain gene is present – for example to identify the carrier of a genetic disease.  The DNA that can be obtained from a sample – be it a human tissue sample or a bacterial plasmid – is usually not enough to determine the presence or absence of a gene beyond doubt.  That is why a certain technique called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is used to create larger amounts of the gene of interest.

 

Information:

 

GO THROUGH THE POWER POINT

 

Virtual Lab:

 can be used as a demonstration or, if enough computers are available, as an interactive experience for the students.

 

CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.  GO TO http://hhmi.org/biointeractive/vlabs/index.htm

CLICK ON Bacterial ID Lab

READ introduction

CLICK to enter the lab

READ the instructions and

FOLLOW the procedure for step 1 (Sample Prep)

     and step 2 (PCR Amplification).

 

Summary (Homework):

 

Have students write a report in which they list the materials that they need to successfully complete a PCR-reaction and explain why each of the materials is important.

 

Return to Biology Lesson Plan Menu