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Biotechnology is most broadly defined as the use of living organisms or their products to make or modify a substance or process. Often this involves the manipulation of DNA molecules. Biotechnology provides useful tools for most areas of research in biology, from cell biology and physiology to ecology and oceanography. Biotechnology is also commonly used in other fields such as criminal investigation, paternity testing, crop production, bio-remediation, disease diagnosis, and the detection of disease predispositions.
In our program we use current methods to manipulate and analyze DNA molecules to "track a marine invader". We then go beyond basic techniques to generate novel DNA data and address a scientific question.
The first section on collection and dissection of mussels is presented on the Marine Science page. Here, in the second section, we continue through lab techniques needed to generate the DNA data that is analyzed in the third section, Bioinformatics. Each activity is introduced in the Background Presentation and step-by-step instructions are in the Lab Exercise. Each component can be used individually but may require some modification. To continue with the original inquiry we suggest the following order:
Students can move through just the “Glu” PCR (included in step 5 above) for a prelimary identification of the species of their sample. This can be a stopping point. Moving on to include the “ITS” PCR (also included in step 5 above) provides more evidence for species identification. The full study includes the “CO3” PCR, which requires purification and sequencing to provide species identification information. After DNA sequencing is completed (we recommend using an outside vendor), the inquiry activities continue on the Bioinformatics page. Other activities on this page can be used at any time. The Lesson Plans created by Teachers serve as stand alone activities. The Supplemental Learning activities re-enforce and build on information in the Background Presentations and Lab Exercises.
We recommend the Access Excellence list of Biotechnology Websites for further explorations.
These PowerPoint presentations provide key concepts and methodology for the Lab Exercises. Each presentation includes State and National Science standards addressed by the exercise, as well as assessment questions.
| Title | File Type |
| Extracting DNA from Marine Mussels | PowerPoint |
| Polymerase Chain Reaction | PowerPoint |
| Purifying PCR Products | PowerPoint |
| Quantifying DNA | PowerPoint |
| DNA Sequencing | PowerPoint |
| Gel Electrophoresis | PowerPoint |
| Restriction Digest | PowerPoint |
| Title | File Type |
| Laboratory Safety | Word |
| Proper Laboratory Practices | Word |
| Supply List | Excel |
| Lesson Plan for Pipette and Gel Loading Practice Exercises | Word |
| Lesson Plan for DNA Extraction from Marine Mussel Gill Tissue | Word |
| Student Worksheet for DNA Extraction | Word |
| Lesson Plan for Gel Electrophoresis Lab Activity | Word |
| Lesson Plan for Amplification of Mussel DNA using Polymerase Chain Reaction | Word |
| Lesson Plan for Restriction Enzyme Digestion of Mytilus ITS PCR Product | Word |
| Lesson Plan for PCR Product Purification Lab Activity | Word |
| Lesson Plan for Quantifying DNA using Gel Electrophoresis | Word |
| Lesson Plan for Quantifying DNA using the NanoDrop ND1000 | Word |
| Sending CO3 PCR products for DNA Sequencing to ELIM | Word |
| Sending CO3 PCR products for DNA Sequencing to MC LAB | Word |
| Lesson Plan for Preparing a Working Stock of DNA | Word |
| Title | File Type |
| Webquest: Intro to the Biotech Lab | |
| "Are You Gellin?" | |
| Mussel Dissection and Nucleotide Differences | |
| DNA and Heredity: A Middle School Classroom Approach | |
| Codon Bracelet & Open Reading Frame Lesson Plan | |
| Codon Bracelet & Open Reading Frame Activity | |
| Which mussels live in the salt marsh estuary of Jamaica Bay? | |
| DNA, Proteins, Dissection, and Pipetting | |
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| We Are All Mutants | |
| Species Determination Using a Virtual Field Study & Virtual Biotech Lab (Overview) | |
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| Webquest: From DNA to Protein | Word |
| Physiological Adaptations and Molecular Ecology | |
| Reading the DNA Code: Making Protein | |
| Whose DNA is that? | |
| Comparison of Protein Sequencing - Introduction to Biotechnology Lab | |
| DNA Fingerprinting | |
| Biotechnology/Bioinformatics Activity | |
| Evolutionary Relationships Based Upon Comparative Genetics |
| Title | File Type |
| Primer Annealing Activity using the Glu Gene | Word |
| Restriction Site Mapping using the ITS Gene Sequence | Word |
| PCR Math | |
| Meet the Molecules is a supplemental presentation providing additional information on the three genes used to identify native and non-native mussels. | |
| Designing Primers for PCR explains the steps to finding primers that will amplify a specific target (includes State and National Science Standards). | |
| PCR Troubleshooting explains the steps to optimizing PCR conditions for the best possible product (includes State and National Science Standards). | PowerPoint |
