MLCK

flat Group Members: Kristen L Claire M =Lab DNA Extraction from Human Cheek Cell=


 * 1) What are the 5 elements that make up DNA?

2. What is the function of DNA from day to day? 3. Describe how long strands of double-helical DNA fit into the nucleus of a single cheek cell.
 * The five elements that make up DNA are hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus.
 * The function of DNA from day to day is to pass down the genetic instructions that control the functions of your cells.
 * The strands of double - helical DNA fit into the nucleus of a single cheek cell by wrapping around proteins, folding back on itself, and coiling.

4. What was the purpose of using the cell lysis solution?


 * The purpose of using the cell lysis solution is to get the DNA out of the nucleus of cells.

5. Why does the DNA become visible once the alcohol is added?


 * DNA becomes visible one the alcohol is added because it can not be dissolved in alcohol. It doesn’t mix with alcohol so it separates and is released from the nucleus.

6. If DNA is so thin, how is it that we are able to see it during this simple lab exercise?


 * We are able to see DNA during this simple lab exercise because all of the DNA is collecting together. As more and more DNA is added to a certain place, they become close, which means that we can see them because of the large amount of it in one place.

7. Why is DNA referred to as your genetic fingerprint?


 * DNA is referred to as your genetic fingerprint because every person has a unique sequence of DNA base pairs. Since each person’s DNA is different, it’s the same as using someone’s fingerprint since everyone has a different fingerprint too.

8. Give some examples of how DNA is used everyday.


 * DNA is used everyday by people who need to investigate a crime scene, identifying people at risk of genetic diseases, authenticate food, and to identify bacteria and viruses.

Picture of our DNA samples.

=DNA Model Project =

Key Continued: Purple bases= A Yellow bases= T Orange bases= G Green bases= C Step 1: The enzyme helicase binds to the DNA molecule and breaks the hydrogen bonds. Step 2: The single stranded binding proteins keep the strands from coming back together. Steps 3 and 4: The enzyme primase gives the starting point for the replication of DNA and the enzyme polymerase starts to replicate the DNA. The Lagging Strand: The lagging strand also uses the enzymes helicase, primase, and polymerase to do replication, but it has to wait until the leading strand opens up the DNA molecule because it goes in the opposite direction. The DNA is replicated in fragments called Okazaki fragments in the lagging strand. The Okazaki fragments are then binded together by the enzyme Ligase. The end products of DNA replication are two DNA molecules that are exactly the same as the original molecule. Research topics: Telomeres- Telomeres is the most important component for the survival of a cell. It keeps the chromosomes from becoming attracted to each other and from attaching. Humans are made of up to 2000 repeats of the sequence.

Okazaki fragments- Okazaki fragments are formed when DNA polymerase begins to synthesize the lagging strand.

DNA Ligase- DNA takes the Okazaki fragments and binds them together.

Telomerase- Telomerase is an enzyme that adds Telomere sequences to the end of DNA strands on the 3' end. lengthening this strand allows the synthesis of the incomplete ends on the opposite strand by DNA Polymerase. Generally, Telomerase is found in embryonic stem cells, unicellular eukaryotes, and adult stem cells, or cancer stem cells.

Cancer - The cancer cell has the ability to grow indefinitely. Most express telomerase, in the cancer stem cells that divide uncontrollably causing the tumor to grow.

Transplanted Cells - if cancer cells gain the ability to make a telomerase the cells transformed with active telomerase gene might become cancerous

Cloning - Dolly, a sheep, was cloned using a nucleus taken from an adult sheep cell. the telomere length on Dolly's cells reveals that they were only 80% as long as a normal sheep. the length of time the cells spent in culture before they were used accounts for this.

Aging - non - cancerous cells don't grow indefinitely when placed in culture. The age of the person that the cells come from affects how many times the cells will divide. This is called replicative senescence.

In the beginning of DNA replication an enzyme, helicase, breaks the hydrogen bonds that hold the strands of DNA together. An end of a strand of DNA breaks into what is called a replication fork, looking like a sideways Y. Then, single stranded binding proteins keep the strands from coming back together. Next, an enzyme called primase, gives a starting point to copy the DNA. The lagging one follows the leading strand of DNA. The enzyme, primase, attaches and gives a starting point for replication. Then, an enzyme called polymerase binds and replicates DNA. After that, ligase, another enzyme, joins the Okazaki fragments, or the open pieces of DNA. The lagging strand of DNA uses these Okazaki fragments because it needs an open piece of DNA.

The purpose of DNA replication is to replicate chromosomes to prepare for the cell division. The division of cells takes the two copied pieces of genetic material and puts them into each cell after the original cell is divided. The genetic material is now in each cell.

DNA replication happens during the interphase phase of mitosis.

Resources: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/T/Telomeres.html http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CE8QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colorado.edu%2FMCDB%2FMCDB1150%2Fguild03%2FDNA_Replication_details.pdf&

=Transcription and Translation Flip Book=

ei=vYc6T8LUEMfE0QGk08zGCwusg=AFQjCNFgc-gSVZ1PJVFIZ46chz4h2JW_vg&sig2=mH8dO18tU9rmYW6Rjvc1EQmedia type="custom" key="12657666"

=Genetics Infographic=



Sources: • •  •

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carrots_of_many_colors.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Punnett_square_mendel_flowers.svg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coquina_variation3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Agrobacterium-tumefaciens.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Baby_Mother_Grandmother_and_Great_Grandmother.jpg

= Medaka Infographic =



Resources: http://www.computerweekly.com/photostory/2240108500/Photos-Gravity-experiments-in-space/4/Japanese-Medaka-fish-were-among-the-first-animals-used-to-study-embryo-development-in-space

The powerpoint on the Medaka Infographic page. = =

=Diaper Dissection Lab= What we did: In this lab, we took apart a diaper and figured out each of the layers' purposes. We also figured out how much water each layer can absorb.

There are four layers to a diaper.

1. The outside layer 2. The rough cottony layer 3. The rough layer with beads 4. The inside layer that is smooth

We guessed at what each of their purposes were.

We said that the first layer was strictly for decorative purposes only. The second was to absorb the water. The third was to allow the water through to the second layer. Finally, the fourth and inside layer was for the comfort of the baby.

After adding water we decided: Layer one is used to keep the water contained in the diaper. Layer two holds the water within (absorbs water very quickly). Layer three holds the absorbing beads in place in the diaper. Layer four allows the water through to the absorbing layers.

How much water can each layer hold? 1. We put 5 ml of water before it starting running of the layer. 2. We put 5 ml on this layer also, but it can hold more (we assume) 3. We put 1ml of water on but it ran through the layer. 4. This layer doesn't hold any water in. We put on about 3 ml but all of it went through the layer.

Fun fact: 3/4 of a diaper can hold about 235 ml of water!

Research: The Environmental Protection Agency reports that about 20 billion disposable diapers are dumped in landfills each year. More than 200,000 trees each year are lost to the manufacture of disposable diapers. It takes 3.4 billion gallons of fuel oil every year to make diapers. Manufacturing disposable diapers utilizes non-renewable energy sources. Disposable diapers take about 500 years to decompose. They release methane into the air. Methane is dangerous to breathe in because it replaces oxygen.